edited by
J. DUDLEY HERRON Purdue University West Lafayene. Indiana 47907
Development of Computer Simulations for use in a High School Chemistry Course Frederick L. B a r k e r I1 Cicero High School Route 31 Cicero, New York 13039 Robert J. Frederioks I11 Cazenouia High School Cazenouia, New York 13035 Few science teachers will arme the point that the best way to teach science is through theiaborat& experience. In many cases it is the difference between science being a compendium of facts or a process involving hypothesis, application and analysis. In chemistry, as in most science disciplines, the fundamental concepts of the curriculum can he investigated, and indeed formulated by the students themselves, through laboratory experiences. Too often, however, due to logistic problems (lab time or space available, cost of equipment1 materials, safety, etc.) lab activities in some course areas are omitted and concepts are "given" to students to "digest". A practical "laboratory experience" approach to teaching many of these concepts would he a welcome addition to many science programs. One solution to the aforementioned problem has been the use of demonstrations (teacher performing the lab) andlor case histories ("paper" labs). In these "labs," the student is relieved.of the task of formulating procedures and taking data. He is only expected to analyze the data, evaluate the results and perhaps predict future t~ehavior.This is often an nrr~otable substitute to an actual "lah" because the analvsis. ---. etc., of the data is of more educational value than the manioulation of eauioment. .. Equipped with "Computer Simulation'' programs, a timeshared computer terminal can become a chemistry laboratory with capabilities far beyond those in the average high schwl. We believe that computer simulated laboratory experience shows the best promise as a solution to this problem. In a computer simulation the computer plays two roles: fust it is the servant, performing the "c&khooit"&ork the student or instructor directs i t to, manipulating the equipment, making observations and recording data; secondly it plays the role of the "stuff' being investigated and behaves, during the experiment, as it has heen programmed to. The "simulation" a n include experimental error and statistical variation of data and nresent to the student a situation as near to "real" exp~rimenrsas is possil~le,with the added benefit, in many cnses. of doine " it in a fraction of the time needed to perform the actual experiment. Althoueh much software for this type of simulation is presentlyavailable for some areas of siiince, there is an ahsence of adequate promams in high school chemistry. Our . .. objective was to prepare computer programs for labsimulation in a number of areas of chemistry, and to prepare student and teacher materials to be used in conjunction with the simulations. This material presents the student with ohjsrtives and provides instructionto enable a prepared student to perform the investigation. A~~~~~
We based o w simulation efforts around the Chemical Bond Approach, the Chem Study project, and the New York State Regents Program, and chose problem areas in our current laboratory program as a starting point. Our initial work has resulted in the preparation of seven simulations, a data reduction program and two drill programs which supplement our present chemistry curriculum. Descriptions of each of the follows: WATER-is a computer simulation hased on CHEMS lah # 9 "Formula of a Hvdrate". It orovides "data" for eieht chemicals which thr srodmts then pn%e+ tu arriw at mmpincnl h,rmulae. FREELK -allowsstudent interaction with a computer pmvnm w h ~ h accrprs dam trom the CBA rxp. + 13 and thrn generater additional data for other solutions (Raoult's law). CHARLE-accepts student data from (CHEMS)exp. #10 and then allows the student an opportunity to select up to 20 other mediums to measure the gas volume thus improving the plot required. GRAHAM-takes data collected in CBA exp. #18 and supplies simulated data for 10other gases so that the graph of Graham's law mkes on more hyperbolic character. 'I'KSNIS-is a wmputrr sirnulotion designed tu be usrd hef~rre 1tEL)OX. I t gives the student nn opportunity to practice a rankma procedure g h n the results of various tennis matches. REDOX-asks the student to input pairs of elements and ions and then oroduces a list of the results of the oairina. The outcome of Droner oairine is to derive the ~ a i d a t i o n ~ o t e ~table ial ~
~
film) FESCN-accepts data generated in CHEMS exp. 29 and produces a data reduction similar to the sample given in the teachers manual.
~
.
Volume 54, Number 2,February 1977 1 113
EQUILB--is a chemistry drill program to reinforce the students knowledge of LeChatelier's Principles. Randomly generated equations with AH'S provide the basis of the questions. CHMDRGis a chemistry drill program to quiz the student on some of the more common important chemical element names, ion names and charges on ions. A sample of a student's interadion with one of the programs (GRAHAM) can be found in the fieure. . The prog;ams were written in B&C on a Hewlett-Packard 2000 F svstem and are oresentlv undergoina - - a field test on a DEC ~ I k 1 8 TSSW e sy&em. he source programs should run on most svstems su~oorting .. - standard Dartmouth Basic with only small modifications for various string requirements, random number requirements and printing formats. The documentation for these programs includes a student ~
114 1 Journal of ChemicalEducaiion
manual with behavioral objectives, the procedure, a sample data sheet and questions, while the teachers' manual includes sueeestions for runnine the exoeriment and a hibliomaohv. T o test the objectivesof eachsimulated experiment, we &e presently using tests which have been randomly generated by the computer from a bank of stored questions. The questions and the test generating- -program may be included in the follow-up to this project. The documentation and a source paper tape for each of these programs can be obtained from Dr. Frank Ambrosie, Onondaga-Madison County BOCES, 6820 Thompson Road, Syracuse, New York 13211;while questions on the programs can be forwarded directly to the authors. Author's Note: References to CHEM Study based on O'Conner, et al., "Chemistry: Experiments and Principles," D. C. Heath, New York, 1973.
--
