About the Seminar: Most first-semester general chemistry courses follow either a “reactions first” or an “atoms first” format. This presentation will compare the advantages and drawbacks of each approach, then introduce a third approach, called “atoms to reactions”, that draws from the best features of each traditional format. This presentation will describe the organization of an experimental first-semester general chemistry 1 course, with an emphasis on class structure, exam sequence, and the relationship between class and lab.

About the Speaker: Kevin Revell teaches introductory, general, and organic chemistry at Murray State University. A passionate educator, his teaching experience includes high school, community college, small private, state comprehensive, and state flagship institutions. His work encompasses curriculum, technology-enhanced pedagogy, assessment, and active-learning design. He has served in several administrative roles, including Chair of the Department of Chemistry and Assistant Dean in the Jones College of Science, Engineering, and Technology at Murray State University. A synthetic chemist by training, his research involves the synthesis and evaluation of functional organic materials.