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 Amherst, Massachusetts. Samples of interactive tutorials and simulations can be found there.

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 Crystal Systems" J. of Chem. Ed., 2001, 78, 1198-1204

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, Wadsworth Publishers, 2003 ISBN: 0-5342-7392-0

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, Saunders College Publishing, July, 2000, ISBN: 0-03-021969-8