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Success Stories
Building Math Readiness In A General Chemistry Course
Professor Kyle Wagner turned to Aktiv’s Readiness module to give students the opportunity to strengthen the math skills they need for General Chemistry.
Kyle Wagner
Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Thomas Jefferson University
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The General Chemistry program at Thomas Jefferson University serves approximately 400 students annually. As the course coordinator, Dr. Kyle Wagner is responsible for developing a foundational curriculum to engage students in a variety of majors, including biochemistry, biology, pre-medical, pre-pharmacy, nursing, health sciences, biopsychology, exercise science, and more. But that’s easier said than done when students arrive to class with varying levels of math and chemistry preparedness. To foster a more engaging and effective learning environment, and especially to close the math skills gap, Wagner integrated Aktiv Chemistry’s Readiness module into his General Chemistry I course. Two years into using Aktiv, he’s excited to share how it’s impacted student outcomes.
Closing the math preparedness gap in General Chemistry
The biggest challenge that Wagner observed in his classroom was teaching both students who were math phobics and those who were math enthusiasts. Many learners struggled with the mathematical aspects of chemistry, even when they understood the conceptual setup of an equation. Beyond academics, first-year college students often face difficulties with organization and self-discipline, which are crucial for success in a rigorous chemistry course.
Despite efforts to correlate math scores with chemistry performance, Wagner’s own analysis revealed a “scatter” of results. “Some students come to class feeling confident in math, but their skills might not always match. We’ve tried to correlate math and chemistry scores and surprisingly there’s no relation—some students do better in math and poorly in chemistry, and vice versa,” he shares. This analysis highlighted the need for a platform that could not only address math readiness but also provide a structured, low-stress introduction to complex course material. That’s where Aktiv came in handy.
Using Aktiv Chemistry’s Readiness module to diagnose learning gaps early in the term
To tackle the ongoing challenge of math preparedness, Wagner first began using Aktiv Chemistry’s math foundation problems in summer 2023. He started using Aktiv’s new Readiness module to emphasize the value of frequent practice. This module helped diagnose students’ math and chemistry prerequisite knowledge gaps and even offered personalized remediation to improve confidence and performance. This assignment is available for students to complete a couple of weeks prior to the new semester and is due during the second week of the course. Ultimately, Wagner has set up the assignment due date in a way to encourage students to “hit the ground running.” It accounts for three percent of their final grade, motivating completion, while regular homework throughout the semester counts for 10 percent.
Wagner was drawn to Aktiv’s Readiness module for the following reasons:
- Reduced first-week chaos: By completing the assignment before the semester begins, students are less stressed about understanding course expectations, allowing them to acclimate to the Aktiv platform early on.
- Addressing knowledge gaps: Wagner observes a general improvement in performance thanks partially to the interactive assignments in Aktiv. “I found that students who don’t complete their Aktiv assignment are more likely to struggle on the first exam,” he says.
- Fostering self-discipline: The Readiness module encourages students to develop organizational skills and a routine for studying, which are vital for success in chemistry.
- Personalized study support: After students complete their Readiness assignment, they’re provided with a personalized study plan that emphasizes math and chemistry topics they haven’t grasped yet.
Wagner has also started incorporating general chemistry components into the Readiness module, in addition to the math topics, and is awaiting data to see if this further aids students on their first exam. Wagner’s use of Aktiv extends beyond in-class questions, homework and the Readiness diagnostic. He also engages students using an integrated OpenStax title called Atoms First General Chemistry, which students can access directly in Aktiv. He reports his class is widely receptive to the text because it is free and has step-by-step problem solving videos, interactive simulations and built-in assessment questions.
Improved exam scores and strong praise on end-of-semester surveys
Students have responded overwhelmingly in favor of using Aktiv as evidenced by feedback on end-of-term surveys. They generally find the platform easy to use and appreciate its interactive features including Aktiv’s drag-and-drop molecular builder. Wagner has collected feedback from students on the impact of Aktiv. Here’s what they had to say:
- Targeted feedback: “Using Aktiv Chemistry for homeworks and in class assignments was constructive because it provided explanations when I got something wrong, helping me better understand what I was doing wrong.”
- Opportunities for practice: “I also think that the worksheets and Aktiv questions were helpful because they forced me to revisit the materials covered in class multiple times. The worksheets I thought were super helpful because they reflected quiz/exam questions, had clear answer keys to check my work, and were available for almost all the concepts covered. Overall, I came in with little to no chemistry knowledge but had a successful first semester of chemistry!”
- Room for active learning: “The Aktiv questions at the end of class helped clear up any confusion I had about the lesson.”
Additionally, Wagner has noticed improved participation and attendance over time as a result of incorporating Aktiv during live lectures. “Grades are high during live classes because we break it down based on participation and attendance. Usually everyone has close to 100 percent for their in-class component with Aktiv,” he says.
About the Faculty
Kyle Wagner is an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Thomas Jefferson University. He earned his PhD from Lehigh University in 2013. His research focuses on the dynamics and interactions of nanomaterials and he is especially interested in the interactions between single-stranded DNA and carbon nanotubes. Most recently, he has explored the stability of DNA-carbon nanotube complexes via kinetics experiments.
Kyle Wagner
Assistant Professor of Chemistry at Thomas Jefferson University
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