| The goal of this feature column is to provide molecular modeling exercises and experiments that have been used successfully in undergraduate instruction. The exercises should not be designed to teach students molecular modeling; the exercises should be designed so that students use modeling to learn chemistry.
We are seeking in this JCE Internet feature column to publish molecular modeling exercises and experiments that have been used successfully in undergraduate instruction. An abstract of published submissions will appear in print in the Journal of Chemical Education.
Acceptable exercises could be used in either a chemistry laboratory or a chemistry computer laboratory. The exercise could cover any area of chemistry, but should be limited to undergraduate instructional applications. We envision that most of the exercises/experiments will utilize one of the popular instructional molecular modeling software programs (e.g. HyperChem, Spartan, CAChe, PC Model). Exercises that are specific to a particular modeling program are acceptable, but those usable with any modeling program are preferred.
Ideally the exercises/experiments will be of the type where the "correct" answer is not obvious so that the student must discover the solution or provide an explanation. The goal of the exercises should not be specifically to learn molecular modeling, but to use modeling to learn chemistry. Of course, some concepts of modeling have to be addressed in order for the student to effectively utilize molecular modeling (e.g., the distinction between a local and a global energy minimum conformation). We are looking for exercises that go beyond those already published by the molecular modeling software distributors.
Format of Submitted Exercises and Experiments
Each exercise should have a specific goal or objective. Fairly detailed procedures for the exercise should be included. All submissions should indicate the molecular modeling software system (name, version, computer platform and operating system) utilized for the exercise and the chemistry course(s) in which the exercise has been used. Ideally procedures and instructions should not be specific to one particular modeling software system and/or computer platform, but should be general so that they could apply to more than one system. Submissions will be peer reviewed and should be in three parts:
- A brief abstract
- The instructions and procedure to be used by the student
- Instructor notes that discuss the objective of the exercise, the results, the selection of the computational method(s), and potential pitfalls and problems.
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