2006 Spring ConfChem: Web-Based Applications for Chemical Education: Experiences and Visions

Jmol (http://www.jmol.org) is free software for displaying interactive 3D molecules. It is designed as a component that can be used as a standalone application, as an applet within the context of a web page, or as a display subsystem within a more sophisticated software package. Because it is written in Java and requires no special graphics hardware, Jmol runs on all major operating systems and web browsers. Jmol has been developed as a collaborative project using standard open-source software development methodologies and procedures. All source code is publicly available under the GNU licenses, facilitating experimentation, testing, public contributions, and peer review. Rendering representations can be controlled using an extended version of the RasMol scripting language. The Jmol applet allows web content developers to display interactive 3D representations of molecules within web pages, providing an upgrade path for users of the Chime web browser plugin. New capabilities are being added to Jmol on an ongoing basis. As Jmol has matured over the past few years, it has become an increasingly popular component in computer based molecular visualization. We expect Jmol's popularity to continue to grow as we continue to build into it additional new features, many of which will be demonstrated in this presentation.

The BestChoice online tutorial system designed by the authors has been used since 2002 in New Zealand to support both first-year university students and high school students in their learning of chemistry (4000 active users in 2005). 80 modules with content appropriate to the above cohorts have been written. In total there are 2500 screen views and 6000 possibilities for interaction generating feedback available. A selection of these can be viewed at www.bestchoice.che.auckland.ac.nz by clicking on the DEMO MODE link.

The primary focus of BestChoice modules is interactive teaching using a programmed learning approach. We have made major strides in developing methods to simulate on screen pen-and-paper solutions to multistep problems. The paper will describe
factors taken into account in the design and implementation of BestChoice
our experience incorporating use of BestChoice into first year university and high school courses
how evaluation by over 8000 users has provided validation of the approach taken in BestChoice modules as well as useful insights for future work

Moodle (http://www.moodle.org) is a free, open-source course management system that emphasizes community building, critical reflection, and collaborative work. It provides a powerful array of tools not found in many commercial course management systems. It includes facilities for web publishing, equation typesetting, content management, adaptive prelabs and lessons, parameterized and hierarchical homework banks, Flash and SCORM learning objects, assessment, detailed student tracking, and record-keeping. Moodle is under active development, and is supported by a large community of system administrators, teachers, researchers, instructional designers and developers. Being open source, the code can easily be modified to suit specific needs, and Moodle can run on any server capable of running PHP and MySQL.

Moodle has been used to teach chemistry at all levels of the curriculum at Frostburg State University for the last two years. In this paper, I'll outline the tools and features of Moodle, and demonstrate their application in our general chemistry, physical chemistry, and environmental chemical analysis courses. I'll also discuss the impact that Moodle has had on classroom dynamics and pedagogy in laboratory, lecture, and workshop settings.

InterChemNet (ICN, http://icn2.umeche.maine.edu/newnav/NewNavigator/LoginForm.cfm) is a web-based laboratory management and curriculum delivery system that incorporates spectroscopic instrumentation, student choice, and assessment of student learning. Data from studies evaluating spectroscopy curriculum modules in terms of assessment of student learning are presented. We discuss the use of ICN as a tool for action research in the laboratory setting, focusing on two modalities that can be facilitated with this technology: parallel curriculum improvement cycles and multi-campus assessment.