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.
No publications match these filters
Try another year or publication type.
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.
Read Paper (PDF)REAL CHEM White Paper: Supporting Diverse Learners in a Fully Online General Education Chemistry Course
Bernal, E. (2026). REAL CHEM white paper: Supporting diverse learners in a fully online general education chemistry course. REAL CHEM. California State University, Long Beach.
Read Paper (PDF)Keeping Chemistry Relevant: Tracking Student Sentiment in REAL CHEM
Abigail Stein, Erin Czerwinski (Carnegie Mellon University); Chris Mead, Rod Roscoe, Tara Nkrumah (Arizona State University)
View VideoBuilding a Network Improvement Community Through Data-Informed Decision Making by REAL CHEM
Kim Larson, Bryan Henderson (Arizona State University); Sarah Bass (University of Maryland, Baltimore County); Josh Hartman (University of California, Riverside); Ryan Dwyer (University of Mount Union); David Yaron, Mark Blaser, Chris Mead, Abigail Stein (Carnegie Mellon University)
View VideoNot All Practice Is Equal: How Effort and Activity Type Shape Learning in Online Courseware
Abigail Stein, Erin Czerwinski (Carnegie Mellon University); Chris Mead, Rod Roscoe, Tara Nkrumah (Arizona State University)
View VideoDistillation Discussion on Course Policies
David Yaron, Mark Blaser (Carnegie Mellon University); Julia Chamberlain (University of California, Davis); Sarah Bass (University of Maryland, Baltimore County)
View VideoUsing Learning Curve Analysis to Refine Interdisciplinary Chemistry Materials
Josh Hartman (University of California, Riverside)
View VideoFrom Chatbot to Socratic Learning Partner: Designing Embedded AI to Support Reasoning in REAL CHEM
Kim Larson (Arizona State University); Abigail Stein (Carnegie Mellon University)
View VideoA-PAVR: A Structured Generative AI Framework for Self-Regulated Learning in General Chemistry I at an Open-Access Two-Year College
Ryan Holcomb (Salt Lake Community College)
View VideoLeveraging AI for Mastery Grading in Large-Enrollment General Chemistry
Josh Hartman (University of California, Riverside)
View VideoREAL 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.
Read Paper (PDF)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. LERN Convention Proceedings.
Read Paper (PDF)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.
View Poster (PDF)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
View Poster (PDF)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.
View Poster (PDF)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.
View Poster (PDF)DOT as an Embedded AI Learning Partner in REAL CHEM
Larson, K., Stein, A., Yaron, D.J., Dwyer, R.P., Mead, C., Henderson, J.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.
View Poster (PDF)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.
View Poster (PDF)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.
Read Paper (PDF)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.
Read Paper (PDF)Impact of Semester Timing on Student Outcomes in the First Course of a General Chemistry Sequence
Bass, S.M., Carpenter, T., & Henderson, J.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.
View Poster (PDF)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.
Read Paper (PDF)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.”
