JCE Software, 7C1: Lake Study for Macintosh

Lake Study for Macintosh

David M. Whisnant
Wofford College, Spartanburg, SC 29303-3663
James A. McCormick and Paul Wagner
University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706-1396

Note:
This program is included in the General Chemistry Collection (SP-16).

To Order General Chemistry Collection

Lake Study for Macintosh is a new version of a program previously published by JCE: Software for Windows computers (1). Both the Windows and Macintosh programs are based on an Apple II program by the same name (2, 3). Lake Study is a two-part computer simulation designed to involve nonscientists with the scientific method. It allows them to collect data, formulate hypotheses, and test the hypotheses with controlled experiments in the laboratory.
Students are assigned the task of discovering the cause of breathing difficulties that are killing young fish in a lake in the first part of the simulation. They may collect water samples from the lake, analyze them, and then compare their results with library references on toxicity of the pollutants. Students may also look at the fish themselves, and consult simulated colleagues. Having done this, they can develop a hypothesis about the problem. In the second part of the experiment, students can do controlled experiments to determine which of the two hypotheses is more likely. The fact that different students reach different initial classroom discussion about the facts that support each hypothesis and their logical interpretation.

Figure 1. Screen from Lake Study showing results of a controlled experiment on fish mortality.
Hardware and Software Requirements
Software in Series C of JCE: Software requires an Apple Macintosh computer with a hard drive and a SuperDrive floppy disk drive. System software version 6.0.7 or later is required. If you are running System 7 or MultiFinder, at least 2 MB of RAM is required. In addition both Lake Study requires a Macintosh II or better, System 7 or higher, and at least 4 MB of RAM. A 256 color monitor is not required, but strongly recommended. Installation of Lake Study requires approximately 1,600 KB of free hard disk space.
Literature Cited

Whisnant, D. M.; McCormick, J. A. Lake Study for Windows, JCE: Software, 1993, 5B(1).
Whisnant, D. M. J. Chem. Educ. 1984 61(7), 627-629.
Whisnant, D. M. Lake Study; Apple Disk AP804, Project SERAPHIM, Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, 1984.

First Published: July 1995
Citation: Whisnant, D. M.; McCormick, J. A.; Wagner, P. . Lake Study for Macintosh J. Chem. Educ. Software 7C1
Keywords: Computer Room; Simulation; High School; General; Scientific method; Water chemistry; Environmental chemistry

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Last Updated: July 19, 2001
Created: December 4, 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 Macintosh
David M. Whisnant Wofford College, Spartanburg, SC 29303-3663 James A. McCormick and Paul Wagner University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706-1396

Note:	This program is included in the General Chemistry Collection (SP-16). To Order General Chemistry Collection

Lake Study for Macintosh is a new version of a program previously published by JCE: Software for Windows computers (1). Both the Windows and Macintosh programs are based on an Apple II program by the same name (2, 3). Lake Study is a two-part computer simulation designed to involve nonscientists with the scientific method. It allows them to collect data, formulate hypotheses, and test the hypotheses with controlled experiments in the laboratory. Students are assigned the task of discovering the cause of breathing difficulties that are killing young fish in a lake in the first part of the simulation. They may collect water samples from the lake, analyze them, and then compare their results with library references on toxicity of the pollutants. Students may also look at the fish themselves, and consult simulated colleagues. Having done this, they can develop a hypothesis about the problem. In the second part of the experiment, students can do controlled experiments to determine which of the two hypotheses is more likely. The fact that different students reach different initial classroom discussion about the facts that support each hypothesis and their logical interpretation. Figure 1. Screen from Lake Study showing results of a controlled experiment on fish mortality. Hardware and Software Requirements Software in Series C of JCE: Software requires an Apple Macintosh computer with a hard drive and a SuperDrive floppy disk drive. System software version 6.0.7 or later is required. If you are running System 7 or MultiFinder, at least 2 MB of RAM is required. In addition both Lake Study requires a Macintosh II or better, System 7 or higher, and at least 4 MB of RAM. A 256 color monitor is not required, but strongly recommended. Installation of Lake Study requires approximately 1,600 KB of free hard disk space. Literature Cited Whisnant, D. M.; McCormick, J. A. Lake Study for Windows, JCE: Software, 1993, 5B(1). Whisnant, D. M. J. Chem. Educ. 1984 61(7), 627-629. 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: July 19, 2001 Created: December 4, 1996	Created by: J. L. Holmes Comments to: jceonline@chem.wisc.edu

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