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"One Firm Spot": The Role of Homework as Lever in Acquiring Conceptual and Performance Competence in College Chemistry

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Gaea Leinhardt

Learning Research and Development Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260

Jordi Cuadros and David Yaron

Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213

J. Chem. Educ., 2007, 84 (6), p 1047

DOI: 10.1021/ed084p1047

Publication Date (Web): June 1, 2007

Abstract

While learning at the K–12 level is a well-characterized process, how learning occurs in college is still underspecified. We report in this paper how different learning opportunities affect achievement in a large college chemistry class that makes use of authentic problem-solving activities supported by scenarios and virtual laboratories. Our study reveals that: (a) a significant portion of the learning takes place in the self-directed study the last few days before the exams; (b) authentic problem-solving activities have an important mediating effect in learning; (c) self-directed study and homework are the most relevant learning opportunities, explaining 48% of the course achievement in this course; (d) study and carefully planned homework activities can overcome the initial differences in prior knowledge.

Keywords (Audience):

First-Year Undergraduate / General

Keywords (Domain):

Chemical Education Research

Keywords (Feature):

Chemical Education Research

Keywords (Pedagogy):

Computer-Based Learning

Keywords (Subject):

Learning Theories

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This article has been cited by 2 ACS Journal articles (2 most recent appear below).

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  JudithAnn R. Hartman and Shirley Lin
  Journal of Chemical Education2011 Article ASAP
  The percentage of students choosing the correct answer (PSCA) on 17 multiple-choice algorithmic questions taken from general chemistry exams is analyzed. PSCAs for these questions varied from 47 to 93%, and a decrease of 4.5% in PSCA was observed with ...
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Instruction Online: Core Components for Re-Use
David YaronMichael KarabinosGaea LeinhardtJames GreenoJodi DavenportBruce McLarenLaura BartoloJohn PortmanColin AsheW. Craig CarterDonald Sadoway
2010 (), 235-262
- Instruction Online: Core Components for Re-Use
  David YaronMichael KarabinosGaea LeinhardtJames GreenoJodi DavenportBruce McLarenLaura BartoloJohn PortmanColin AsheW. Craig CarterDonald Sadoway
  2010 (), 235-262
  This chapter reflects on our development of technology for chemical education over the past one and a half decades. We begin by identifying those features of educational components that hold the greatest promise for education. Although there are many ...
  Abstract | Full Text HTML | Hi-Res PDF | PDF w/ Links