JCE Software, 5B1: Lake Study for Windows

Lake Study for Windows

David M. Whisnant
Wofford College, Spartanburg, SC 29304
James A. McCormick
University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706

Note:
This issue is out of print. See Volume 5D, Number 1 for an updated version of Lake Study for Windows. A Mac OS version is also available.

Lake Study is included in the General Chemistry Collection (SP-16)
Ordering Information

Lake Study for Windows is a two-part simulation designed to involve students with the scientific method. It allows them to collect data, formulate hypotheses, and test the hypotheses with controlled experiments. It is based on an Apple II program of the same name (1, 2).
In the first part of the simulation students are asked to discover why young fish in a lake have difficulty breathing and consequently are dying. They can collect samples of the lake water, analyze them for metals, dissolved oxygen, and pesticides, obtain library references on toxicities of the various pollutants, look at the fish themselves, or talk to a simulated colleague about what they have found. Having done this students can develop a hypothesis about the problem; however, there are randomly chosen differences in the information provided that lead some students to a different hypothesis from others. In the second part of the simulation students can do controlled experiments to determine which of the two hypotheses is more likely. The fact that different students reach different initial hypotheses is a good mechanism for inducing classroom discussions about the facts that support each hypothesis and their logical interpretation. Student handout guides are provided for each of the two parts of the simulation.

Screen from Lake Study program showing simulated fish-tank experiment.
Hardware and Software Requirements
Lake Study for Windows is designed to run on an IBM or compatible computer built upon an 80286 or higher microprocessor. Greater than one megabyte of RAM, a hard disk, and one floppy-disk drive are also required. A CGA, EGA, VGA, 8514, Hercules, or compatible display is required. (EGA or higher resolution and a color monitor are recommended.) A mouse is not required, but is highly recommended to take advantage of the graphical interface. DOS version 3.1 or greater and Windows version 3.0 or greater are required and are not supplied with the program.
Literature Cited

Whisnant, D. M. J. Chem. Educ. 1984 61(7), 627-9.
Whisnant, D. M. "Lake Study." Apple Disk AP804, Project SERAPHIM, Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, 1984.

First Published: April 1992
Citation: Whisnant, D. M.; McCormick, J. A. . Lake Study for Windows J. Chem. Educ. Software 5B1
Keywords: Computer Room; Simulation; High School; General; General Science; Scientific method; Water chemistry; Environmental chemistry

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Last Updated: April 26, 2001
Created: December 3, 1996 Created by: J. L. Holmes
Comments to: jceonline@chem.wisc.edu

© 1997 Division of Chemical Education, Inc., American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.



Lake Study for Windows
David M. Whisnant Wofford College, Spartanburg, SC 29304 James A. McCormick University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706

Note:	This issue is out of print. See Volume 5D, Number 1 for an updated version of Lake Study for Windows. A Mac OS version is also available. Lake Study is included in the General Chemistry Collection (SP-16) Ordering Information

Lake Study for Windows is a two-part simulation designed to involve students with the scientific method. It allows them to collect data, formulate hypotheses, and test the hypotheses with controlled experiments. It is based on an Apple II program of the same name (1, 2). In the first part of the simulation students are asked to discover why young fish in a lake have difficulty breathing and consequently are dying. They can collect samples of the lake water, analyze them for metals, dissolved oxygen, and pesticides, obtain library references on toxicities of the various pollutants, look at the fish themselves, or talk to a simulated colleague about what they have found. Having done this students can develop a hypothesis about the problem; however, there are randomly chosen differences in the information provided that lead some students to a different hypothesis from others. In the second part of the simulation students can do controlled experiments to determine which of the two hypotheses is more likely. The fact that different students reach different initial hypotheses is a good mechanism for inducing classroom discussions about the facts that support each hypothesis and their logical interpretation. Student handout guides are provided for each of the two parts of the simulation. Screen from Lake Study program showing simulated fish-tank experiment. Hardware and Software Requirements Lake Study for Windows is designed to run on an IBM or compatible computer built upon an 80286 or higher microprocessor. Greater than one megabyte of RAM, a hard disk, and one floppy-disk drive are also required. A CGA, EGA, VGA, 8514, Hercules, or compatible display is required. (EGA or higher resolution and a color monitor are recommended.) A mouse is not required, but is highly recommended to take advantage of the graphical interface. DOS version 3.1 or greater and Windows version 3.0 or greater are required and are not supplied with the program. Literature Cited Whisnant, D. M. J. Chem. Educ. 1984 61(7), 627-9. Whisnant, D. M. "Lake Study." Apple Disk AP804, Project SERAPHIM, Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, 1984.


News \| Issues \| CD-ROM / Video \| Find It! \| Technical Support \| For Authors
JCE Online \| Journal \| Software \| Internet \| Happenings \| About JCE \| Contact JCE

Last Updated: April 26, 2001 Created: December 3, 1996	Created by: J. L. Holmes Comments to: jceonline@chem.wisc.edu

© 1997 Division of Chemical Education, Inc., American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.