FAQ

• What is the Torus platform?

  Torus is a next-generation open platform for authoring, delivering, improving and researching learning experiences. The effort builds on the groundbreaking work of Carnegie Mellon University’s Open Learning Initiative (OLI), and Arizona State University’s Center for Education Through Exploration (ETX Center) including key features for publishing courseware (versioning, product management, and more).

• How is Torus different from other learning systems?

  Torus is built to enact and expand a learning engineering approach, informing courseware design with learning science, instrumenting the experience, and using the data from student use to refine the courseware and support fresh learning science investigations. This rich data stream, coupled with detailed information about learning context and design, makes Torus unique in the courseware space. Torus is built to be pedagogically opinionated, but not strict — the platform continues to attract new approaches and designs to improve outcomes and inform our understanding of how humans learn. As an open-source project rooted in not-for-profit higher education and committed to interoperability, Torus is unique in the larger adaptive courseware space.

• How does Torus create a laboratory for learning?

  Torus provides an exceptional foundation for rapid innovation and success. Rich learning data, well-structured content and a robust technical foundation – all supporting a large, diverse community of use – provide a unique platform for discovering and reinforcing what works. Emerging approaches to support equitable success include: (1) A/B Testing Suite – helps more educators investigate instructional approaches. (2) Adaptive Experimentation – rapidly identifies effective interventions for different learning populations, providing those students with more of what works. (3) Generative AI – is being infused into the platform, leveraging data to support productive interplay with adaptive experimentation.

Students

• What browser should I use for REAL CHEM?

  Chrome is recommended.

• How can I view the course pages?

  Click Course Content on the left from the course landing page, then one of the top-level headings to open the list of content. Click the headings until the list of pages appears. Each of these pages are clickable so you can navigate to the page or assignment. Use the Next button in the bottom right to navigate from page to page.

• How can I find my quizzes or assignments?

  Click Assignments on the left from the course landing page to open a list of all the Assignments in the course with due dates. Please check with your instructor for the requirements for your course.

• I have a question about OLI Torus, a technical issue, or need to access the course materials

  Email oli-help@cmu.edu with any technical or access questions.

Instructors

• What browser should I and my students use for REAL CHEM?

  Chrome is recommended.

• Do you anticipate the REAL CHEM product replacing the textbook?

  The courseware is designed to be a comprehensive learning environment (providing the functionality of a textbook, online homework system, and support to in-person instruction). If students prefer a hard copy text, we are sufficiently aligned with the openstax text that students may use that as an optional resource.

• Can I use Blackboard or Canvas (or any other LMS)?

  All major LMS systems are supported

• Can the Torus platform integrate with other tools?

  Yes – Torus emphasizes interoperability and standards compliance; we prioritize LTI 1.3 (LTI Advantage). Torus supports grade passback via LTI AGS v2.0.

• How do I learn more about possibly getting involved as an author for this work/content?

  Please send us a note using the Contact Us page of this website.

• Is there a cost to students for using this courseware?

  REAL CHEM is $35 per student.

• Will use of the courseware require LTI and/or Canvas?

  Use of courseware does not require use of an LMS.

• How can I get help with technical questions?

  Email oli-help@cmu.edu