John S. Martin
Department of Chemistry, The University of Alberta,
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2G2
In 1996 I published the Simulations and Interactive Resources, a DOS utility which subscribers to the Journal of Chemical Education may download free from the Journal of Chemical Education software site. These have been used worldwide and student and instructor response has been uniformly enthusiastic.
This report describes a new, enhanced Windows version of the SIRs. They are now available in the General Chemistry Collection CD-ROM, Special Issue 16, Sixth Edition, of the Journal of Chemical Education: Software. Ordering information can be found at the
JCES Web site, jchemed.chem.wisc.edu/JCESoft.They are interactive illustrations, simulations and animations of general chemical principles, for classroom use by means of a projection monitor. They are completely under the control of the instructor, using an intuitive mouse-controlled interface.
Context-sensitive help is always available, and it is quite possible to learn from the help all about a SIR and its uses. Needless to say it’s prudent to use the help when preparing a presentation rather than during it – but the help is there if you need it.
The most significant property of the SIRs is that they do not interrupt one’s presentation, and they may be adapted to almost any pedagogical approach. They may be brought in spontaneously when a relevant point arises, so that they lend themselves to interactive instruction. The instructor may ask the class (or students may ask the instructor) "What do you think would happen if…?" and the computer will then provide the answer – and very likely stimulate the next question.
Here is the general index page. The twenty-two complete SIRs are in dark lettering. The general topics covered are the periodic table, atomic structure, pressure, phase equilibrium and gases, chemical thermodynamics, equilibrium, acids and bases, electrochemistry, kinetics and mathematical functions.
Updated July 10, 2002