FULLERTON : Animation Will Liven Up Chemistry

How do you make chemistry classes more interesting and easier to understand?

Animation is the answer for three Cal State Fullerton chemistry professors, who have won a $141,000 National Science Foundation grant to help them in their efforts.

Andrew F. Montana, Carl F. Prenzlow and Patrick A. Wegner have developed computer software prototypes using color graphics and animation for courses in organic and inorganic chemistry. The computer then becomes a kind of live-action illustration of complex concepts of chemical reactions and processes, the professors said.

With the grant, they are now trying to develop similar techniques for use in beginning chemistry classes “where students need these visual aids the most,” Prenzlow said.

“Instead of having to imagine what the teacher is explaining, the student can actually see it in motion on the computer screen. This visualization at the molecular level is essential for understanding chemistry,” he said.