Molecular Modelling and Creative Design in the Chemistry Curriculum

最近对学生化学概念知识的研究表明，即使他们能够使用化学公式和平衡方程，他们也往往不能完全理解潜在的分子现实。 为了培养学生在分子方面的思考能力，本项目在导论和有机化学课程中引入分子模拟练习。 引入分子模拟练习已被选为学院5年计划的下一步，以更新和改进其化学课程，因为它们已被证明是一种有效的方式，在学院的许多学生转学的机构的本科课程中提供化学结构信息;他们很容易适应高度可视化，基于计算机的教学技术，已被证明是有效的，在以前的科学课程项目;他们向学生介绍目前许多商业化学实验室（如制药业）的标准技术;他们利用学院现有的教学技术投资;适当的结构，他们提供自由支配学生的想象力和鼓励创造力。 *

Recent studies of students' conceptual knowledge of chemistry indicate that, even when they are able to use chemical formula and balance equations, they often fail to fully comprehend the underlying molecular reality. To develop students' ability to think in molecular terms, this project introduces molecular modeling exercises in both the introductory and organic chemistry courses. Introduction of molecular modeling exercises has been chosen as the next step in the college's 5-year plan to update and improve its chemistry curriculum because they have proven an effective way to present chemical structure information in the undergraduate curriculum at institutions to which many of the college's students transfer; they are readily adaptable to highly visual, computer-based instructional techniques that have proven effective in previous science curriculum projects; they introduce students to techniques that are now standard in many commercial chemistry laboratories, such as in the pharmaceuticals industry; they take advantage of the college's existing investment in instructional technology; and properly constructed, they provide free reign to a student's imagination and encourage creativity. *