Mixed-Methods Study of Online and Written Organic Chemistry Homework

Connect for organic chemistry is an online learning tool that gives students the opportunity to learn about all aspects of organic chemistry through the ease of the digital world. This research project consisted of two fundamental questions. The first was to discover whether there was a difference in undergraduate organic chemistry content knowledge between students at a public institution who complete homework assignments online and those who complete homework assignments on paper. The second was to determine what kind of effect online homework had on student learning. Courses were designated at random to perform either online homework or traditional homework. At the end of the semester, students were asked to fill out a survey regarding their thoughts on the homework method used for their course. Students’ exam grades were then analyzed. Students who utilized the Connect homework program did significantly better than those who completed traditional homework ( p < 0.006, n = 112). The ACS average exam percentile score for sections using online homework was higher, 59.5, than those who used paper homework, 45.9. From the surveys, students mentioned that feedback and ease of use were the primary advantages to the online homework system.