comparing things side by side

1. Comparing Feedback Mechanisms in
Sapling Learning & Mastering Chemistry.
Question:
Given a pressure and initial and final volumes, use w = -PΔV to
calculate the work done by/on a system. Convert units from
L.atm to J or kJ.
The calculation is simple, but students learning to work this
problem might make several mistakes:
1. A failure to identify and convert units
2. A mistake with the sign of the calculation.
3. A mistake in significant figures
How do the two homework systems compare in feedback and
format? Which is easier to use?

2. Avoid the straw man argument.
Any company can compare an excellent question from
their system with a weaker question from another.
Professors should consider working several comparable
problems for themselves, to really evaluate which
system is easier to use.

3. A Question in Sapling Learning
1. A screenshot of the question.

4. Sapling Learning
1. Student correctly calculates
PΔV in Lˑatm, but does not
convert to kJ. Feedback
appears within the window.
2. Let’s Try Again.

5. Sapling Learning
3. Student converts from Lˑatmto
Joules, but fails to convert to kJ.

6. Sapling Learning
4. Feedback prompts student to go
to kJ.

7. Sapling Learning
5. Student converts to kJ, but gets sign
backward. Again, feedback appears.

8. Sapling Learning
5. Student gets answer correct.

9. A similar question in
Mastering Chemistry
1. A screenshot of the question.

10. A screenshot of the question –
cropped for better visibility.
(Remainder of question:
“…from a volume of 0.130 liters to 0.500 liters.”)

11. Mastering Chemistry
2. The student first uses w = -PΔV,
and correctly reaches an answer in
units of L.atm . This information is
entered.

12. Mastering Chemistry
3. Student receives “Incorrect” Feedback,
and message about units. Which units are
needed?

13. Mastering Chemistry
1. Not sure which units to use, the
student looks under “Hints” tab.

14. Mastering Chemistry
4. “Hints” tab is a pop-up window.
5. Student clicks “Hint 1”

15. 6. After clicking Hint 1, the
following feedback pops up. The
student just lost points, but still is
not sure what units to use.

16. Mastering Chemistry
7. The student closes the hints
window, and looks for more
information in the “my answers”
tab.

17. Mastering Chemistry
8. A new window appears, giving a
list of answers given so far.

18. Mastering Chemistry
9. The student closes the My
Answers window, and moves to the
help menu to see about recognized
units.

19. 10. The help menu.
11. Oh, here is the list of units.

20. 12. Lets see…I need units for
energy and work

21. 13. After clicking “Energy and
work”, the selection expands.
Liters.atm is not listed. Which unit
should I use?

22. Mastering Chemistry
14. Let’s look at the question one
more time…
15. Oh, maybe they want the
answer in Joules.

23. 16. The student correctly converts from L.atm
to Joules.
17. The student remembers to include a minus
sign, since it was an expansion.
18. Student puts in answer…

24. 19. Bizarrely, the help-menu pops back up as soon as
the student hits submit.
20. After closing the help menu, the student sees that
the question is counted correct, and difference in
significant figures is noted.

25. Conclusions
While systems may offer similar
features, Sapling’s extensive in-window
feedback provides a much less stressful, easy-to-
follow feedback mechanism.
Ultimately, students learn by working problems.
The less time students spend navigating help
menus and searching for information, the more
time they can spend working problems.