ERIC Number: ED497495
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2006-Sep-15
Pages: 8
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Use of Spreadsheet Simulations in University Chemistry Education
Lim, Kieran F.
Online Submission, Journal of Computer Chemistry, Japan v5 n3 p139-146 2006
Students who are strong in logical-mathematical intelligence have a natural advantage in learning and understanding chemistry, which is full of abstractions that are remote from the material world. Simulations provide more-inclusive learning activities for students who are weak in logical-mathematical intelligence. A second advantage of using simulations is that they are not limited by (for example) the quantised energies, integral masses and discrete expectation values of real atoms and molecules. Numerical experiments can be used to investigate the dependence as atomic mass, bond distance or any other property, is varied continuously from one value to another. Finally, students are more familiar with spreadsheets than more advanced mathematical packages such as MathCAD, MAPLE, Mathematica and other symbolic algebra software. Use of these advanced packages present additional learning hurdles for students and should be used only for advanced classes. Furthermore, spreadsheets are capable of a level of sophistication that is greater than commonly expected. This can be achieved without the use of MACROs. Examples from the author's teaching are used to discuss the advantages of spreadsheet simulations for learning chemistry. (Contains 8 figures and 3 tables.)
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A