Data Acquisition Interfaces for Chemistry Labs at Seven Regional Community Colleges

该大学正在协助七所地区性社区学院--艾伦县社区学院、科菲维尔社区学院、斯科特堡社区学院、独立社区学院、拉贝特社区学院、尼奥肖县社区学院和俄克拉荷马农工学院，为他们的化学实验室项目增加数据采集设备并调整相关实验。对学生使用新设备的说明包括对收集的数据进行计算机分析和显示。其中四所社区学院的设备是游标计算器实验室(CBL)包，这是该大学使用的类型。先前存在的情况导致其他三所学校选择直接与计算机接口的传感器。社区学院化学讲师还将把有机化学实验室课程带到大学，以获得现有主要仪器的实践经验，包括核磁共振光谱仪(60 MHz和300 MHz)、GC/MS光谱仪和FT-IR光谱仪。在该项目的第一年，各机构根据新设备和数据分析软件调整现有的实验室说明。该大学的一个讲习班帮助社区大学的化学教师适应过程，并培训他们操作他们带给学生的主要仪器。在该项目的第二年，教员们增加了新的实验，以增加传感器的使用。新的实验是以引导式探究的形式编写的，采用了新传统化学倡议使用的方法。在第二年，社区大学的讲师们开始自给自足地操作匹兹堡州立大学的主要仪器，并教学生分析所采集的光谱。在第三年，参与者通过出版物和专题介绍来传播项目成果。匹兹堡州立大学和社区学院的设备能够为该地区的所有化学学生提供多年的服务。

The University is assisting seven regional community colleges, Allen County Community College, Coffeyville Community College, Fort Scott Community College, Independence Community College, Labette Community College, Neosho County Community College, and N.E. Oklahoma A&M College, in adding data acquisition equipment and adapting related experiments to their chemistry laboratory programs. The instructions to students for the new equipment include computer analysis and display of the data collected. The equipment for four of the community colleges is Vernier calculator based laboratory (CBL) packages, the type used at the University. Pre-existing circumstances caused the other three schools to select sensors interfaced directly to computers. The community college chemistry instructors also are bringing organic chemistry laboratory classes to the University to get hands-on experience with existing major instruments including NMR spectrometers (60 and 300 MHz), a GC/Mass spectrometer, and an FT-IR spectrophotometer. During the first year of the project, institutions adapt existing laboratory instructions to the new equipment and data analysis software. A workshop at the University assists the community college chemistry instructors in the adaptation process and trains them to operate the major instruments to which they bring students. During the second year of the project, faculty add new experiments that increase the use of the sensors. The new experiments are written in guided-inquiry format, adapting methods used by the New Traditions chemistry initiative. During the second year, the community college instructors become self-sufficient at operating the major instruments at Pittsburgh State and teaching students to analyze the spectra taken. During the third year, the participants disseminate the results of the project by publications and presentations. The equipment at the community colleges and Pittsburgh State is capable of serving all the chemistry students in the region for many years.