The mechanism maps that guide student instruction in organic chemistry curricula are structural representations of bond-breaking and bond-making events that transform a reactant into a product. For students, these pathways represented by electron pushing formalism (EPF) can be challenging to navigate. For instructors, providing formative feedback to students to support their learning of the EPF arrow system is difficult to provide in a timely manner. The Mechanisms App (“the App”) was developed as a method for students to explore the electron movement of organic chemistry through a touch screen interface of a smart phone or tablet with real-time feedback of these moves. In this paper, the pedagogical content of the App and its backend system is described. This system produces a graphical record of a user’s move within the App and is called a decision tree. A study of students’ use of the App in two different modes was devised to understand whether the in-app experience can facilitate a hypothesis-driven approach to learning EPF. Examples of classroom implementation for the App in a variety of institutions and future research are also described.

As digital educational media use becomes more widespread, an opportunity exists to develop new methods to present abstract ideas to provide a more meaningful learning experience. Drawing from psychology and dynamic visualization research, new interactive tools can be thoughtfully designed but it is also necessary to establish how these media are used and to study the effects the new interactive tools have on concept understanding. In this technology report, we present the Hybridization Explorer, a web-based interactive learning tool for manipulating and experimenting with hybridization concepts. The explorer has three modes of use to explore both the combination of atomic orbitals, and the visual representation of both atomic and hybrid orbitals and corresponding bond formation. Case studies from an undergraduate-and graduate-level demonstration of the explorer are described. Finally, self-reported student confidence levels on solving hybridization questions both before and after use of the explorer are analyzed and discussed.

<p>The abstract nature of atomic and hybrid orbitals makes it a challenging concept for students to understand. Presented is the Hybridization Explorer, a web-based interactive learning tool, for manipulating and experimenting with hybridization concepts. Through the explorer students can explore both the combination of atomic orbitals, and the visual representation of both atomic and hybrid orbitals and corresponding bond formation. Case studies from an undergraduate and graduate-level demonstration of the explorer are described. Finally, self-reported student confidence levels on solving hybridization questions both before and after use of the explorer are analyzed and discussed.</p>

<p>The abstract nature of atomic and hybrid orbitals makes it a challenging concept for students to understand. Presented is the Hybridization Explorer, a web-based interactive learning tool, for manipulating and experimenting with hybridization concepts. Through the explorer students can explore both the combination of atomic orbitals, and the visual representation of both atomic and hybrid orbitals and corresponding bond formation. Case studies from an undergraduate and graduate-level demonstration of the explorer are described. Finally, self-reported student confidence levels on solving hybridization questions both before and after use of the explorer are analyzed and discussed.</p>