Computerized Chemistry Laboratory as an Extension of the Hands-on Experience

许多社区大学的学生理科背景薄弱，因此很难掌握化学中的抽象概念。这个项目的目的是通过将学生熟悉的媒介--计算机引入实验室，使化学变得不那么可怕，更容易接近。传统上，实验室的实践经验在澄清课堂上提出的概念方面是非常宝贵的帮助。该项目将通过与实验室仪器的计算机接口将实验数据直接记录到计算机硬盘驱动器中，从而加强化学的这一重要方面。因此，分析和随后的绘图可以由计算机快速完成，以便学生可以图形化地观察他们的实验结果。计算机模拟通过允许学生改变初始反应条件并快速观察这些改变的效果来进一步增强动手体验，如图形所示。这种真实实验室和虚拟实验室的结合，适应了不同的学习方式，增加了学生对化学概念的理解。这反过来又激发了他们的想象力，并吸引了他们对化学的进一步探索。该项目在两年的助学金期间影响了近1800名学生。提高对化学概念的理解应该会增加学生的留存率和成功率。该项目的最终目标是培养一名具有科学素养的学生，他们能够理解他们周围的世界。该项目的成果将通过LabNet等电子媒体以及专业会议和文献文章进行传播。*

Many community college students have weak backgrounds in the sciences and therefore have a difficult time grasping abstract concepts in chemistry. The purpose of this project is to make chemistry less intimidating and more approachable by introducing a medium into the Laboratory that student are familiar with - computers. The hands-on experience of laboratories has traditionally been an invaluable aid in clarifying concepts presented in class. This project will enhance this important aspect of chemistry by allowing experimental data be recorded directly to a computer hard drive via a computer interface to the laboratory instrument. The analysis and subsequent graphing can thus be accomplished quickly by the computer so that students can observe graphically the results of their experiments. Computer simulations further enhance the hands-on experience by allowing student to change the initial reaction conditions and quickly observe the effect of these changes as displayed graphically. This combination of real and virtual laboratories accommodates different learning styles and increases the students' understanding of chemical concepts. This in turn stimulates their imaginations and entices further exploration of chemistry. The project impacts nearly 1,800 students during the two year period of the grant. Improved understanding of chemical concepts should lead to increased student retention and success rates. The ultimate goal of the project is to create a science literate students who can understand the world around them. The results of this project will be disseminated through the electronic media such as LabNet as well as through professional meetings and articles in the literature. *