Chem Collective Virtual Lab

Chem Collective Virtual Lab
The Chem Virtual Lab is an online simulation of a chemistry lab. It is designed to help students link chemical computations with authentic laboratory chemistry. The lab allows students to select from hundreds of standard reagents (aqueous) and manipulate them in a manner resembling a real lab. 

GOALS

As a project in the National Science Digital Library (NSDL), the ChemCollective's goals are to support a community of instructors interested in improving chemistry education through interactive and engaging online activities.

Paper-and pencil homework typically emphasizes applying formulas— a process that can become routine and disconnected from the reality and fun of doing chemistry. In contrast, simulation-based exercises offer new ways to promote learning and motivation. Interactive exercises can allow students to explore and reinforce fundamental concepts in contexts that are increasingly complex, realistic, and engaging. Our goal is to create flexible, interactive learning environments where college and high school students can approach chemistry more like practicing scientists.

BRIEF HISTORY

The Chemistry Collective began with the IrYdium Project's Virtual Lab in 2000, which provides a flexible simulation so that instructors may use it for a great variety of student activities. The project evolved to create scenario-based learning activities designed to provide interactive, engaging materials that link chemistry concepts to the real world.

The project leader is Dr. David Yaron, Associate Professor of Chemistry at Carnegie Mellon. Many of the original activities on this site were developed by a group at Carnegie Mellon, including Yaron, experienced software engineers, undergraduate programmers, educational consultants, and technical writers.

Many Virtual Lab activities were also designed by contributors from other universities, including a number from Robert Belford, Jordi Cuadros and Sophia Nussbaum. The Virtual Lab was recognized in 2003 withMERLOT's Classic Award in chemistry and Editor's Choice for exemplary software across all disciplines. In 2010, the ChemCollective won the Science Prize for Online Resources in Education (SPORE) award.