Bridging the Gap between the Microscopic and the Macroscopic Using the Virtual Molecular Dynamics Laboratory

虚拟分子动力学实验室将修订一套虚拟化学实验室的教学材料，并为336名高中化学教师提供这些材料的专业发展。这种材料的一个关键特点是使用了分子动力学。学生可以实时看到微观行为，使用分屏软件程序可以同时看到相应的宏观行为。通过改变系统条件（例如温度），学生可以开始理解微观和宏观性质。教师的专业发展将侧重于在课堂上使用模拟，引入合作学习作为一种教学方法来教授化学，并鼓励教师通过使用计算机作为模拟器开发新的活动、方法、课程和评估来为他们的专业做出贡献。

The Virtual Molecular Dynamics Laboratory will revise a set of instructional materials for virtual chemistry laboratories and provide professional development on those materials to 336 high school chemistry teachers. A key feature of the materials is the use of molecular dynamics. Students can see in real time, the microscopic behavior and using split-screen software programs can simultaneously see the corresponding macroscopic behavior. By changing the system conditions (e.g., the temperature) the student can begin to understand both the microscopic and macroscopic properties. The teachers' professional development will focus on using the simulations in their classes, introducing the use of cooperative learning as a pedagogical approach to teaching chemistry and encouraging the teachers to contribute to their profession by developing new activities, approaches, lessons and assessments using the computer as a simulator.