Developing a new POGIL laboratory in an introductory organic course

CHED 750

R. Daniel Libby, rdlibby@chem.moravian.edu, Chemistry Department, Moravian College, 1200 Main St, Bethlehem, PA 18018
This presentation describes the development of a completely new two-semester POGIL laboratory in one step. Adaptation of experiments from the POGIL website, revision of previous experiments and newly devised experiments produced the new laboratory program in one academic year.

The previous laboratory consisted of one semester focused on laboratory techniques followed by another applying the techniques to studying reaction mechanisms and multi-step syntheses. Both semesters focused on solving problems using laboratory techniques, but did not introduce many new concepts.

The new POGIL laboratory changes the philosophy from one of applying techniques to solve problems to one of applying techniques to learn about organic chemistry. So the new laboratory is an integral part of the course. New concepts not considered in the classroom are introduced and explored in the laboratory. So the POGIL laboratory expands the scope of the course rather than demonstrating or extending concepts previously “covered” in class.