INTERACTIVE CHEMISTRY LEARNING PROGRAMS

John S. Martin and Edward V. Blackburn

Department of Chemistry, The University of Alberta

Our interactive programs for Windows computers are available from the Journal of Chemical Education: Software, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1101 University Avenue, Madison WI USA 53706-1396, 1-800-991-5534, Fax 608-265-8094. Their web site is http://jchemed.chem.wisc.edu/JCESoft. Our programs, and lots of useful stuff by other authors, are on the General Chemistry Collection CD-ROM, Sixth Edition, Special Issue No. 16.

Twelve Introductory Lessons, for student use. They cover many fundamental topics of introductory chemistry. They are highly interactive. They all end with comprehensive quizzes, most of which produce scores. A student might start by trying the quiz, and then use those parts of the lesson that cover material he or she needs.

Simulations and Interactive Resources (SIRs) for instructors. These are enhanced, Windows-based versions of the SIRs published in a DOS version in 1996. They are interactive simulations, animations and illustrations of chemical phenomena, designed to be used in class by means of a projection device. They are completely under the control of the instructor, via an intuitive mouse-driven interface. One thinks of chemistry- and one's presentation, and not of the computer. Context sensitive help is available at all times. One may learn all about a SIR from the help. Obviously this is best done before class, but if one is stuck, help is always there.

The Periodic Table Suite. This program, for student use, is ready for publication. It contains a quiz that can be answered by clicking on an element on the periodic table. There are two games that involve deducing an unknown formula. All are extremely interactive; wrong guesses produce relevant feedback. All have instructor's utilities, which allow one to set up the formulas and questions to be used in the quizzes and games.

For information about our published and forthcoming work, visit our web site, http://www.fsj.ualberts.ca/chimie/lt. You may also reach it via the links from the University of Alberta Department of Chemistry site, http://www.chem.ualberta.ca