Adaptive Online Homework Learning System in General Chemistry

The online homework system ALEKS is employed in hopes of increasing student success in a first semester General Chemistry course, in response to traditionally high D/F/WU/W rates amongst at risk students. "At risk students" are defined as those students with low diagnostic placement scores, those repeating the course or those with a low grade in the department's prep-chem course. The current online homework system shows poor correlation between homework completion percent and overall success in the course. A side by side comparison of two lecture sections, one using the current homework system associated with the text and the other using ALEKS will be made to assess the effectiveness of an adaptive online learning system which individually customizes the time-on-task learning experience for each student using periodic assessment and active problem-solving. The homework contribution to total course points will be the same for both sections, as will be required to meet weekly due dates with topics matched to the lecture/lab curriculum. A complete report on student outcomes for both sections will be reported at the end of the semester.