ISLAND C: A Gamified Online Homework System for Conceptual Understanding in General Chemistry

Conceptual understanding is crucial for solving complex problems and critical thinking, especially in undergraduate chemistry courses. However, students often encounter these concepts only as they apply to math-based questions rather than conceptual-based chemistry problems. Thus, ISLAND C, a online homework system (OHS), was developed for students to practice their conceptual chemistry knowledge, using Wix’s hosting platform and Microsoft Forms. In order to promote participation and engagement with the material, the OHS was gamified, and sustainability topics were incorporated. Built around the idea that students have inherited an island struggling with sustainability-related issues, they must navigate through the gamified OHS and answer conceptual chemistry questions to save the island and earn assignment points toward their course. Analysis of the system’s Web site logs and Microsoft Forms data display that roughly 600 students in pilot and full-scale implementations were able to easily navigate the system and apply their chemistry knowledge to the conceptual questions.