Learn general chemistry by predicting, trying and checking yourself

1. Getting started

1. Open the simulation list (the hub). If this is your first time, start with the cards under New here? Start with these.
2. Choose a card to open a simulation. Each card shows the chapter, the engine type, the estimated time, the learning objective and the link to agriculture or soil.
3. Inside a simulation, work through the steps below. The progress bar shows how far you are.

1. Predict — Before the experiment, choose what you think will happen. A wrong guess is fine.
2. Observe — Change the conditions with sliders and buttons. Watch the graphs and numbers.
3. Check — Answer the questions and the fill-in-the-blank item. A wrong answer gives you an explanation.
4. Reflect — Write what you learned in your own words, with a reason ("because …", "if …, then …").
5. Complete — When every step is passed, the progress bar reaches 100%.

Tip. The experiment and the explanations open only after you lock in a prediction. Each simulation has three levels: Basic, Standard and Advanced. Try Advanced after you finish Standard.

2. Finding a simulation

• Search: type a topic or a concept, for example pH, buffer, solubility or fertilizer.
• Chapter and engine: narrow the list by chapter, or by engine type: Particles (E1), Equations (E2), Data and diagrams (E3). Press Clear to see all 10 again.
• Continue: the simulation you opened last and the next unfinished one appear at the top of the hub.

3. Saving and backing up your record

Your predictions, answers, reflections and completions are saved automatically in the browser you are using. Another device or another browser cannot see them.

Careful. If you clear your browser data (cookies and site data) or change device, the record is lost. Save a backup file when you finish a session.

1. On the hub, open My learning record (backup).
2. Press Save backup file. A file named genchem_en_brain_date.json is downloaded.
3. On another device, press Load backup file and choose that file. The records are merged.

To print a worksheet for a simulation, use the print button inside the simulation or Ctrl+P. The worksheet is designed for black-and-white printing.

4. Using it without internet

• The whole pilot is one folder (en). Copy the folder, for example from a USB stick, to your computer.
• Open index.html in the folder by double-clicking it. Chrome or Edge is recommended. Nothing is installed.
• Keep the folder structure as it is; the simulations are inside the chapter folders (ch03, ch13 …).
• On a phone or tablet, use the web address given by your lecturer.

5. Keyboard and text size

With a screen reader, results and feedback are read out as short sentences. Correct and wrong answers are shown with words, not only with colour.

6. Privacy

Safe to use. Your learning record is not sent to any server. No name or e-mail is collected. The record exists only in this browser and in backup files you save yourself.

• On a shared computer (lab or library), save your backup file to your USB stick or your own cloud when you finish, and use a guest window if possible.

7. Frequently asked questions

Remember. A wrong prediction is not a penalty; it is part of learning. Predict honestly, then look again at what surprised you.