Evaluation of Two Computer Programs for Use in High School Chemistry

Abstract

<p> Certain concepts in the final year of Ontario's high school chemistry course, SCHOA, are often difficult for students to understand. This project presents the results of a study of selected computer programs that could be used to enhance the teaching of selected difficult concepts in an attempt to make them easier to understand. </p> <p> The identification of the difficult concepts was an important component of this project. They were identified by means of a student survey, teacher interviews, literature review and personal experience. The difficult concepts were identified, in order of decreasing difficulty, as: 1. Buffers, 2. Solubility, 3. Redox, 4. Independent Investigation, 5. Acid/Base Equilibrium, 6. Reaction Mechanisms, 7. Free Energy. </p> <p> Two programs were selected for evaluation - The Electric Chemistry Building and Chem1 Problem Proctor and a checklist was established to examine these computer programs. The two programs address the identified difficult concepts and use a variety of teaching techniques (tutorial, drill and simulation). </p> <p> Chem1 Problem Proctor consists of tutorial and drill lessons, suitable for use by students of SCHOA. The key objectives of this program are to encourage problem-solving and to promote an understanding of the principles underlying the chemistry concepts. The program accomplishes this to various degrees of success by requiring the student to make decisions, to make qualitative estimates before some of the calculations and by asking questions related to the concept but not necessarily part of the solution to the problem. </p> <p> The Electric Chemistry Building is a simulation of a building made up of three laboratories, two of which were evaluated in this project. The key objective of this program is to develop problem-solving skills by providing students with the opportunity to design and perform experiments, make observations and draw conclusions. </p> <p> Based on the evaluations of Chem1 Problem Proctor and The Electric Chemistry Building in this project, both programs appear to be worthwhile for use in SCHOA. The Electric Chemistry Building is a very good simulation program which would enhance the teaching of the difficult concepts of SCHOA. Chem1 Problem Proctor is a good tutorial/drill program which should be improved with respect to its presentation of chemical notation and mathematical formulae, and the feedback to its drill questions. Once these aspects of the program are corrected, it will also be effective in enhancing the teaching of difficult concepts of SCHOA. </p>