This Class Definitely Changed My Opinion of Chemistry: How a Pedagogical Course Reform Improved Students' Chemistry Attitudes.

ABSTRACT: Introductory chemistry is a gateway course that influences students' persistence in science-related degree programs and careers. Here, we investigate how a deliberate practice-informed introductory chemistry reform influenced student attitudes toward chemistry. Through open coding and thematic analysis of 5 focus group discussions, we illustrate causal mechanisms between course attributes and students' affective outcomes and attitudes toward chemistry. The use of student-centered instructional practices and frequent opportunities for students to practice and receive feedback are consistently described to prompt positive affective outcomes, while the lack of these practices and opportunities is described to prompt negative affective outcomes. Participants directly indicate that these attrib

SUBMITTER: James NM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12355253 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature