Proposal for the Associated Colleges of the South Technology Fellows Program
Clyde T. Stanton, Birmingham-Southern College
This work proposes to initiate such a system through development of a Web-based, interactive chemistry laboratory manual for the Physical Chemistry (CH311/CH312) course at Birmingham-Southern College. This is an upper level course sequence in which students use some advanced instrumentation for the first time. Experiments are chosen and designed to reveal the connections between measured data in the laboratory and theory in the classroom. The students use the instrumentation in a round-robin set of experiments. As such, some students are using instruments in experiments for which they have not yet had the theory presented in the classroom. The proposed work will develop a stand-alone manual to provide an explanation of both the instrument function and theory behind the experiment.
The manual will include the usual experimental protocol and directions in text for a variety of lab projects. In addition, interactive tutorials designed to guide students through both the theory and mechanics of the instruments will be included where appropriate. For example, in the experiment dealing with Fourier Transform-Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy a section showing molecules vibrating and how this is related to the IR spectrum observed for a specific molecular species would be included.
A representation of the instrument would be presented showing how the instrument operates. This representation would include facility for clicking and observing an animated demonstration of the operation of the constituent parts of the instrument.
The course currently presents experiments using a variety of instrumentation. The instruments covered in this tutorial will include N2-pumped dye laser, monochromator, HPLC, FT-IR, and GC. As other instrumentation is brought on-line, the manual will be periodically updated.
The stipend will cover costs associated with the purchase of hardware and software used in constructing the manual. The interactive tutorials will be developed using an HTML-authoring program such as Macromedia Dreamweaver 1.0 or Microsoft FrontPatge and animating program such as Flash3. An example of this type of work has been produced by the University of Richmond Chemistry Department as a CD using Macromedia Director. This interactive manual will be available to the students and interested ACS colleagues at all times since it will be Web-based
The proposed work will be completed over the Interim and Spring, 2000 terms. The interactive manual will be available for student use in the Fall, 2000 term. At the end of that term, students will be asked to evaluate how the manual enhanced the connection between laboratory and classroom experiences. Students will be asked to rank on a 1-5 (Excellent-to-Poor) scale such characteristics as ease of use, clarity, and connection of theory to measurements. Students will also be given the opportunity to provide written comments on what worked, what to improve, what to keep, and what to discard. Based on this feedback, the manual can be revised and improved for future classes.
Birmingham-Southern College is supporting this project as a sabbatical work. In addition, server storage will be made available to hold the completed work. The College is currently implementing a system to help faculty place courses on the Web. Technical resources and support for placing and maintaining this proposed work as a Web site are available through the College's Academic Computing office.