Adapting to Student Learning Styles: Engaging Students with Cell Phone Technology in Organic Chemistry Instruction

Students of organic chemistry traditionally make 3 x 5 in. flash cards to assist learning nomenclature, structures, and reactions. Advances in educational technology have enabled flash cards to be viewed on computers, offering an endless array of drilling and feedback for students. The current generation of students is less inclined to use computers, but they use their cell phones 24 hours a day. This report outlines these trends and an even more recent educational technology initiative, that of using cell phone flash cards to help students learn organic chemistry nomenclature, structures, and reactions. Student attitudes were positive toward cell phone flash cards in a pilot study and a more detailed study investigating use and effect on student learning is planned.