There will be a new version of BestChoice going live in a few days. The surroundings of the pages have been greatly updated, and the new version gives us flexibility to do exciting new things. We hope that the transition to this new version goes smoothly, but we do ask you to be patient if things don't go as you expect. We are as anxious as you to get a good system that is up and running reliably.
The RSC has delayed support for setting up GCSE for at least 12 months. Email Mike Thompson (thompsonm@rsc.org) to offer your support for this project so that the RSC are reminded that BestChoice for GCSE is worth doing!
Both AS and A2 courses are available for the Cambridge International exam. For New Zealand users these are under NZ High School and then the Cambridge course group. For UK users, these are under UK Schools and Colleges iGCSE
BestChoice was featured in an article about the BCCE chemical education conference in the US. Hundreds of presentations were given; four featured in the article written by Mitch Jacoby. Read the article on line at http://pubs.acs.org/cen/education/86/8638education.html
UK exam boards AQA, Edexcel, OCR, Salters, IB and Scottish Higher are now supported, thanks to sponsorship by the Royal Society of Chemistry in the UK.
Be aware that BestChoice is a work in progress, with new modules being added regularly as we refine the customization to match the requirements of this group of users. If you would like to monitor your students' usage of BestChoice get in touch with Mike Thompson from the RSC (thompsonm@rsc.org), he will set you up with BestChoice Reports. This is offered at no cost for UK high school teachers.
We are particularly delighted that this group, like all of our other users, have had no hesitation about giving us feedback through the survey at the end of each module. Such feedback is very helpful because through this we find out what users like and don't like about BestChoice.
For chemistry teachers wishing to monitor their students' activity in BestChoice Reports, we can set up a BestChoice class for you. For New Zealand high school teachers email Sheila Woodgate at sd.woodgate@auckland.ac.nz. For A levels teachers email Mike Thompson at thompsonm@rsc.org. These two groups have free access to BestChoice Reports through funding from The Ministry of Education in New Zealand and the Royal Society of Chemistry in the UK. For any teachers who are not one of the above, contact Sheila Woodgate.
You can now access BestChoice on your mobile phone if you have internet access (m.bestchoice.net.nz/m).
There are 600 questions on a variety of Chemistry topics. These are mostly multichoice questions.
Questions are marked on BestChoice for the mobile, but your answers do not generate feedback. Marks are stored if you log in. There is a Comments link. Please use it and tell us what you think.
Use BestChoice to revise chemistry while you're on the bus, train, or waiting around!
In the resources dropdown in the left hand menu bar is a calculator, as many of you have requested. The calculator can be used either with the mouse or a keyboard.
Caution: When you click on the BestChoice screen to enter your number, the calculator will disappear behind. On a PC it can be brought to the front again by pressing Alt
We thank Eni Generalic for letting us use this calculator. There is a link at the bottom of the Periodic Table 2 resource to his very cool interactive periodic table. Check it out!
At the end of two CHEM 110 modules (Acids and Bases) and Substitution, we have added a Question-Answer Link. This allows you to submit questions on the content, and other students, provided that they have scored high enough on the module can submit/correct answers. Have fun!
BestChoice, a Model for Interactive Web-Based Teaching was presented at CONFCHEM, an on-line conference sponsored by The American Chemical Society's Division of Chemical Education. View Paper
University usage
CHEM 110 usage
CHEM 150 usage
CHEM 120 usage
A new feature has been added so that the default course list for any user is adjusted to their registration.
Thus students registered as NZ High School will now only see NZ High School courses.
Most other courses are available under The University of Auckland.
To see these, go to Options (left hand menu) then Subject/Institution.
For University of Auckland students logging into BestChoice for the first time.
First
Type your UPI (use lower case letters) into the User Name box.
Type the default password for your course into the Password box.
The default password is given on the coloured course information sheet that is at the front of your folder.
This will work for most people as their UPI will have been on the class lists that were uploaded at the beginning of the term.
If this is not successful,
REGISTER NEW USER choosing University of Auckland as your institution and entering your UPI as your User Name.
Enter a password of your choice.
Be sure to use your university email UPI@ec.auckland.ac.nz as your email address.