Caitlyn Montross, Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Daemen University, has taken a unique approach to teaching Organic Chemistry. Recognizing the pressure her students face over grades, which can lead to anxiety and burnout, Montross uses Labster's virtual labs to help foster a curiosity-driven learning environment.

Key takeaways:

• Labster's simulations can help build student confidence and relieve academic anxiety
• A multi-modal approach to content enhances student learning experiences
• Continuous knowledge testing through the platform supports student comprehension

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Simulations used: 

• Proton NMR
• Infrared Spectroscopy
• Mass Spectrometry
• Thin Layer Chromatography
• Substitution and Elimination Reactions
• ELISA

Innovative Learning Through Simulations

“I describe to my students what I envision in my head like a movie, but Labster is that movie.  Having simulations of the molecule going through the instrument and seeing it like a cartoon is more inviting than a blackboard or a classroom lecture where their hearts are pounding just because of their environment.”

Encouraging a Shift in Student Mindset

“My students are very grade-driven, but I try to get them to be curiosity-driven. One way I do this is by using Labster as a fun, curious game. An attitude shift like that can change the whole feel of the course and can take some of the anxiety out of it. I try to teach them that when I had this anxiety as a student, I approached science like a puzzle, and this worked for me.”

A Diverse Teaching Toolkit

“I appreciate that Labster is a different way of showing the information. I can give them simulations and quizzes on the platform to test their knowledge. I think it helps them, whether it's just boosting confidence or actually connecting dots that weren't connected before.”

Testing Knowledge Repeatedly 

“Many of my students want to prove to themselves that they know and get the concept, so they want to be tested in different ways. Offering Labster, among other options, helps them test their knowledge over and over and over again. This helps build their confidence, which drives down anxiety and contributes to comprehension.”

Multi-modal Accessibility Approach

“Although I think perfect accessibility is unattainable, I think every little thing helps. Anytime you can provide this content in any different manner, whether writing, visual, or auditory, or on a computer versus in a lecture, you are making it more accessible to the students.”

Tailored Feedback and Improved Lectures

“With almost any assignment I give them, I'll look at their quiz grades, and I'll go in and see what they were getting wrong. In Labster, I can see where they’ve gotten stuck, so I know what specific thing was missed or where my lecture could have been better.

Exposing Undergrads to Advanced Equipment

“We're a small undergraduate institution, so we don't have a lot of capacity with instrumentation. We don't have a traditional NMR on campus, so I really like the instrumentation simulations to try to get them more exposed than what they would be just with the resources we have.”

Bringing Science to Life

“The shape of molecules, the angle of approach of nucleophiles, and the stereochemistry of reaction can be difficult to imagine when you have never seen a visual aid of these topics before. “

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