Molecular polarity. Check out 19 different molecules, create your own molecules with varying degrees of electronegativity, and understand the effects of an electric field on the molecule.
A collection of software engineers, researchers, and smart cookies at the University of Colorado Boulder developed (FREE!!!) interactive teaching tools that are extremely useful at demonstrating some difficult scientific concepts.
PhET (Physics Education Technology) was originally developed to explain physics concepts using drag-and-click interactive models. Written in Java and Flash (though shifting development to HTML5), these stable and self explanatory simulations allow users to explore charges and electric fields, fluid pressure and flow, in addition to the traditional up-down-and-out physics problems involving Newton’s forces. Additional simulations are continually added (they have over 127 now) that cover topics in biology, earth science, and chemistry. These simulations rely on the pedagogical nature of dynamic feedback that engages and challenges students to solidify real world connections.
In a recent write up in the Journal of Chemical Education, Emily B. Moore, Julia M. Chamberlain, Robert Parson, and Katherine K. Perkins from University of Colorado Boulder present a transcript of students “playing” with these simulations where the students discover and build a foundation for understanding molecular polarity.
3:29
S1: So what is this [molecular dipole arrow] pointing to? I’m trying to think how this works here. [moves Atom C electronegativity from ‘more’ to ‘less’] More, less—[moves Atom B electronegativity from the middle to ‘less’ then to ‘more’, then back to the middle, moves Atom C electronegativity from ‘more’ to the middle, pauses, then to ‘less’, selects “Partial Charges”, then “Bond Dipole”]4:05
S1: OK. So those are just like when we were lookin’ at the two [Two Atoms tab].4:14
S2: Yeah.4:16
S1: So it’s [bond dipole] always gonna be pointing toward the negative. And then what does this [molecular dipole] signify?4:25
S2: The dipole. I guess that’s—I don’t know.4:30
S1: I don’t know how to explain that.4:32
S2: Maybe the sum of the two bond dipoles.4:34
S1: Uh huh.
These simulations are not meant to replace teachers, rather they are meant to add to the growing arsenal of tools a teacher can use to help challenge and develop insight into complex, and often invisible, phenomena.
Additional reasons for liking this software:
- For those who teach in classrooms with limited or hotel-quality Wifi, they allow each simulation to be downloaded and booted as a standalone executable.
- Offer PhET Tips for Teachers, a summary of how to run the simulation and bullet point objectives to assist the educator in saving face in front of the classroom.
- A range of difficulties are presented, from elementary through university levels are offered.
- Most simulations are translated into 20+ languages
- Runs on a variety of operating systems
- FREE!
P.S. Did you ever wonder about the pH of Beer? How about hand soap? Blood? Chicken Soup? Check it out.
Tagged: chemistry, computational chemistry, education, interactive teaching tools, open science, Physics Education Technology, science, simulation, Teaching, University of Colorado Boulder
