General information and resources

Distance Education Clearinghouse website at the University of Wisconsin offers articles, bibliographies, conferences, distance education web links and many additional resources.

Distance-educator.com - This commercial site offers current news and lists of useful links.

BrainTrack's list of online colleges

North American Council for On-line Learning - a non-profit organization promoting expertise in K-12 on-line teaching and learning.

Center for Distributed Learning - California State University

{"Student performance in an online general chemistry course"} - this paper by Ruby Casanova was discussed in a 2001 OCCE.

Eight Ways to Get Students More Engaged in Online Conferences (an article in the Adobe T.H.E. journal by W.R. Klemm of Texas A&M)

{Electronic Textbooks: A Pilot Study of Student E-Reading Habits} - an article by Eric J. Simon of Fordham College. (Link is to last archived update, 10/2006.)

Models of distance education - a brief summary of the various means of organizing and supporting distance education.

Robert Lyall of Monash University has published several articles on chemistry distance learning: "Learning tool of potplant stand?" (CAL)

Web Teaching - this site, hosted by Dartmouth College, is a well-organized collection of articles, case studies, links and resources for designers of Web-based instruction.

 

Chemistry distance education courses

CMU on-line Chemistry course - as part of an "Open Learning Initiative", Carnegie Mellon University offers what appears to be a demonstration course on chemical stoichiometry that illustrates several innovative approaches, including a simulation-based Virtual Laboratory. The "open and free" version is available to anyone; an Academic Version is also available that can be used in connection with existing courses.

Online Chemistry & Lab Courses - Oregon State U. now offers "Ecourses" in General-, Organic-, and Inorganic Chemistry.

On-line Introductory Chemistry This Web-based course by Walter Volland of Bellevue Community College is intended for people who need a laboratory science, are pursuing prenursing or health occupations careers, are required to complete a series of chemistry classes, or need the introductory course for introductory organic chemistry . Experiments are done at home using consumer products.

Chemistry instruction at Merlin's Academy of Alchemy - a not-for-credit introductory course.

Friendly Chemistry Online - a course for home-schoolers and others covering basic Chemistry, consisting of "24 lessons designed to be completed at your own pace. Each lesson consists of a text reading assignment, two to three pages of practice exercises followed by an evaluation to document your progress, all with the guidance of a personal tutor!"

Kennesaw State University (GA) - Offers "e-Learning" courses are based upon a semester system with fixed dates for tests and the final exam. There are requirements for electronic interaction with other class members (analogous to in-class participation and group work) and requirements for participation in the web sites. (Leon L. Combs)

Online course in Polymer Science - this commercial course ($50) is for those who already have a basic knowledge of chemistry. Universal Class also offers on-line courses in many other subjects.

North Dakota Division of Independent Study: High School Chemistry - a two-semester sequence offered online. Employs on-line simulated labs. (To access this site, go here and follow links to High School>Science>Chemistry.)

University of Massachusets - Lowell: {Applied Chemistry for Non-scientists} (2002-2004) - A 3-credit course covering basic chemical principles - atomic structure, bonding and interparticle forces, physical and chemical properties of matter. Applications to current issues (e.g., environmental chemistry, biochemistry, food and drug chemistry.) On-line simulated lab experiments. (≤2004)

Laboratory

Virtlab is a "virtual laboratory where students deduce scientific principles by performing laboratory experiments." It employs Flash- and JavaScript-enhanced Web technologies, as well as spreadsheet files. In addition to various simulatins, they claim to offer considerable flexibility in model-building for more curious students to explore.

A distance-learning laboratory project - a 2005 article by Jimmy Reeves of U of North Carolina, describing in some detail a home-study lab to accompany a one-semester course for non-majors.

A distance-learning laboratory project - a 2005 article by Jimmy Reeves of U of North Carolina, describing in some detail a home-study lab to accompany a one-semester course for non-majors.

Home Science Tools and kits for science projects.

Basic Sciences Supply for chemistry- a commercial site offering a variety of devices, gifts and resources.

Science Laboratory Kits for Distance Learning (At Home Science, Inc.) They offer "LabPaq" kits designed for chemistry courses at various levels.

LateNiteLabs offers Reactor, a Web-based laboratory simulation package that allows students to carry out virtual-hands-on experiments, either as pre-lab exercises or as a major part of distance-education courses.