Spicing things up by adding color and relieving pain: The use of Napoleon's Buttons in organic chemistry

摘要

For some students, organic chemistry can be a distant subject and unrelated to any courses they have seen in their college careers. To develop a more contextual learning experience in organic chemistry, an additional text, Napoleon's Buttons: 17 Molecules That Changed History, by Penny Le Couteur and Jay Burreson, was incorporated as a supplement to the standard textbook in an organic chemistry course. Napoleon's Buttons examines 17 molecules or classes of molecules that have had significant impacts on history, society, and culture. These molecules and chapters have been integrated into the course curriculum to provide students with a novel perspective and tangible, "real-life" examples that supplement the corresponding chapter or topic in the organic chemistry textbook. Results from student evaluations reveal that students thought the readings and in-class discussions were memorable learning experiences that increased their interest in the course material. Overwhelmingly, the students who read Napoleon's Buttons recommended that this approach be continued in future course offerings.