From Learning Facts to HOW and WHY
beSocratic / CLUE is an integrated curriculum and learning system. Using well-established, evidence-based principles to support students as they learn to think critically and solve complex problems.
Today’s Learning Paradigm is Failing Us
Wrong Focus
Too much emphasis is placed on superficial details rather than meaningful understanding.
Failing Outcomes
Student achievement and test scores are declining across the board, despite increased access to tools and resources.
Disconnected Thinking
Today’s learning focuses on rote memorization without connection to real-world, complex issues.
beSocratic/CLUE helps students Use Knowledge to develop Transferrable Skills to solve Complex Problems.
beSocratic provides a comprehensive, scalable, evidence-based system designed to support the development of 21st century skills, focused on critical thinking and complex problem solving .
Our Curriculum
CLUE - Chemistry, Life, the Universe & Everything
CLUE is a general chemistry curriculum designed to help students move beyond knowing that, to knowing how and why chemical phenomena occur.

Student Construction
Emphasis on model construction and explanation, putting learners at the center of their educational journey.
Complex Problem Solving
Students connect and use knowledge to solve complex problems and make sense of phenomena.
Journey to Understanding
Focus students on the journey to understanding, not just the final answer.
Thoughtful Use of AI
Provide insights to help focus on range of student responses and support subsequent class activities.
Proven Results with beSocratic/CLUE over a 3-year period
30%
Increase in Average Grade Point from 2.2 to 2.9
50%
DFW Rate decrease, from 33% to 17%
20%
More students pass, and are successful in subsequent courses.
Hear from the Research Expert
Melanie M. Cooper, Professor of Chemistry and Lappan-Phillips Professor of Science Education
Explaining the benefits of using CLUE and beSocratic
Testimonials from Educators
“The CLUE General Chemistry curriculum has repeatedly resulted in improved student performance across multiple types of institutions with diverse student populations (large vs small and private vs public). These results include a deeper understanding of content, better application of knowledge to new and unfamiliar situations, and improved passing rates. The homework system beSocratic also provides students with the opportunity to gain skills needed for future careers such as constructing arguments from evidence, drawing representations to predict and explain phenomena in the real world, evaluating information, and analyzing and interpreting data.”
Sonia Underwood
Associate Professor
Florida International University
“The importance of chemistry in understanding biological processes at all levels inspired me to look for a more effective chemistry course than currently available. Through a lucky encounter with a Melanie Cooper, I found the perfect partner to work with on developing a more focused and relevant introductory chemistry textbook (CLUE) and instructional tools (beSocratic). With CLUE the goal was to go deeper, beyond the superficial, to help students, often required to take intro chemistry, develop and apply the tools they need to understand, make sense of, and critically evaluate situations they are likely to face going forward, whether as biologists, health care professions, or as citizens called upon to make important judgements based on established facts and scientific principles.”
Mike Klymkowsky
(retired) professor of molecular, cellular and developmental biology (with a degree or two in biophysics)
University of Colorado
“The CLUE General Chemistry curriculum has repeatedly resulted in improved student performance across multiple types of institutions with diverse student populations (large vs small and private vs public). These results include a deeper understanding of content, better application of knowledge to new and unfamiliar situations, and improved passing rates. The homework system beSocratic also provides students with the opportunity to gain skills needed for future careers such as constructing arguments from evidence, drawing representations to predict and explain phenomena in the real world, evaluating information, and analyzing and interpreting data.”
Sonia Underwood
Associate Professor
Florida International University
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