Chemical Education Today
ChemSkill Builder, Version 5.1 James D. Spain and Harold J. Peters. Electronic Homework Systems, Inc.: 129 Leslie Lane, Pendleton, SC, 1997. ISBN 29670-9697. $19.50
The day of electronic homework in general chemistry classes is rapidly approaching and, indeed, has arrived for many chemistry instructors. It is difficult to fully understand all the possibilities available, but the ChemSkill Builder should be considered by all criteria to be one of the best General Chemistry electronic homework packages. The package is a 3-disk set or a CD plus a record management disk. The program is divided into 24 chapters much like the topics of nearly all general chemistry textbooks. Each chapter is usually subdivided into four to six subsections. Each subsection contains instruction and a set of questions. Since the number of questions varies and the actual questions differ each time a student goes through the subunit, each student has a unique set of questions. Students can repeat subunits or entire chapters; their highest score will be recorded. The time spent on each subunit is also recorded. The scores can easily be downloaded to an electronic spreadsheet, gradebook, etc. The questions in this program range in difficulty. If one is not answered correctly, the computer offers helpful hints, and after two unsuccessful attempts the correct answer is given. The programs will not move to the next question until a question has been answered correctly or two wrong attempts have been entered. Partial credit is given when the correct answer is given on a second attempt. Especially during the first several chapters, the use of significant figures and the inclusion of units are strictly enforced. The program was found to be friendly. It is easy to use, has large visuals, gives friendly comments, is patient, and gives immediate feedback, and the information is very well encrypted. To our knowledge our students have not been successful in attempts to falsify data, etc. Most attempts yielded a program that no longer worked.
Each of the 24 units contains sufficient introductory comments and examples that the unit can stand alone. As a result, students can be assigned to work units in a variety of sequences. For example, our students study thermodynamics before equilibrium. ChemSkill Builder contains only minimal graphics, popup tables, and animation. The graphics are simple but one needs to remember that this programs fits on just 3 disks and sells for only about $20. The program is not without its faults. For example, the response of “okay” for a correct answer implies that a better answer was possible when no better answer was possible. There is an occasional annoying ding. There are some rather picky answers. For example, for the question “Is methane more or less volatile than methanol?” CSB would give credit for “more” but no credit for “more volatile”. In the unit on kinetics the units for rate were not always given and students were left to guess whether the given rate is in terms of seconds or minutes. The treatment of the electron configuration of elements in the lanthanide series, the required space between terms in equilibrium expressions, and units in yrs but not yr or years are some of the other annoyances that I observed. Our students often comment about the many hours that they spend on their ChemSkill Builder assignments, but they also really believe that it is a very important learning aid. Even with its imperfections, limitations, lack of coordination with the textbook being used, and nit picking regarding significant figures and units, this is still an excellent program for the price. It does not write tests, print homework assignments, or tutor much beyond basic introduction to each unit; it simply does a commendable job of walking students through homework exercises and maintaining a record of the their efforts. The authors encourage interested individuals to check out the Web page at http://www.avalon.net/~Chemskill. M. Larry Peck Chemistry Department Texas A&M University College Station, TX
JChemEd.chem.wisc.edu • Vol. 75 No. 7 July 1998 • Journal of Chemical Education
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