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William
J. Vining
Inorganic Chemistry and Chemical Education
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Office: 232 Physical Sciences Building |
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Tovinhenge: A Little Stonehenge in Laurens click here for
the website.
Course Web Pages
Spring 2008 General
Chemistry II, Chem 112
Fall 2007 General
Chemistry I, Chem 111
Descriptive
Inorganic Chemistry, Chem 241
Multimedia
Exploration Modules
Downloads
Zeolite Explorer by
William Vining, Scott Auerbach, Justin Fermann and Amy Roy
Cyclic Voltammetry Simulator by William Vining, Shaun Sheehan, and Justin
Fermann
Principal Research
Interests
My principal interest lies in
developing and testing educational materials and methods for chemistry. The
materials are primarily computer-based multimedia software systems that serve
the dual purpose of simulating the exploratory nature of chemical investigation
and also make use of graphical advantages of computer systems to better explain
chemical concepts. The focus of these programs is to enable students of
chemistry to explore chemical concepts in a manner that leads them to discover
those concepts independently.
Because chemical concepts are based on analysis of
experimental results, the software systems we design are centered around
presenting the student with information they would obtain from an experiment,
along with computer-based tools for analyzing those results. This allows the
student to observe trends and choose the appropriate experiment to answer a
particular question. Once an area of chemistry has been presented by an
interactive experimental simulation, the concept can then be explained using
multimedia tools such as videos and animations. Our work involves preparation
of materials appropriate for use in general, organic, inorganic, physical, and
analytical chemistry. Recent projects have included work on a CD-ROM textbook
for general chemistry and currently we are working on modules for organic chemistry.
Another aspect of our work involves development of new course
design methods such as integration of laboratory and lecture portions of
courses. This facet of our work involves designing means of organizing courses
that model the scientific enterprise. The ideal is to design courses that not
only present information but also emulate the methods whereby that information
is obtained. These means of organizing courses are tested in relatively small
enrollment courses and then adapted for use in large, traditionally
lecture-based classes.
Much of our software
development work is done in collaboration with Cowtown Productions, Inc., of
Representative Publications
Journal Publications
R. Grosso, W. J. Vining, "Symmetry and Point Groups," J. Chem. Ed. Software, Vol. 80, No. 1, Page 110
R. Grosso, J. T. Fermann, W. J. Vining, "Lattice Energetics," J. Chem. Ed. Software, Vol. 80, No.1, Page 108
R. Grosso, J. T. Fermann, W. J. Vining,
"The Madulung Constant An In-Depth Look at the Madelung Constant for Cubic
Software Publications
W. J. Vining, J. C. Kotz, General
Chemistry NOW CD-ROM, Ver. 4.0, Brooks/Cole Publishing, 2005, ISBN:
0-534-40929-6
W. J. Vining, S. Young, General, Organic, and Biochemistry CD-ROM, Ver. 2.0, Brooks/Cole Publishing, 2003, ISBN: 0-534-401937
W. J. Vining, Analytical Chemistry CD-ROM
(to accompany Analytical Chemistry by Skoog, West, and Hollar), Brooks/Cole
Publishing, 2003, ISBN:
0-534-41796-5
K. Johnson, L. Malloy, R. Markle, W. J. Vining, PhysioEdge Physiology CD-ROM, Brooks/Cole Publishing, 2003, ISBN: 0-5343-9502-3
R. M. Larman, W. J. Vining, Art
Experience CD-ROM,
W. J. Vining, J. C. Kotz, P. A. Harman, General Chemistry Interactive CD-ROMs, Ver. 3.0 Brooks/Cole Publishing, ISBN: 0-03-035403-K, 2002
W. J. Vining, V. M. Rotello, D.
A. Bak, Harcourt Organic Chemistry CD-ROM, Complete Version,