REAL Chemistry Success For All:       A MERLOT-AL$ INNOVATION PROJECT

Welcome to MERLOT-Affordable Learning Solutions (AL$)'s INNOVATION Project with REAL CHEM, new general chemistry courseware developed by Arizona State University and Carnegie Melon University with funding from the Gates Foundation. REAL CHEM offers a general chemistry education experience that builds bonds with students and helps them envision a career in STEM.

The MERLOT-Affordable Learning Solutions initiative invites you to support ALL general chemistry students with innovative and low-cost courseware that empowers faculty and learners alike.

Your Team

Gerry Hanley (MERLOT & SkillsCommons) 

• RELEVANT
• ENGAGING
• ACTIVE
• Learning

When students see how chemistry shapes their lives and careers, they push themselves to explore deeper concepts and tackle harder problems. This insight drives us back to REAL CHEM's Core Principles: Relevant, Engaging, and Active Learning. 

Relevance

Rather than focusing on abstract goals, we show students how chemistry connects to careers they never considered, empowers real people in real scenarios, and builds confidence through interactive explorations.

Interactive learning experiences, featuring current issues and real-world data, simulate authentic research scenarios and help students apply their foundational chemistry skills to solve problems that impact them.

Engagement

REAL CHEM's insights into student progress help instructors identify where students need additional guidance to enable targeted support and streamlined course management. 

As students progress through the course material, the platform helps them apply their prior knowledge and gives personalized feedback–adapting to their progress.  

Active Learning

Interactive activities like PhET Simulations and Exploration assignments that cover real-world issues help students build both competence and confidence, preparing them for advanced coursework and future careers in STEM fields.

That's REAL CHEM

By focusing on making chemistry relevant to students' lives and future careers, REAL CHEM naturally sparks curiosity and engagement while ensuring that every student can progress through challenging concepts at their own pace, building confidence and proficiency along the way. 

REAL CHEM can effectively partner with institutions in all states to provide high-quality chemistry education anywhere in the country.

The Results

Studies* validated across four community colleges have shown consistent learning rates across all student populations when using REAL CHEM—regardless of preparation. REAL CHEM improved student retention rates from 75% to 92%, and students using REAL CHEM scored two letter grades higher on exams, with scores rising from 42% to 61%. 

The Support

There are multiple different ways to receive institutional or classroom support as you use REAL CHEM. Partnerships with APLU, Digital Promise, and of course, MERLOT have allowed REAL CHEM users to received institutional or individual stipends to facilitate their teaching. All REAL CHEM users are invited to participate in OLI's ongoing research regarding the effectiveness of implementing the courseware in their classrooms, and this comes with extra support for instructors building their courses. REAL CHEM's community of practice offers another chance for instructors to share their experiences and insights with educators across the country. 

We are offering the chance to pilot REAL CHEM to anyone teaching general chemistry I or II during the summer and fall 2025 terms.

• Participate in a webinar to learn more about REAL CHEM - TBD NEXT DATE AND TIME
• VIEW RECORDING of April 30th webinar

Choose ONE OPTION!

• Adopt REAL CHEM for the Winter  or Spring 2026 terms and receive a $1,000 stipend. REAL CHEM will offer you support to evaluate the impact of the courseware on your students’ learning and join a “community of practice” that plans research projects, presentations, and publications.  LEARN MORE

We'll ask you to complete a survey so we can follow up with you about participating in the faculty research community.

Expore REAL CHEM at:

 https://realchem.org/