Moving from Recommendations to Innovations: Increasing the Relevancy and Effectiveness of Chemistry Education

Abstract

The chemistry community should seize the opportunity posed by the 2009 report, Scientific Foundations for Future Physicians, and the planned revisions to the Medical College Admissions Test to develop and implement curricular innovations that have potential benefit for students in general chemistry, organic chemistry, and biochemistry courses. The process of envisioning, developing, and adopting curricular innovations, particularly those that are comprehensive, takes time. Educational innovations should be initiated with long-term goals in mind. Building on research-based practices will streamline implementation and maximize initial impacts. Fostering the identification of learning outcomes and competencies, engaging in continuous assessment, and using evidence-based practices will have both short- and long-range results. We will be able to meet the current expectations of the medical community. Moreover, these strategies will position us to respond to future changes, with an eye to the overarching goal of increasing the relevancy and effectiveness of chemistry education.