Contemporary Chemistry Project
New Features
Emeritus, Department of Chemistry and
Biochemistry,
University of Delaware.
Abstract
Two significant additions to our Contemporary Chemistry Project have been: (1) the introduction of a series of essay and multiple choice questions for each animation, which allow in-depth comprehension testing of each animation; (2) a new custom tool for classroom and browser presentation of animations that allows the instructor complete freedom in choosing the order of animations and questions from a searchable database. It also gives the instructor the option of modifying these questions and creating new essay and multiple choice questions.
Introduction
In our previous Newsletter article (ÒContemporary Chemistry: Visions of An Integrated Text/Multimedia Module ApproachÓ), we described the development of a unique, interactive multimedia project that utilized Flash animations integrated with an introductory text. The project is designed for non-science students and introduces chemical principles on a need-to-know basis.
We have now extended the above project to include a new concept in student feedback, a combined essay and multiple choice question sequence for each animation. This sequence significantly expands the teaching possibilities and depth of coverage within the project. It also allows a gradual buildup of the levels of sophistication. We also describe a new tool that gives the instructor complete freedom to select animations and essay questions for classroom or web use from a searchable database.
New series of essay and multiple-choice questions
We have introduced new essay questions with mouse rollover hints and complete, sometimes extensive answers that allow in-depth challenges to the student observing and interacting with the animations. A popup screen allows the student to input extensive answers to essay questions in writing and allows comparison with the correct answers. An option is to have studentÕs typed answers forwarded to the instructor for reading and grading before the correct answer can be revealed.
Multiple-choice questions that follow the essay questions allow a test of whether the student has comprehended the sometimes extensive, in-depth answers to the essay questions.
Thus the series of essay and multiple-choice questions allow in-depth exploration of the studentÕs understanding of theoretical underpinnings inherent in that animation. The series of questions also allow the introduction of additional related topics and an exploration of higher levels of sophistication regarding the subject of the animation.
New tool for
custom classroom and browser presentation of
animations,
questions, and notes.
The Contemporary Chemistry
project already had a tool for selecting and displaying individual project
animations from a menu (http://contemporarychemistry.com/
username: conrad ; password: chemistry ; click Òproject reviewersÓ/ ÒClassified ContentÓ). However, we felt the need for a tool that would allow a more formal presentation of these animations in a much more flexible form similar to that provided by PowerPoint, but with additional features.
Our just-completed Slideshow Creation Tool allows the instructor to create a custom presentation from a database of animations and accompanying series of essay and multiple-choice questions prepared for each animation. Illustrations taken from the text chapters can also be included in this database, which is searchable by chapter and by key words. Presentation of the product slideshow can be made in the classroom or it can be delivered through the Internet to groups of students or to individual student computers for tests, homework assignments, and post-session review of classroom presentations.
Complete flexibility is provided to instructors through their ability to select the animations and their order from the databank. During every stage of preparation, each animation may be viewed and engaged, and the order of presentation of animations can be easily rearranged. With each animation, there is available a series of essay and multiple-choice questions whose content can be edited by the instructor. Alternatively, instructors may prepare their own essay and multiple-choice questions with a flexible number of possible answers. An additional text panel can be added to each animation that can contain notes for the student or instructor, pop quizzes, or instructions.
Listed below are the links to the various parts of the
Contemporary Chemistry project. We invite inquiries regarding beta testing of
this project. For further
information, contact Conrad Trumbore conradt@udel.edu,
610-388-7093.
Acknowledgement.
The programming and design of the features described above are largely the work
of Kyle Kinney. The author is indebted to Kyle for his creativity and skill in
this and other parts of the Contemporary Chemistry project and to Becky Kinney
for her continuing help with the project.
LINKS TO CONTEMPORARY CHEMISTRY PROJECT
The Contemporary Chemistry Project consists of five units:
1. The New Contemporary Chemistry Slideshow Creation Tool
http://contemporarychemistry.com/protected/slideshow/builder2.swf
username: conrad ; password: chemistry
(instructions on use of this tool are at:
(Word) http://contemporarychemistry.com/Instructions.doc
(PDF) http://contemporarychemistry.com/Instructions.pdf
A sample slideshow is found at:
http://contemporarychemistry.com/protected/slideshow/viewer.swf
username: conrad ; password: chemistry
Slideshow title: Sample
(custom slideshow tool that shows animations, questions, and text
windows prepared by the instructor; NOTE: only chapters 1-4 animations have
been loaded into the database Ð others are being added.)
2. The Chemical Principles Multimedia Module (9 chapters)
http://contemporarychemistry.com/Ch1PBL10/opener.html
(only those animations dealing with chemical principles are
included)
3. The Contemporary Chemistry Multimedia Module (12 chapters)
http://contemporarychemistry.com/
username: conrad ; password: chemistry ; click Òproject
reviewersÓ/ ÒmultimediaÓ
(self-standing interactive multimedia with an environmental theme;
multiple choice questions only)
4. Classified Contemporary Chemistry Animations (classified by chapter and
topic)
http://contemporarychemistry.com/
click Òproject reviewersÓ/ ÒClassified ContentÓ ; username: conrad
; password: chemistry
(animations extracted from the Contemporary Chemistry Multimedia
Module)
5. Contemporary Chemistry Text Two sample online chapters are available at http://contemporarychemistry.com/ click Òproject reviewersÓ; username:
conrad ; password: chemistry.
¥ An Adobe pdf format Chapter 4 (Water) is found under the title
ÒTextbook pdf.Ó
¥ An example of the type of online text that represents an
integration of the formal text with interactive multimedia animations and
questions can be found under the title ÒTextbook swf.Ó
Other chapters of the text are available by request from the author.