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Using Handheld Computers in the Chemistry Classroom

http://aa.uncwil.edu/numina. Using Handheld Computers in the Chemistry Classroom. Charles R. Ward James H. Reeves Barbara P. Heath Department of Chemistry University of North Carolina at Wilmington. History of Numina II SRS.

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Using Handheld Computers in the Chemistry Classroom

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  1. http://aa.uncwil.edu/numina Using Handheld Computers in the Chemistry Classroom Charles R. Ward James H. Reeves Barbara P. Heath Department of Chemistry University of North Carolina at Wilmington

  2. History of Numina II SRS • Multi-disciplinary team has been working together on technology projects since 1990. chemistry computerscience physics scienceeducation mathematics • Funding obtained in 1999 to explore the use of handheld computer technology for teaching science and mathematics. • Work begins on Student Response System.

  3. History of Numina II Project • Initial work done with handheld computers (1999-2001) • Wireless networks installed (1999) • Focus shifted to Pocket PCs (2001-present)

  4. Numina II Project • Is it possible to do serious college-level work on a Pocket PC? • What additional hardware and software are needed to make the PPC a viable option for students and faculty?

  5. Pocket PC Hardware • Intel StrongArm CPU (206 MHz) • 64 MB RAM • 240 x 360 reflective TFT colordisplay • Compact Flash expansionslot • 14-hour Li-ion battery • Pocket PC 2002 OS • MS Pocket Office suite • Internet Explorer

  6. Pocket PC Hardware • Pocket PCs are distributed to students in class • PPCs are stored on “charging” carts

  7. MS Pocket Word • Reads and writes standard MSWord (.doc) documents • Will read and display sub/super-scripts but will not create them • No support for tables

  8. MS Pocket Excel • Reads and writes standard MSExcel (.xls) documents • Does not support graphing • Will not allow non-contiguouscolumn selection • No statistical routines

  9. MS Pocket Internet Explorer • Supports standard HTML • Supports JPEG and GIF • Supports embedded Media Player • Supports Flash MX (V. 6) • No animated GIF support • Limited JavaScript support • Very limited Java support

  10. eBook Chemistry Textbook • BLB text from Prentice-Hall • Supplied in HTML format • Text delivered over the Web • Fully editable

  11. MS Pocket Media Player • Supports WMF audio and video • Supports MP3 • Supports streaming video • Will embed in Pocket IE

  12. Adobe Acrobat Reader for PPC • Supports most Acrobat Reader functions including: thumbnails, table of contents • Excellent graphics support • PDF files are very large

  13. Pocket Hyperchem from Hypercube • Pen-based interface • MM+ and Semi-Empirical • Build molecules • Optimize geometries • Explore properties of molecules • View and rotate molecules • Measure bond angles and bond lengths • View molecules in different renderings

  14. RDCalc Graphing Calculator • All of the graphing functions ofa TI graphing calculator • Easier to use than a calculatordue to the pen-based interface • Many additional functions useful in chemistry classes • Periodic table • Stop watch • Constants • Conversion factors

  15. GraphData • Developed at UNCW by Dr. RussHerman • Adds graphing capability to Pocket Excel • Graphs can be pasted intoPocket Word

  16. Scotty FTP • Graphical FTP client program • Very easy to use • Students use FTP to transfer filesto their instructor

  17. Data Harvest DATAQ System • 12-bit DATAQ system with numerous probes • Available as serial interface or as CF+ unit • Software runs on HPC, PPC, and desktop computers

  18. Additional “Cool” Science Stuff Audio Spectrum Analyzer Global Positioning System

  19. Numina II Student Response System • Interactive classroom questioning • Completely Web-based system • Student feedback is anonymous • Data are available for later analysis http://aa.uncwil.edu/numina/srs

  20. Numina II Student Response System

  21. Numina II Student Response System Student Response Pad View Multiple Choice Yes / No True / False

  22. Variable Response Graphic Response Graphic Response Numina II Student Response System Student Response Pad View

  23. Numina II Student Response System Sample Question 1

  24. Numina II Student Response System Sample Question 1 Showing Student Responses

  25. 24 students in class Numina II Student Response System Sample Question 1 Showing Student Responses

  26. Numina II Student Response System Sample Question 2

  27. Numina II Student Response System Sample Question 2 Showing Student Responses

  28. Numina II Student Response System Sample Question 3

  29. Numina II Student Response System Sample Question 3 Showing Student Responses

  30. Numina II Student Response System Sample Question 4 4. Congratulating a student with a pat on the back or commenting on a student’s appearance constitutes sexual harrassment. True False

  31. Numina II Student Response System Sample Question 4 Showing Student Responses 4. Congratulating a student with a pat on the back or commenting on a student’s appearance constitutes sexual harrassment. True False

  32. Important Classroom Outcomes • Student participation in question sessions is consistently near 100%. • Instructors gain immediate information regarding the extent to which students understand the concepts or procedures being presented. • Instructors make informed decisions based on student data that impact the pace of class and the organization of concepts presented. • Nearly 100% of participating students report that they prefer the SRS system to normal classroom questioning techniques.

  33. Important Classroom Outcomes • Classroom discussion is increased and more widespread. total discussion hits number of studentsparticipating in discussion Total Responses and Students PPT SRS PPT SRS

  34. Important Classroom Outcomes • Students exhibit little off-task behavior when using Pocket PCs with the SRS system.

  35. Software Development for Numina II • Molecular Animator (states of matter, vapor pressure, phase diagrams, etc.) • Kinetics Simulator • Equilibrium Simulator • Data Analysis Module • Data Acquisition Software & Hardware

  36. Acknowledgements Project Funding • National Science Foundation (#IIS-0002935) • Pearson Education • UNCW • College of Arts and Sciences • Division of Academic Affairs • Information Technology Systems Division

  37. Acknowledgements Current Collaborators • Department of Chemistry • Dr. Charles Ward • Dr. Jimmy Reeves • Dr. Barbara Heath • Ms. Jenny Wright, Undergraduate • Ms. Katy Magolan, Undergraduate • Mathematics and Statistics / Physics • Dr. Gabriel Lugo • Dr. Russ Herman • Computer Science • Dr. Ron Vetter • Mr. Shaun Border, Undergraduate

  38. http://aa.uncwil.edu/numina

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