WileyPLUS has developed several online training sessions and resources at their Web site (above). Interactive resources such as 2-Minute Tutorials and WileyPLUS for Dummies are well designed and helpful. Also, a regional representative hosted a half-day workshop on our campus before the semester started. These demonstrations and training sessions eased anxiety and confusion for faculty and paved the way for a successful adoption.

We have found CATALYST easy to learn and manage. It provides three basic functions for the instructor: prepares and manages course materials; assigns online homework; and tracks students’ learning and grades. Electronic textbook and supplementary instructional materials such as PowerPoint slides are provided. New assignments can be created by the instructor using end-of-chapter exercises or test bank questions. Each assignment can have a specific due date, and the number of attempts a student can make may be specified. The instructor can also choose whether and how much student assistance will be provided. Instant feedback and scores are provided to students after submission. The instructor can also evaluate the overall performance of the class on each assignment and on each question as well as track each attempt of an individual student.

For each chapter, CATALYST offers approximately 300 questions of various types with multiple levels of difficulty. Most questions have randomized variables for different attempts. The system provides several other resources: Catalyst Questions coaches students to reason their way through a problem by placing a strong emphasis on developing problem-solving skills and conceptual understanding. It uses multiple representations of core concepts—visual, graphic, and numeric—to facilitate deeper learning. Office Hours Videos are video clips of a chemistry instructor working step-by-step through selected end-of-chapter exercises. Skill-Building Tutorials are animated presentations of key concepts, problem-solving strategies, and fundamental tools for approaching general chemistry. Interactive Learning Ware includes exercises that lead students stepwise through the solutions to key end-of-chapter problems. Video Demonstrations are short video clips that illustrate chemical principles and laboratory procedures. Chem FAQs are alternative presentations for topics in the book. They use interactive examples through a series of questions to help students construct knowledge.

There were 57 students, all using CATALYST, who participated in our online survey after the fall 2008 semester; two questions addressed electronic aspects of the course.

Q: Which part of the WileyPLUS online learning ware works best for you?

A: 30% identified the online homework system (CATALYST); 9% identified the online textbook; 37% said the other online learning aids; 25% said there was no difference from a “regular” textbook.

Q: Which one of the following approaches best helps you learn?

A: 46% identified the lecture (including PowerPoint slides and lecture notes); 28% chose WileyPLUS online learning ware (including CATALYST); 19% chose group study and exams; 7% chose other aspects.

Unlimited availability is usually the user’s first requirement for any online system, which is what CATALYST has provided. During our experience it has only been out of service once for approximately 24 hours for maintenance reasons. Content and materials from the system are also accurate and reliable, although minor errors may exist from chapter to chapter. At present we are providing correction feedback to WileyPLUS. Although CATALYST was designed to allow faculty to import a student roster and export grades as spreadsheets, direct data transfer has not been achieved with Desire2Learn,⁴ the online course management system used for every course at East Tennessee State University.

Although we haven’t yet collected any evidence showing improved student learning with CATALYST, it does provide a preferable or at least an alternative way for students to study and practice. As an instructor, my experiences with CATALYST for preparing course material, assigning homework, and class management have been successful. The online learning system allows a student to learn and practice simultaneously. With instant feedback, links to content, illustrative hints, and multimedia resources, students are encouraged to learn. CATALYST also provides an instructor with a convenient way to track student performance and help identify potential instructional challenges.

Notes

1. Throughout this review, the name CATALYST refers to WileyPLUS with CATALYST, which is customized to various Wiley texts. The CATALYST component is also available separately; (both sites accessed Apr 2009).
2. The price varies: bookstore markups vary; the program is less expensive if used with an e-book or purchased online; bundling options are available. East Tennessee bookstore prices: WileyPLUS with CATALYST for the Brady text3 standalone (including e-book) is $93.30/student for 18 months; if bundled, WileyPLUS with CATALYST with the Brady text3 (print version) is $209.30. Alternatively, if purchased online directly from Wiley, WileyPLUS with CATALYST (using the e-book version of the Brady text3) costs $77.95.
3. Brady, James E.; Senese, Frederick Chemistry: Matter and Its Changes, 5th ed.; John Wiley & Sons: New York, 2007.
4. Information about the course management system Desire2Learn is available online (accessed Apr 2009).