Computer Interfacing in the General Chemistry Laboratory

本项目将为普通化学实验室的12个学生站配备与计算机接口的传感器，用于数据采集和分析。该接口和软件（LabWorks II）是在NSF之前的倡议下开发的，适应并集成了计算机技术到化学实验室。本项目涉及改编和实施良好的文档（和参考）材料。每年有300多名工程技术、计算机科学和其他学位专业的学生选修普通化学课程。因为所有的学生都是非专业的，所以它是以服务为导向的。不提供化学专业。该项目的目标和目的是让学生充分参与化学实验过程，并在学习过程中有效利用实验室时间。使用这些平台（LabWorks II），学生在进入或审查数据收集程序时参与实验的整体设计。检测pH值、温度、压力、电导率、颜色变化或光吸收变化的传感器使学生能够研究广泛的科学问题，并且将这些传感器与计算机连接可以快速获取数据并以图形或统计参数的形式表示结果。学生在实验期间有时间分析和解释他们的数据，并经常重新设计和重复数据收集程序。有了这些平台，实验室的重点从验证和说明科学原理转变为利用这些原理探索和研究实际问题，并思考结果的意义。项目评估旨在评估学生在批判性思维、定量推理和科学推理应用方面的技能。该项目的评价和评估阶段由一名外部评价人员（不同学院的化学家）和一名内部（非部门）专业人员协助进行。

Chemistry (12) This project will equip 12 student stations in the general chemistry laboratory with sensors interfaced to computers for data acquisition and analysis. The interface and software (LabWorks II), developed under a previous NSF initiative, adapts and integrates computer technology into the chemistry laboratory. This project involves the adaptation and implementation of well documented (and referenced) materials. Over 300 students majoring in various disciplines of engineering technology, computer science, and other degree programs take the general chemistry course each year. It is service oriented since all students are non-majors. A chemistry major is not offered. The goals and objectives of the project focus on getting students fully engaged in the process of chemical experimentation and utilizing laboratory time effectively in the learning process. Using these platforms (LabWorks II), students become engaged in the overall design of an experiment as they enter or review the program for data collection. Sensors that detect changes in pH, temperature, pressure, conductivity, and color change or light absorption enable students to investigate a wide range of scientific questions, and interfacing these sensors with computers permits rapid data acquisition and expression of results in the form of graphs or statistical parameters. Students have time during the laboratory to analyze and interpret their data and often to redesign and repeat the data collection procedure. With these platforms, the emphasis of the laboratory changes from verifying and illustrating scientific principles to utilizing these principles for the exploration and investigation of practical problems and to thinking about what the results mean. Project evaluation is directed to assessing students' skills in critical thinking, quantitative reasoning and the application of scientific reasoning. The evaluation and assessment phase of the project is being assisted by the involvement of an outside evaluator (chemist, different college) and an internal (non-departmental) professional.