The Research Behind REAL CHEM
Built on Learning Science. Results Proven in Real Classrooms.
Large Gains in Gateway Chemistry
6.9% pt
14.5% pt
Outperforms
National
Benchmarks
Using Data to Improve Chemistry Education
Feedback Loops for Continuous Improvement
The Research
Papers, conference proceedings, and posters from the REAL CHEM team and collaborators.
Large Gains in Gateway Chemistry: REAL CHEM Enables Strong Gains When Combined with a Retake-Based Pedagogical Model
Hartman, J.D & The REAL CHEM Research Team (2026). Case study: Large gains in gateway chemistry: REAL CHEM enables strong gains when combined with a retake-based pedagogical model. Manuscript in preparation. University of California, Riverside, Arizona State University, & Carnegie Mellon University.
REAL CHEM Action Research Through the LearnLab Summer School.
Henderson, J.B. , Bass, S.M., Dwyer, R.P. , Larson, K. , Mead, C., Stein, A., & Yaron, D.J. (2026). REAL CHEM action research through the learnlab summer school. In Craig, S. D., Arner, T., & McNamara, D. S. (Eds.), Proceedings of the Learning Engineering Research Network Convening (LERN 2026): From Insights to Implementation, Learning Engineering in Action. LERN Convention Proceedings.
Designing for Student Engagement with AI in Courseware
Stein, A., Ciou, S. T., Cui, T., Larson, K., Lee, L., Li, S., … & Yaron, D. J. (2026). Designing for student engagement with AI in courseware: Lessons from iterative improvements to DOT in REAL CHEM. In Craig, S. D., Arner, T., & McNamara, D. S. (Eds.), Proceedings of the Learning Engineering Research Network Convening (LERN 2026): From Insights to Implementation, Learning Engineering in Action. LERN Convention Proceedings.
How Students Really Use Courseware: Visualizing Student Pathways in Integrated Chemistry Courseware
Yaron, D.J., Dwyer, R.P., & The REAL CHEM Research Team, (2026, February). How students really use courseware: Visualizing student pathways in integrated chemistry courseware [Poster presentation]. Gates Foundation Digitally Enabled Teaching & Learning Research Convening, San Diego, CA.
Keeping Chemistry Relevant: Tracking Student Sentiment in REAL CHEM
Mead, C., Dwyer, R.P., Larson, K., Stein, A., Yaron, D.J., Czerwinski, E., Nkrumah, T., & Roscoe, R., (2026, February) Keeping chemistry relevant: Tracking student sentiment in REAL CHEM [Poster presentation]. The Learning Engineering Research Network Convening (LERN 2026), Arizona State University
Reasoning LLMs are Competent Courseware Reviewers
Dwyer, R.P., & Yaron, D.J., (2026, February). Reasoning LLMs are competent courseware reviewers [Poster presentation]. Gates Foundation Digitally Enabled Teaching & Learning Research Convening, San Diego, CA.
Not All Practice is Equal: Learning Across Activity Types in Chemistry Courseware
Dwyer, R.P., & Yaron, D.J., & The REAL CHEM Research Team, (2026, February). Not all practice is equal: Learning across activity types in chemistry courseware [Poster presentation]. Gates Foundation Digitally Enabled Teaching & Learning Research Convening, San Diego, CA.
DOT as an embedded AI learning partner in REAL CHEM
Larson, K., Stein, A., Yaron, D.J., Dwyer, R.P., Mead, C., Henderson, B., & The METALS Capstone Team, (2026, February). DOT as an embedded AI learning partner in REAL CHEM [Poster presentation]. Gates Foundation Digitally Enabled Teaching & Learning Research Convening, San Diego, CA.
Mastery Learning in Large-Enrollment General Chemistry
Hartman, J.D. & Eichler, J., (2026, February). Mastery learning in large-enrollment general chemistry [Poster presentation]. Gates Foundation Digitally Enabled Teaching & Learning Research Convening, San Diego, CA.
The promise of mastery-based testing for promoting student engagement, self-regulated learning, and performance in gateway STEM courses
Asher, M. W., Hartman, J. D., Blaser, M., Eichler, J. F., & Carvalho, P. F. (2025). The promise of mastery-based testing for promoting student engagement, self-regulated learning, and performance in gateway STEM courses. Computers & Education, 237, 105387.
Mathematics matters or maybe not: An astonishing independence between mathematics and the rate of learning in general chemistry
Koedinger, K. R., Blaser, M., McLaughlin, E. A., Cheng, H., & Yaron, D. J. (2025). Mathematics matters or maybe not: An astonishing independence between mathematics and the rate of learning in general chemistry. JACS Au, 5(3), 1268-1278.
Impact of Semester Timing on Student Outcomes in the First Course of a General Chemistry Sequence
Bass, S.M., Carpenter, T., & Henderson, B., (2025, September). Impact of semester timing on student outcomes in the first course of a general chemistry sequence [Poster presentation]. Provost’s Teaching and Learning Symposium, University of Maryland, Baltimore County.
Implementing mastery grading in large enrollment general chemistry: improving outcomes and reducing equity gaps
Hartman, J. D., & Eichler, J. F. (2024). Implementing mastery grading in large enrollment general chemistry: Improving outcomes and reducing equity gaps. Education Sciences, 14(11), 1224.
Faculty as Research Partners
“I’m really excited to continue with this community of practice and to take part in whatever comes next, like Community of Practice Convening this summer at BCCE. The digital collaboration has been great, but there’s nothing like being in the same room—you can see just how much gets accomplished in a short time. It’s been a truly great experience.”
“The research collaboration has been an incredibly rewarding experience—there’s something powerful about the shared accountability, expertise, and excitement. The foundation we built during last year’s Community of Practice Convening has carried forward into multiple ongoing projects, and we’re now getting close to producing publishable work from at least a couple of them.”
