American Chemical Society
National Meeting 2012 Philadephia
Drs. Mai Yin Tsoi, David Pursell, Patrick
Coppock, Sang Park, Richard Pennington,
Joseph Sloop, Julia Paredes, Dave Gabrell
School of Science and Technology
for Innovative Use of Educational
Technology
School of Science and Technology
Study A:
Study B:
Use of iTouch in
Organic Chemistry
Course
Development of App in
an Interdisciplinary
Project
E-Resources - public
Student Surveys
Student Interviews
Class Quizzes
Organic Class = client
Hiring of ITEC Class for
project
Modeling real-world
Software Development
App helps Organic
students learn
Interviews / Surveys
School of Science and Technology
GGC Vision1
 learning takes place continuously in and beyond the classroom
 innovative use of educational technology
 integrated educational experience that develops the whole person
 wellspring of educational innovation
 dynamic learning community
 faculty engagement in teaching and mentoring students
 innovative approaches to education
SST Mission2
. . . provides an innovative, engaging, outcomes-based learning
experience for students in science courses . . . (charge from Dean
Thomas G. Mundie)
1Georgia
2School
Gwinnett College Web page, http://www.ggc.usg.edu/about-ggc
of Science and Technology Mission, http://www.ggc.usg.edu/academics/school-of-science-and-technology
School of Science and Technology
Evolution of Organic Chemistry
iTouch Project
Cell Phone Flash Cards and Airliner Videos (2007-2009)
iTouch Project (2010)
Flash Card
Improvement
Airliner Video
Reformatting
 Facebook
Laboratory Technique
Podcast Production
 Online HW
iTouch Website
Development
TsoiChem App
Development
Learning App Practice
Flashcards
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“Front”
“Back”
Ether
example:
School of Science and Technology
Low n  low power statistically
Average attitude scores > 3.9 (Likert Scale)
Interview Data: positive opinions, high
motivation to use resources
School of Science and Technology
Internal GGC Grant = $5000
Purchased 50 Apple iTouch
devices
Distributed to 2 class sections
Voluntary Participation
Demographic Survey
Chemistry Attitude (CAEQ)1
and Tech Attitude Surveys
Quiz scores
Interviews of selected students
1. Dalgety, J. et al. (2003) Development of Chemistry Attitudes and Experiences
Questionnaire. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 40, 7, p 649-668.
School of Science and Technology
Tutorial Podcasts
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Laboratory Technique Videos
• Students watch videos outside of lab class
• Expectation: learn theory and techniques
• iTouch/mobile devices enabled in-lab, real
time viewing
• non-iTouch students used laptops
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Reaction Flashcards
Hydrohalogenation
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School of Science and Technology
School of Science and Technology
School of Science and Technology
PRACTICE IT
NAME IT
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FIND IT
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•No significant difference in quiz scores
•By gender
•By age
•By ethnicity
•Possible Issues:
•Teacher Effects
•Limited content resources
•Quizzes not directly linked to iTouch
resources
School of Science and Technology
•Chemistry Attitude (CA)– measure of
self-efficacy in chemistry-related tasks
•CA change – difference between CA at start and
at midterm of semester
•Technology Attitude (TA)—measure of selfefficacy in using technology
School of Science and Technology
•No gender differences in CA change
•CA change at Start correlates negatively with CA
change at Midterm (p < 0.004)
•The higher CA at start, the less change at midterm
•As Age increases, CA change decreases
significantly (p = 0.068)
School of Science and Technology
•As Cell Usage increases, CA change increases
significantly (p =0.029)
•In Non–iTouch sections, no correlation between
Cell Usage and CA change (p = 0.624)
•In iTouch section, correlation between Cell
Usage and CA change significant
(p = 0.059)
School of Science and Technology
• iTouch students did better on Quiz 11.2 than nonitouch students (p = 0.001)
• Quiz 11.2: iTouch students with higher CA did
better than iTouch students who had lower CA
• Quiz 11.2 – directly related to reaction flashcards
• Higher CA midterm correlates with less usage for
all chapters
• Higher TA midterm correlates with more usage for
all chapters
School of Science and Technology
Strong CA = less change in CA = less usage
Strong TA = more usage
Older students = less change in CA
Assuming Cell usage = technology comfort:
High Cell Usage + iTouch = CA increase
High Cell Usage + no iTouch = no CA increase
iTouch + high CA = higher grade on flashcard
dependent quiz
Maybe because of higher usage?
School of Science and Technology
School of Science and Technology
Study Interviewee
Purpose
Did/Did Not
Use
General
Comments
Necessity
Phung
Did
Lots of
personalization
MultiFunction,
mobile
Thorough
Brenda
Did, Some
personalization
Uses all given
resources
Efficient
Matt
Did, Lots of
personalization
Saves time,
minimize effort
USED OWN
iPHONE
School of Science and Technology
If technology supported
learning/study style  USE
If learning style was not enhanced by technology
 NO USE
iTouch added “study purpose” to use
• Prior technology experience
NOT a factor
School of Science and Technology
Males greater CA change (p=0.078)
The more times technology used for studying,
the greater CA change (p=0.057)
School of Science and Technology
Technology Attitude
Older students decreased in TA more
than younger (p=0.008)
Higher TA = greater TA change
(p=0.013)
Digital Divide
Those required Connect = greater TA
increase (p=0.080, *confounding
issue)
Females greater TA change (p=0.030)
90
p < 0.029
80
70
Chemistry
Attitude
Change
40
30
20
1
2
3
6
7
5
4
# of ways cellphone is used
daily
8
9
80
70
p < 0.068
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Older
Students
Younger
Students
120
100
iTouch
80
p<0.03
60
40
20
0
Non-iTouch
120
100
80
Older
Students
p<0.008
60
Younger
Students
40
20
0
School of Science and Technology
70
60
p<0.057
50
40
30
20
10
0
1 device
2 devices
3 devices
4 devices
School of Science and Technology
5 devices
•Age
•Gender
•Technology Background
•Technology Attitude
•Chemistry Attitude
•# of Tech Tools Used for Studying
•Access to Mobile Device
School of Science and Technology
Expand study
investigate more factors
iPads / tablets
Technology rich classroom experience
Refocus Interviews
Examine ways in which resources are
used
School of Science and Technology
Mai Yin Tsoi, Ph.D
mtsoi@ggc.edu
(678) 524-7992
School of Science and Technology