Multimedia Laboratory for the Introduction of Computer Assisted Learning into an Undergraduate Multidisciplinary Scientific Curriculum

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This project funds a multidisciplinary, multimedia, computer laboratory that is used for instruction by the Departments of Chemistry and Biological Sciences and the Science Education Program. Many notions in these disciplines, including those that involve the three-dimensional structure of molecules and energy minimizations, do not lend themselves to traditional lab approaches and are better investigated through the use of computer graphics and modeling. This project addresses 5 areas of curricular development: (1) the introduction of computer graphics and molecular modeling into the curricula, (2) the use of commercial and instructor-designed software for teaching difficult concepts and for performing computer-simulated experiments, (3) the development and introduction of pre- and post-laboratory critical thinking exercises, (4) the introduction of information retrieval technology to majors and to preservice and in-service science teachers, and (5) the introduction of preservice and in-service science teachers to the use of multimedia in the classroom. The new computer facility also provides faculty and student access to shareware graphics, tutorials, and databases through the Internet.