Predictions of success in organic chemistry based on a mathematics skills test and academic achievement

Lee, Kathleen S.; Rix, Brad; Spivey, Michael Z.

doi:10.1039/d2rp00140c

Cited by 5 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 71 publications

(105 reference statements)

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“…In addition to the publication on Chem 1 students, the team published another study on Chem 2 students with even higher predictability identifying 83% of the successful students. In an organic chemistry student study, the evaluated data included student's MUST score, their first-exam score, and their prior GPA, which improved predictability to about 90% (Lee, Rix & Spivey, 2022). Results from all these studies support that students who enter with higher MUST scores statistically outperform the others as indicated by their end-of-course averages.…”

Section: Instrumentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…First-semester organic chemistry (O-Chem I) NSA team studies have also revealed that the mental skills required for successful completion of general chemistry may be similar to those required for success in O-Chem I (Bodenstedt et al, 2022;Lee, Rix, & Spivey, 2022); students who understand the procedures needed to solve these arithmetic problems may also find noted chemical reactions and mechanisms easier to comprehend and retain.…”

Section: Instrumentmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Importance of Academic Legacy on Student Success in First- and Second-Semester General Chemistry

Shelton,

Villalta-Cerdas,

Jang

et al. 2023

Journal of Research in Science, Mathematics and Technology Education

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This investigation sought to elucidate the influence of students' academic legacy on their prior knowledge and course outcomes providing crucial insights for educators who teach general chemistry. This six-semester analysis involved 6,914 students enrolled in classes across nine Texas universities. Explored were personal circumstances associated with students' successes and failures that influenced performance in on- and off-sequence, first- and second-semester general chemistry (Chem 1 and Chem 2). Students' academic legacy based on their categorization as first generation (neither grandparent nor parent/guardian with a 4-year bachelor's degree), second generation (at least one grandparent or parent/guardian with a bachelor's degree), or third generation (at least one grandparent and at least one parent/guardian hold a bachelor's degree) was investigated. Of the students in the dataset 33.8% (<i>n</i> = 2,340) self-identified as Hispanic. Results for Hispanic and non-Hispanic students indicated that first-generation students struggled more with Chem 1 and Chem 2 than students in the other two legacy groups. As students' academic legacy extended, they were more apt to succeed in general chemistry. Second- and third-generation students demonstrated stronger prior high-school chemistry backgrounds and were enrolled in more advanced mathematics courses. As expected, students with stronger academic backgrounds in chemistry and mathematics scored higher on the diagnostic MUST (Math-Up Skills Test), had greater self-efficacy relative to their preparation to succeed, and reported fewer paid work hours. First-generation students on the average entered with lower diagnostic MUST scores, felt less prepared to succeed, and disclosed a greater need to be employed.

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Section: Instrumentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Instrumentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Importance of Academic Legacy on Student Success in First- and Second-Semester General Chemistry

Shelton,

Villalta-Cerdas,

Jang

et al. 2023

Journal of Research in Science, Mathematics and Technology Education

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…These characteristics, which contribute to high general chemistry grades as well as to organic chemistry success, likely include a mixture of domain knowledge, cognitive skills, and study habits. Some researchers have studied the impact of specific cognitive skills, such as problem solving ability, spatial visualization ability, or math ability . Others have studied attitude characteristics, such as self-reported interest, confidence, and enthusiasm .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some researchers have studied the impact of specific cognitive skills, such as problem solving ability, 4 spatial visualization ability, 5 or math ability. 6 Others have studied attitude characteristics, such as self-reported interest, con-fidence, and enthusiasm. 7 Others have studied social characteristics, such as being a first-generation college student.…”

Section: ■ Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

How to Identify–with as Little as One Question–Students Who Are Likely to Struggle in Undergraduate Organic Chemistry

Jakobsche

2023

J. Chem. Educ.

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Our goal as educators should be to help our students become well positioned to achieve future success. To develop effective strategies for accomplishing this objective, we must first understand the root causes of success. Thus, to best serve undergraduate students who are taking organic chemistry courses, we must understand the attributes that most significantly enable students to be successful in these courses. The current work evaluates an assessment of undergraduate students’ abilities to answer simple general chemistry questions on the first day of an organic chemistry course. The results show that this assessment, as well as some but not all of its component questions, have high ability to predict student outcomes in an organic chemistry 1 course. This type of assessment can provide a tool for instructors to easily identify high-risk students right at the beginning of the semester. The results of this study also identify some particular prerequisite knowledge and skills that are especially important for positioning students to succeed in organic chemistry courses.

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Ensemble Machine Learning One-Versus-Rest Multilevel Grade Classification and Prediction

Rimal,

Sharma,

Rathore

2024

Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems

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Predictions of success in organic chemistry based on a mathematics skills test and academic achievement

Abstract: Organic Chemistry I presents challenges to many students pursuing diverse fields of study, oftentimes curtailing further progress in those fields. The ability to identify students at risk of unsuccessful course...

Cited by 5 publications

References 71 publications

Importance of Academic Legacy on Student Success in First- and Second-Semester General Chemistry

Importance of Academic Legacy on Student Success in First- and Second-Semester General Chemistry

How to Identify–with as Little as One Question–Students Who Are Likely to Struggle in Undergraduate Organic Chemistry

Ensemble Machine Learning One-Versus-Rest Multilevel Grade Classification and Prediction

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