Peer Review

Master Organic Chemistry

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Reviewed:: Mar 24, 2013 by Chemistry

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Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

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Overview:: This is a well written and humorous guide to help students with some of the basic concepts and common learning problems in organic chemistry. For example the stereochemistry section gives an interesting explanation of chirality using cats! In another section he uses the analogy of filling orbitals with the filling of an Indian bus. Master Organic Chemistry (MOC) is a comprehensive blog for Organic Chemistry students at any level. The subject matter is Organic Chemistry and the subtopics therein. The website itself features e-mail alerts, links to other popular chemistry sites such as Kahn Academy, study strategies, electronic flashcards for reactions and free downloads of summary sheets for different organic concepts. Although the blog and 99% of the material there is free, there are some instruments on the blog that are available for purchase but not mandatory for one to use the blog.
Type of Material:: This is tutorial material and part of which could be integrated into a study guide which directs students to resources that may help them with problematic concepts. The type of material is a presentation in the form of a blog. If could also be considered a collection in that it is comprehensive covering both Organic Chemistry I and II.
Recommended Uses:: This material would be used for self-directed study or a resource listed on the home pages of a course.
Technical Requirements:: The only techical requirement is a current web browser. Most of the videos are YouTube and can be accessed from any browser.
Identify Major Learning Goals:: The learning goals are stated in the title of the blog: This site is intended to assist students in mastering the concepts taught in Organic Chemistry I and II. The site seeks to 1. aid Organic I students with the transition from G-Chem to O-Chem 2. Present the most prevalent reactions taught in Organic I and II 3. Develop studens' arrow pushing skills 4. teach students the basics and beyond of acid-base chemistry 4. give an in-depth overview of substitution and elimination reactions 5. Teach, in detail, about the 4 reaction types: additon, substitution, elimination and rearranagement 6. Present and explain cycloaddition reactions
Target Student Population:: This material would be very useful for an introductory course in organic chemistry.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:: An introductory chemistry course would serve as an excellent pre-requisite although the author does review many important concepts that are covered in such a course.

Content Quality

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Strengths:: It is well written, humorous, and therefore likely to attract the student's attention. The concepts covered on this blog are wide ranging and very well presented. The author makes use of multiple resources and he also presents his own take on concepts in a way that is clear and concise.
Concerns:: NMR is not presented in great detail.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

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Strengths:: It is not a textbook but a resource that provides many attractive approaches to areas that can often be problematic for many students. Click on Organic 2 and select Putting Diels Alder Products in Perspective! It really answers so many questions that I always receive as I discuss this reaction.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

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Strengths:: The blog does not require instructions for use. The links are clearly marked and students can dive in without any instruction at all. It is available on multiple platforms so students can access this from ipad, smartphone, tablet, Mac or PC.

Other Issues and Comments:: You must visit this site if you teach introductory organic chemistry. The author, at times and to be humorous, uses swear words. This may be offensive to some users but it is not excessive and does not bother me as the reviewer.
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