Impact of a spiral organic curriculum on student attrition and learning

Abstract

At Miami University, the attrition rate in the year-long organic chemistry sequence for pre-medical majors typically ranges from 30-50%. To decrease attrition, the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry developed an innovative, spiral curriculum. Unlike a traditional organic chemistry course that moves sequentially through the material, the spiral approach provides students with a broad, general overview of organic chemistry during the first semester, followed by exploration of important topics in more detail during the subsequent semester. A qualitative, case-study approach using interviews and reflective essays documented the experiences of eighteen students as they progressed through this spiral curriculum. This paper describes the strengths and weaknesses of the spiral approach, its impact on student attrition, results from ACS exams, and suggestions to improve the model.