What are context-rich approaches?
Context-rich materials embed specific principles drawn from a curriculum into a web of related information. These materials open up for students the “who, what, when, where, and why?” of a concept. There is good evidence that context-rich curricula can attract and retain a diverse group of students, engage students with a wide variety of learning styles, as well as improve student performance. The best context-rich materials will offer concrete examples, feature connectivity between disciplines, introduce methodology, and acknowledge the impact solving a problem can have in the broader world. Case studies are one example of context-rich materials that have been successfully used in the teaching of science, but context-rich materials need not be so broad in scope. The Physical Chemistry Online project (PCOL) has used context-rich modules to build student interest in the physical chemistry laboratory.
