This study examines the effectiveness of flipped classrooms in chemistry, and identifies relationships as a major factor impacting the success of flipped instruction methods. Examination of student interview data reveals factors that affect the development of peer-peer, peer-peer leader, and peer-expert relationships in first-year general chemistry and second-year organic chemistry flipped classrooms. Success was measured in terms of student perceptions of the effectiveness of the instruction, as well as student academic development. Furthermore, analysis of research participant interviews reveals that academic reading circles, open-response multiple-attempt group quizzes, and peer leaders are important elements of a text-centric flipped approach at a small-classroom, commuter-campus university. Student reflections and classroom observations provide further support for these conclusions. Cet étude examine l’efficacité des salles de classe inversées en chimie et identifie la création de liens en tant que facteur important qui affecte la réussite des méthodes d’instruction inversée. L’examen des données provenant d’entrevues avec les étudiants révèle les facteurs qui affectent le développement des rapports d’étudiant à étudiant, d’étudiant à leader et d’étudiant à expert dans un cours inversé de chimie générale de première année et dans un cours de chimie organique de deuxième année. La réussite a été mesurée en termes de perceptions des étudiants de l’efficacité de l’instruction, ainsi que du développement académique des étudiants. De plus, l’analyse des entrevues des participants à la recherche révèle que les cercles de lecture universitaires, les tests de groupes à essais multiples et à réponses ouvertes, ainsi que les leaders de groupes sont des éléments importants d’une approche inversée centrée sur un texte en petite salle de classe, dans une université de banlieusards. Les réflexions des étudiants et les observations en salle de classe soutiennent également ces conclusions.

The use of online collaborative assignments (OCAs) between two flipped organic chemistry classrooms, one in Canada and the other in the United States, was examined for impact on learners. The intervention was designed to support content mastery, aid in increasing students’ communication skills through chemistry drawing and verbalization, facilitate emergence of professional identity, and promote development of appreciation for chemistry as an international language. A mixed-methods approach consisting of interviews, student written reflections, and questionnaires was used to evaluate the impact of the OCAs. Students described their experience of the OCAs in terms of: chemistry communication confidence; engaged learning; chemistry learning; relationships; and professional identity.

Organic chemistry students at two universities, one in Canada and the other in the United States, connected using video conferencing software as learning partners for six online collaborative assignments. Mixed-methods analysis of interviews, surveys, and student-written reflections was used to identify barriers that students encountered during the international online collaborative assignments. Students described the barriers of their experience with online collaborative assignments in terms of course pedagogy or chemistry concepts, social interactions, and technology. Results were compared and supported by additional data sources. Students were successful at overcoming most barriers, demonstrating real-world problem-solving and a high degree of resiliency. Persistent barriers were identified and resolved by faculty through revisions to design and implementation.

The International Network for Chemistry Language Development is a community of faculty and students that employ video conferencing technologies in collaborative learning experiences. Learners partner with an international peer at another university to complete online collaborative assignments (OCAs). OCAs focus on shared learning and professional experience rather than assessment of knowledge to practice chemistry communication in the oral, written, and symbolic domains. We present OCAs as an example of the Third Space, where control over interactions and learning is negotiated between unfamiliar remote students, empowering students as emerging experts. This digital Third Space results in the formation of trust (a) between student partners to prepare for—and contribute during—the OCAs, and (b) between students and faculty as partners in teaching and learning. Additionally, we report how revisions to the OCA design are achieved with current students as consultants and partners, and former students as co-researchers and co-designers.