The role of distance learning in chemical education

Abstract

The role of chemistry as the central science (because it addresses the principles associated with the molecularity of the world) presages an increasing interest in the subject at the entry-level. Indeed, in some institutions the conventional, classically derived, teaching environment—lectures, laboratories, and, perhaps, discussions—is proving inadequate to the task at hand, i.e. the instruction of increasing numbers of students with a widening variety of interests in the subject. The present educational environment is generally passive and exercise- oriented instead of active and problem-solving-oriented. Over the past several years we have been addressing a number of educational issues in a distance learning environment. Over the past < 25 years, interactive digital technology has been shown to assist certain conventional learning and teaching environments. We present here a description of an integra- tion of all previously described successful computer-based techniques as well as some newer techniques into a distance-learning environment. We describe the nuances of the use of on- demand delivery of quizzes, interactive homework, simulations in the context of lecture- oriented content, as well as audio digital lectures at a concept-bite level; additionally, we describe the use of a variety of electronic interactions intended to encourage collaborative learning.