Success Stories
User Survey Results
- 95% of students felt that Sapling Learning helped them succeed in their class.
- 89% of students would recommend that professors use Sapling Learning in their courses.
– 2009 survey of Sapling Learning student users
Praise for Sapling Learning Software
"The reviews of the interface are excellent. All students agree that your interface is much better than the [competing system] that they used in General Chem here. I am going to highly recommend you to my colleagues in general chem. My favorite feature is that you can't draw the arrows in the backward direction. The computer won't let you start an arrow without the appropriate electron source. That is going to be extremely helpful in getting students to draw the arrows (and understand what is really going on) in the mechanisms. I also had an extremely easy time figuring out the grades. It was awesome. I am extremely eager to start getting my own questions into your database."
– Instructor
"I am really excited about this. I have always wanted to do online homework for Organic, but I had no idea that there was a company that could offer the level of computing that is sophisticated enough for such a task. Based on what [Dr. Brian Arneson] showed me Tuesday, I think I can really use what you have developed to take my own course to the next level in helping students learn effectively. Thanks again."
– Instructor
"We recently adopted the Sapling Learning online homework program for organic chemistry at The University of Colorado, and it has been a great success. It's easy to use and has an intuitive drawing program that allows students to draw mechanisms for reactions, and is not limited to multiple choice questions. And best of all, many of my students have told me that they enjoyed and benefitted from it greatly, and felt that they had a better grasp of the material because of it."
– Tarek Samakia, Professor, University of Colorado
"These are great! These should definitely help students do better on my exams. Their knowing that the HW has questions of the form which will appear on exams should also spur their motivation to do the HW (a wonderful synergy). Thanks very much!"
– Dr. Norris Hoffman, Professor, University of South Alabama
"Thank you [Sapling Learning Support] for being so prompt. It is greatly appreciated!"
– Tyler Benson, Student, Central Arizona College
"[My professor] will continue to use this program because its a great one!"
– Student
"I would recommend Sapling to professors because it has done wonders for my grades"
– Student
"Would there be a way to have the extra problems available to the students, but not graded in a separate section? Some of them like the extra practice, and like Sapling."
– Organic Chemistry Professor whose students are asking for MORE Sapling homework practice
"I will be speaking very, very highly of Sapling Learning. A special note will be in how Sapling Learning takes the lead in composing and posting the quizzes/drill exercises based upon the book/syllabus forwarded. "
– Organic Chemistry Professor describing a panel presentation they will be giving on the use of instructional technologies
"I continue to be impressed with the Sapling site, and get excellent feedback from our students."
– Organic Chemistry Professor
"I am getting very positive feedback from the students about Sapling."
– Organic Chemistry Professor
"You absolutely have one of the best if not the best online homework tools out there."
– General Chemistry Professor
"I think all but 2 students have completed the first assignment, which is MORE than for paper homework based on my experience..."
– Chemical Engineering Professor
"So, I heard my official 'feedback' from a student today. Apparently it is MUCH better than [largest competitor] (which I already knew)."
– General Chemistry Professor
"Your site is a joy to view and navigate. It demonstrates quite clearly your commitment to providing an exemplary education process. I will recommend it to all of my fellow educators."
– University Instructor
"This fall we are using a system based on the Sapling Learning code partly because it only requires Flash, and Flash is a campus-wide installation. I had no problems installing it on Mac OS X, XP, VISTA, or the Windows 7 beta"
– University Professor (forum posting)
"It's more tactile than the others... Tell [Sapling Learning] 'mission accomplished!"
– College Student
"The curved arrow thing actually illustrates that your software penetrates student understanding to a degree that pencil and paper can't!!"
– Dr. Marc Loudon, Professor, Purdue University, and author of Organic Chemistry
"Regarding the solution they have developed for online homework in the Organic Chemistry market: I found their products far superior to anything in the market and immediately began engaging in discussions to license their technology for use within our Higher Education market... Upon learning that [the President] holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and that almost all of the members of his team are from the education field, it was obvious to me that I had found the right group to work with when developing my electronic solutions for the Higher Education markets that I serve. Furthermore, I was impressed by their professionalism in every aspect. I can without hesitation recommend Sapling Learning as a group."
- Jeffry Schmitt, Sr. Media Producer
"I think the IBIS system is the easiest and best that I have ever had students use. Drawing molecules with this is very simple and the students actually enjoy the molecular drawing assignments. It also adds a great deal to the students’ understanding and conceptual development."
– Dr. Ellen Verdel, Instructor
"I am extremely impressed with the IBIS system and think that you guys have produced a leading piece of educational web-based software for the sciences. This system has the potential to crush [competing system] and have it for lunch."
– Instructor
"I liked that the IBIS assignments were easy to prepare. I also liked that I could go and look at each student's assignment to see what mistakes they made, i.e. the incorrect tabs. The way that the grades are displayed makes it easy to compare them while they can also be changed into other formats as needed, e.g. from percentage to letter grades. Another favorite feature is that the system has logs of student activity as well as IP addresses that they used. It gives me the advantage as instructor when students make dishonest claims. The forum option is also useful.
I would highly recommend Sapling Learning to my colleagues and have done so to several. I have even suggested that teachers in other fields such as math and physics use it. Problems are easy to write and feedback is very useful to students. With Sapling Learning the test taking experience is not only for assessment but also a learning experience. Many of my students have attested to it."
– Dr. Apolonio Aguilar, Instructor
"I like pretty much everything about Sapling Learning: tutorials, ability to write my own content, repeatability of questions (Try Again), ability to deduct small portion of credit for incorrect answers where students try again, reliability of interface/servers. So far, so good. Would I recommend Sapling Learning to my colleagues? "Absolutely. I have indeed done so to at least two colleagues already."
– Instructor
"Sapling Learning is a great way to prepare for exams!"
– Carly Brinson, student
"I liked Sapling Learning's simplicity and helpfulness. I would recommend it to my professors because it provided great assistance throughout my chemistry course; so I'm sure it would easily aid me in my other classes."
– Jerod Mink, student
"What I liked about Sapling Learning was that you were graded immediately."
– Jackie Kohle, student
"I would recommend Sapling Learning to my professors because we learn a lot and we are able to do it on our own time."
– Shanikka, student
Praise for Sapling Learning Support
From Students
"Thank you so much for your prompt response. You guys are definitely on the ball, and I am very impressed with your technical support!"
– Student, Georgia College and State University
"Wow, I'm impressed, you all are quick and efficient. Thank you!"
– Student, Virginia Tech
"You were a great amount of help to me."
– Student, Kennesaw State University
"I just want to say that the support system at Sapling is excellent. I've had two problems since I've started using the program and both have been solved immediately. Thank you."
– Student, California Polytechnic State University
From Instructors
"I have really enjoyed working with you and appreciate the excellent support. I plan to use Sapling Online next Fall when I return to teaching organic chemistry."
– Instructor
"THANK YOU! I was going to email you today, but you already know of my concern... and solved it! Thank you. I am anxious to see how students benefit from your efforts. Thank you again!"
– Instructor
Praise for Content Developed by Sapling Learning
Online Learning Content Authoring
"[Sapling Learning] draws upon its wealth of educational expertise and combines it with creativity and inventiveness in producing pedagogically sound and engaging interactive chemistry tutorial problems."
– Jeffry Schmidt, Sr. Media Producer
Games:
- "Biochemists - I've just found the amino acid game! If you want to review your amino acids while playing on the computer, try this!"
- "Here is a really good website that helped me memorize the 20 amino acids: its actually a learning game...and its so much fun!"
- "Hahaha.. never used amino acids and fun in the same sentence before."
– Students on a forum focused towards pre-med students
Media/Film:
"The interactive animations website has been a life saver for me, and my fellow pre-med and pre-pharm friends. The website is so helpful, that I just wish that you made one for every science that exists… With all of my sincere thanks."
— College student
"The tutorials are so well presented that my job is 10 times easier. Just the other day I was introducing hybridization, and found myself using the hybridization tutorial as I walked the students through the introduction. Even the kids were bowled over.
FANTASTIC!!!"
— High School Teacher
"You produced incredibly fine media… You should have seen eyeslight up when [we] demonstrated your animations and structure tutorials. It is hard to find enough words to praise [you] for your work to produce these."
— Media Editor
"You guys rock."
— Sarah Starke and Jegar Erickson, organizer and host of Austin Music Network’s Austin Movie Show.
"The Best of Biochemistry."
– Science Magazine article on science on the Web
