The Preview - Learn - Review - Study system developed by Frank L. Christ, and variations such as the Study Cycle adaptation from Louisiana State University, rely on the students engaging the material in some way prior to attending class. The problem lies in how best to ensure a meaningful preview of the material. Assigned readings or required videos followed by several questions are one such approach, but neither direct the student's focus as the material is being viewed. As a response, an interactive second semester general chemistry textbook has been independently written and coded into the on-line homework software, WebAssign. As the students read, they are prompted to answer questions about the content (text, graphs, images and/or animations) which they may submit for immediate feedback. The intent is to not only check for comprehension, but also help guide students toward learning how to read a science text. The talk will focus on the role of interactive textbooks in ensuring that the student preview of the material is meaningful, while touching on the cost effectiveness of independent content. Examples will be drawn from the authors text, but emphasis will be placed on encouraging the development of independent materials across a variety of platforms.

Focusing on the preview component of the study cycle: Creation of an independent, interactive general chemistry text to direct and assess student reading prior to class

251st National Meeting (2016)

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