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

许多社区大学学生的科学背景薄弱，因此很难掌握化学中的抽象概念。这个项目的目的是通过在实验室中引入一种学生熟悉的媒介——计算机，使化学不那么令人生畏，更容易接近。传统上，实验室的实践经验是澄清课堂上提出的概念的宝贵帮助。该项目将通过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，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通过计算机快速完成，以便学生可以以图形方式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变化的效果（如图所示），进一步增强了实践经验。这种真实和虚拟实验室的结合适应了不同的学习方式，并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，并诱使他们进一步探索化学。该项目在两年的资助期内影响了近1800名学生。提高对化学概念的理解应该会提高学生的保留率和成功率。该项目的最终目标是培养具有科学素养的学生，他们能够理解周围的世界。该项目的结果将通过LabNet等电子媒体以及通过专业会议和文献中的文章传播。＊

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. *