Creation of an online stoichiometry course that melds scenario based leaning with virtual labs and problem-solving tutors

Improvements

There are a number of things we would like to do fairly soon to improve the course . The first is to add more practice problems, and a wider range of problems, since the current number of problems is probably two to three times less than we would recommend students do to master the material. This could perhaps be best done by linking to other existing materials or through the community authorship approaches discussed elsewhere in this conference. The second is the addition of high-stakes assessments at some key portions of the course, such as at the end of each of the two units. Our study in a large chemistry classroom [5] showed that much of the student learning occurs in the few days prior to a mid term exam. Although it is not entirely clear what happens in this study period, it likely involves students reviewing and organizing (synthesizing) their knowledge. In our use at Carnegie Mellon, the only graded exam was given after they had completed the course. Placing high-stakes assessments at the end of the units would up the frequency of knowledge synthesis and also provide students with feedback on their current mastery level.

The course also lacks some other features that may be beneficial in online learning environments, most notably student interactions with other students and with instructors. A simple approach to this would be to include a class discussion board. Options such as online chat and collaborative group work may also be worth pursuing.