Synthesis of Complex Natural Products as a Vehicle for Student-Centered, Problem-Based Learning

Management strategies for upper-level undergraduate and graduate courses in organic synthesis at Temple University are described, and both student and faculty responsibilities are discussed. Using natural product synthesis as a vehicle, students choose a synthetic problem from the literature, identify the knowledge needed to solve the problem, explore resources for attaining that knowledge, identify the goals and criteria for a successful synthetic plan, and create and do assessments of their work. The method is an example of teacher-guided, student-directed, interdependent, small-group, problem-based learning.