9752985 This project will result in a set of high-quality, interactive learning tools for organic chemistry. It has three main components: the designing and writing interactive materials for the EMOC website, developing tools for facilitating alternative methods of assessment, and evaluating existing and future materials as they become available on the EMOC website. The materials are being developed using hypertext markup language (HTML) with interactivity provided by common gateway interface (CGI) scripts written in the Perl scripting language. Database interface tools will be developed for the Oracle Database Server using the OraPerl add-on's to Perl. This combination of technologies provides flexibility while serving the intended audience through commonly available software interfaces. Evaluation will be highly interactive and consist of free- response student surveys as well as individual interviews and focus group meetings. Student attitude towards both the interactive technologies and the learning impact of the materials will be surveyed. The development of interactive database tools removes the 'bookkeeping' related with authentic, process-oriented assessment of large introductory undergraduate courses. This project advanced the development of learning environments for undergraduate organic chemistry courses involving large numbers of students.
