Implementing an Online Homework Program in a Large Organic Chemistry Lecture Course

Jaime Curtis-FiskKevin Walker

Michigan State University

Online Homework Online homework has been heavily

studied and developed1

Number of attempts2

Feed back3

Tutorials4

Chat rooms, collaborative learning5, 6

1. Thoennessen, M.; Harrison, J. Computers Educ. 1996, 27, 141.

2. Chamala, R. R. et. Al J. Chem. Educ. 2006, 83, 164. 3. Penn, J. H. J. Chem. Educ. 2000, 77, 227.

4. Donovan, W. J.; Nakhleh, M. B. J. Chem. Educ. 2001, 78, 975.

5. Glaser, R. E.; Poole, M. J. J. Chem. Educ. 1999, 76, 699.6. Kortemeyer, G. Am. J. Phys. 2006, 74, 526.

General Chemistry Homework CAPA homework system Ten attempts per problem Chat-room feature to communicate

with classmates Overall, student opinion is that it is

not useful at learning material, but “saves their grade”

Thoennessen, M.; Harrison, J. Computers Educ. 1996, 27, 141.

General Chemistry Homework

200 400 600 80070

80

90

100

110

120

CA

PA

Par

ticip

atio

n/12

0

141 Grade/760

Organic Chemistry Homework

Large Lecture Course 340 Students Pre-professional Students

OWL homework system-Thomson Learning Online Web-based Learning

Key changes Less attempts (typically 3) No chat room No feedback after incorrect answers, tutorials

available

Organic Chemistry Homework 90 assignments with and average

of 3.5 questions per assignment Average of 40 hours total

throughout the semester Students attempted 80% of

assignments

Exam 1-Oxidative Cleavage

Exam 1 Question

OH

OO HO

OO

an alkene

1) O3

2) Xn, H3O+

Homework Questions

Compound A gives the product(s) below on oxidative cleavage with KMnO4 in acidic solution. Propose a structure for A.

Compound A, C10H16 reacts with 1 molar equivalent(s) of hydrogen on catalytic hydrogenation. A undergoes reaction with ozone, followed by Zn treatment, to give a symmetrical diketone, C10H16O2 Propose a structure for A.

O

OH

Exam 1-Oxidative Cleavage

0 1 2 3 4 5 60

20

40

60

80

Per

cent

Rel

ated

OH

W

Oxidative Cleavage Exam Points

Exam 1

20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 1000

20

40

60

80

0 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Per

cent

OH

W C

ompl

eted

Exam 1 score

9

12

32

41

51

79

65

34

Exam 1

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 1000

20

40

60

80

Per

cent

with

at l

east

80%

OH

W

Exam 1 Score

10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Students were advised to completed at least 80% of online homework in order to prepare of

quizzes/exams

Type of Students

none 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 900

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Ge

ne

ral C

he

mis

try

Sco

re

Organic Homework Completed

na 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Type of Students

General chemistry score used as a measure of the type of student

none 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 900

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Ge

ne

ral C

he

mis

try

Sco

re

Organic Homework Completed

na 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 1000

20

40

60

80

20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Per

cent

OH

W C

ompl

eted

Exam 1 score

Exam 2-Stereochemistry

OHWIdentify the stereochemistry in each of the following compounds as R or S.

CO2H

CO2H CO2H

CO2H

Exam 2Assign R or S configurations to each indicated center of chirality in the molecules below .

O

Exam 2

Stereochemistry exam vs. OWL completed

-1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 130.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

129630

OW

L C

ompl

eted

Points Scored on Exam of 12

Exam 2

0-30 31-4041-5051-6061-7071-8081-9091-1000

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Per

cent

OH

W C

ompl

eted

Exam 2

30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

1137

31

54

66

748

65

Exam 2-80% Completion

30 40 50 60 70 80 90 1000

10

20

30

40

50

Per

cen

t with

at l

east

80%

OH

W

Exam 2 Score

OWL Improvement

-15

-10

-5

0

5

10

>20% 0-20% decrease decrease

Cha

nge

in H

omew

ork

Com

plet

ion

0-20% >20% increase increase

Exam 1 to Exam 2 Scores

Use of Tutorials

< 40% 41-50 51-60 61-70 71-80 > 81%0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Per

cent

Tut

orai

ls C

ompl

eted

Exam Score

Final Course Score

0

20

40

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100

Per

cent

OH

W C

ompl

eted

Course Score30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

0

20

40

60

80

100

Pe

rce

nt w

ith a

t le

ast

80

% O

HW

Exam 2 Score

80% Completion

Final Course Score

0

20

40

60

80

100

Per

cent

OH

W C

ompl

eted

Course Score30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Final Course Score

<400 401-450 451-500 501-550 551-600 >6010

20

40

60

80

100

Per

cent

OH

W C

ompl

eted

141 Grade/760

General Chemistry Organic Chemistry

SurveysI feel that online homework problems help me to learn the course material and achieved higher scores in my chemistry classes.

Strongly Agree Agree N/A Disagree Strongly Disagree0

10

20

30

40

50

Per

cent

Initial Final

SurveysIf practice problems were offered online but were not required of the class, I would complete them.

Strongly Agree Agree N/A Disagree Strongly Disagree0

10

20

30

40

50

Per

cent

Initial Final

OHW in Second Semester

2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 240

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Pe

rce

nt

of

Stu

de

nts

Att

em

ptin

g O

HW

Chapter

End of Semeste

r

Conclusions Careful consideration should be

given to using feedback and number of attempts

Participation based scoring does not seem to be enough motivation

Ultimate variable in success of homework programs is student motivation

Acknowledgements Dr. Kevin Walker Dr. Joyce Parker My CEM 251 students

40 50 60 70 80 90 1000

20

40

60

80

Nu

mb

er

of S

tud

en

ts

Course Score40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Surveys I feel that I am prepared to take standardized tests (MCAT, DAT, GRE) on a computer

Strongly Agree Agree N/A Disagree Strongly Disagree0

10

20

30

40

50

Per

cent

Initial Final

“I've learned to pace myself.”

“Maybe not fully prepared, but more than I was.”

“I learned to use the online problems and answer them electronically instead of on paper.”

SurveysI am able to learn material through online homework

Strongly Agree Agree N/A Disagree Strongly Disagree0

10

20

30

40

50

Per

cent

Initial Final

““The responses that I got back made me try again if I got the problem wrong and if I got it right, I know how much material I actually understand.”

“just homework in general“

SurveysOnline homework has prepared me for taking course quizzes and exams by allowing me to practice the specific material that will be covered and the form that the questions will take.

Strongly Agree Agree N/A Disagree Strongly Disagree0

10

20

30

40

50

Per

cent

Initial Final

“The homework was a lot like the quizzes, and if I was confused I would go on OWL to see how it was done.”

“I am usually always on my computer and by having online problems it was easier for me to do them rather than by reading the text and doing the text problems.”

Suggestions for future classes? I don't like that you have to use all the tries for the

problem before owl will give you an explanation of the answer. If we don't get it correct the first time then we don't understand it and need an explanation for why we got it wrong.

have more tries to get the problems right I used owl as a trial and error system, learning from my

mistakes. For us it was extra credit work, so going over the limit or tries didn't harm our grade. In the future though I think it would be more useful to allow more tries per problem.

It is very helpful... maybe there could be more tutorials for the last chapters because i found those the most confusing. Also, they could make a "flash-card section" just to help the students learn the reactions easier.

Final Exam

>30 31-40 41-50 51-60 61-70 71-80 81-90 91-1000

10

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50T

otal

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ompl

etio

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Final Exam Score

Final Exam

0 0-10 11-20 31-30 31-40 41-50 51-60 61-70 71-80 81-90 91-1000

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80

Fin

al E

xam

Sco

re

Percent OWL Completed

Final Course Grade

0 0-10 11-20 31-30 31-40 41-50 51-60 61-70 71-80 81-90 91-1000

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Cou

rse

Sco

re

Percent OWL Completed