Developing and Evaluating an Inquiry-Based Online Course with a Simulation Program of Complexometric Titration

Abstract

This study developed a complexometric titration simulation program based on LabVIEW. With built-in approximation and rigorous algorithms, the program can easily simulate and plot a single or a group of complexometric titration curves. On the basis of this program, we developed and implemented an online course to guide undergraduates to (i) compare the differences between the two titration types EDTA (Y) to Metal (M) and M to Y, (ii) explore the influencing factors of a titration jump, (iii) explore the conditions for an accurate titration, and (iv) find evidence for the existence of complexometric equilibrium. Questionnaires from 25 students were used for evaluation. The results showed that the program had high usability, practicability, effectiveness, and user behavior intention. Besides, 92% of the students were willing to use it more in the future and 11 students completed the test with an average score of 124.6 (full score of 150), and the average score of the modules corresponding to each learning goal was high, indicating that the students had achieved satisfactory learning outcomes.

Designing Virtual Laboratory Exercises Using Microsoft Forms

“…Student decisions led to productive or unproductive pathways, and if unproductive decisions were made, they were given the opportunity to see the result of their decisions and reflect on their observations. Similar to this approach, the branching points in Microsoft Forms also encourage students to exercise their decision-making and critical thinking skills, such as when they are asked to select an appropriate titrant for a particular titration experiment. − The following are samples of qualitative feedback offered by students through anonymous surveys with regards to their experience with branching points in Microsoft Forms-based exercises.…”

“…Educational technologies have long been known to enhance the learning experience for students. − As technological capabilities continue to improve and become more accessible globally, a wide range of educational tools have been developed for in-person teaching. − The recent global health crisis has placed an emphasis on the necessity for fully virtual learning environments that are engaging through both synchronous and asynchronous delivery. − For example, augmented reality and simulation-based platforms, such as Labster, allow students to virtually participate in interactive, scenario-based laboratories while offering a heightened level of asynchronous engagement. ,− However, these platforms are often expensive and offer limited customization potential, restricting their use and creating barriers for less affluent institutions.…”

“…Instructors have explored different ways of offering virtual laboratory exercises that vary in cost and complexity. , For example, designing virtual exercises using prerecorded videos offers students a chance to visualize how techniques are performed, while also providing a preview of the laboratories at their institution when it is not possible to attend in-person. ,, These types of exercises can offer a more meaningful experience when conducted synchronously with an instructor or teaching assistant (TA) present to facilitate discussions. − However, offering prerecorded videos in an asynchronous format could lead to passive learning in the absence of opportunity for students to participate in live discussions and the inability to actively interact with the videos …”

A Refined Redox Titration Simulation Program for the Simple System

“…LabVIEW is a graphical programming language that has been widely used in the process of chemistry teaching, including analytical chemistry teaching, , such as acid–base titration, complexation titration, and precipitation titration, as well as physical chemistry teaching. , A user-friendly educational program for rigorously simulating redox titration is not yet available. Therefore, with the advantage of LabVIEW’s ease of building user interfaces, we developed a user-friendly tool for simulating a simple redox titration system with n 1 = n 2 = 1 at different potentials, and this convenient tool could be beneficial to chemical education by providing new teaching and learning methods for the redox titration courses, especially through the online courses under the epidemic situation.…”

Design and Delivery of Virtual Inquiry-Based Organic Chemistry Experiments

“…The main challenge has been the replacement of face-to-face experiments with alternative activities. A variety of methods have been reported which include the use of videos or live online demonstrations, , simulations of experiments, − virtual reality experiments, , chemistry kits for home use, − kitchen experiments, , a shift to literature-based assignments, − or a combination of these approaches . The pivot to online teaching has presented difficulties to ensure that the same learning outcomes are met as compared with face-to-face laboratories; however, there are also cases where online instruction provides benefits such as improving access to underrepresented groups .…”