A Superb Model: An Alternative Approach to General Chemistry Unit 2 B: page 11 of 20
 

 

Dennis Jacobs:
Assessing the Needs of At-Risk Students with Cooperative Learning Strategies

Rationale

Recognized Problems:

-‘At-risk’ students (Math SAT =630):

-dropped out of General Chemistry.
-didn’t take any advanced science.
-frustrated by large lecture format.


Alternate Course Design:

-Similar requirements and lectures.
-Comparable exams.
-Various activities involving structured cooperative learning.

Initial Comments on Proposal

-“Only delaying inevitable failure.”
-“Efforts should be focused on the best not the ‘at-risk’ students.”

 Comments that colleagues initially made to Dennis are shown in the last bullets. Dennis proved them wrong. He demonstrated convincingly that ‘at risk’ students could perform at the same standards as other students in general chemistry and go on to succeed in organic chemistry (a sequel course) at the same rate.