Paper 04, ChemConf '96
| Abstract and Index | 1. Introduction | 2. Hypermedia | 3. Instrumental Analysis Prelabs | 4. Summary | 5. References |
This paper describes some ways to use the World-Wide Web (WWW or Web [1]) in chemical education. This paper does not discuss the educational advantages of visualization techniques, which are described in Paper 06;[2, 3] or use of the Web as a research tool, which is described in paper 09.[4] The main focus is on developing effective educational material that can be delivered given the bandwidth limitations of the internet. More sophisticated material can be delivered over a local-area network as described in paper 07.[5] I will not attempt to validate the use of information technology,[6] only discuss how it can be used as a delivery tool with an emphasis on applying an appropriate medium to meet the intended educational goal.[7, 8, 9] This introductory section discusses some general uses of the Web, and Section 2 describes hypermedia and different hypermedia designs that can be applied to different types of educational materials. Section 3 illustrates one use of Web-based hypermedia with a detailed description of interactive prelab exercises in an instrumental analysis course.
In general, use of the Web for education can be divided into several categories: communication, research, delivery of educational material, and delivery of real-time interactive programs. While most of these functions were available previously on the internet,[10, 11] WWW browsers provide an integrated and easy-to-use tool to access them.[12, 13]
Many examples of web pages used in chemistry and other courses can be found at the World Lecture Hall. A typical example is my Instrumental Analysis home page (http://www.chem.vt.edu/chem-ed/4114/Fall1995.html). This class home page contained an on-line syllabus, a page of announcements and textbook assignments, a question-and-answer page, downloadable exam solutions, instructions for two computer dry labs, and links to the interactive prelab assignments that are described in detail in Section 3 of this paper. For most of the material listed, the home page functions as a class bulletin board that is available from any networked computer on or off campus.
The 28 students in the Instrumental Analysis class did not actively use the question-and-answer page.[14] Network-based asynchronous communication provides a medium for collaborative learning.[15] The sparse student use of the question-and-answer page in this class shows that it might not be an effective mediium for a small upper-level course, that includes a laboratory in which students have many opportunities to interact with other students, the instructor, and teaching assistants.
An example of using the WWW to deliver data and instructions is illustrated by a statistics dry lab: http://www.chem.vt.edu/chem-ed/4114/prelabs/stat/4114-stat-prelab.html. Fig. 1 shows a screen capture of the Web page and a spreadsheet program. The browser and spreadsheet programs are running in separate windows that were adjusted so both were visible simultaneously.
Fig. 1. Data Delivery Using the WWW
The right part of the figure shows the dry lab page in the browser window, which contained instructions, data, and hyperlinks to hints. Data was cut out of the browser window and pasted directly into the spreadsheet. The instructions told the students to write formulas and plot the data and then to tape printouts of their work into their lab notebooks to be graded. The main purpose of this lab was to bring all students up to speed on using Web browser and spreadsheet programs. It also gave them a set of formulas that they could use for data analysis in their later lab write-ups.
The disadvantage of internet delivery, compared to distributing printed instructions, is that students who want to do the assignment from a computer that does not have network access must first print the instructions and data from a networked computer. The advantage is that extensive remedial material, including graphics, can be provided in-context for students needing extra help.
| Abstract and Index | 1. Introduction | 2. Hypermedia | 3. Instrumental Analysis Prelabs | 4. Summary | 5. References |
http://www.chem.vt.edu/archive/chemconf96/1intro.html, updated 5/29/96
Copyright © 1996 by Brian M. Tissue, all rights reserved.
This page is maintained on the Virginia Tech Chemistry Department webserver. Comments, suggestions, and questions should be directed to Brian Tissue at tissue@vt.edu.