OrChem: Easy-to-Use Chemistry Educational Software for Teachers and Students
Waterloo, Ontario (PRWEB) October 10, 2016 -- Since 1994 Siborg was supplying Universities world-wide with an engineering and educational software tools for semiconductor devices and processes. The most popular software package is MicroTec, Two-dimensional Semiconductor Process and Device Simulator. This tool was used by 100+ Universities and 50+ Companies around the globe for both research and teaching.
Another software tool for Three-Dimensional Heat Transfer Analysis SibLin was developed in early 2000s and licensed to Waterloo Hydrogeologic, Nortel and Spectrian. Implemented applications included 3D ground water flow, heat transfer analysis in power HBT transistors and diffusion-drift system of equations for 3D semiconductor devices.
In 2003 Siborg initiated a new project for Chemistry Educational Software OrChem.
Interactive Chemistry Educational Software OrChem provides an interactive environment for teachers and students, both at the high school and university levels. This software provides a question and answer format that helps students retain information from a wide range of subjects, including equations, nomenclature, stoichiometry and organic structures.
The most important feature of OrChem is the editable Dialogue Graph. It can be edited by the teacher and allows to adjust the Graph according to typical mistakes that students make and guide them in the right direction. Automatic marking scheme is also adjustable according to the final answer is obtained: if the correct answer was given right away, the maximum mark is given. If a number if incorrect intermediate steps are made, the mark is reduced every time the student makes a wrong attempt, so this acts as an intelligent "multiple choice" marking. Importantly, the student learns something new after every failed attempt because the software gives hints prepared by the teacher.
When a question is answered incorrectly, the students are provided with direction as to how to solve the problem with direction for that specific question with hints and educated responses. This creates a unique learning environment for students; they can create personalized study guides to better enforce problem areas, or to practice new subjects and skills. The ability to draw chemical structures and name organic molecules and other chemistry basics allows students to memorize in a practical way instead of just studying textbooks and images. The program offers an interactive periodic table of elements.
In the teacher version, specific questions can be asked and edited to best suit the curriculum being taught. All the students answers are saved in an encrypted file that is only accessible through the teacher’s version. Tests can also be created that are marked automatically by the program. The program is great for teachers to assign homework, create at-home and in-class test, and create databases of student’s marks that can be exported to Excel.
To demonstrate the abilities of OrChem , the program’s questions have been created to be used in conjunction with the McGraw-Hill Ryerson Chemistry 11 Textbook. This book is an introduction to common chemistry themes, including elements, the periodic table, chemical compounds, chemical bonding, the mole, acids and bases, reaction, hydrocarbons and matter classification. Each chapter’s questions as listed:
- Problem 1: Draw the structural formula of 2,2-dimethylheptane (C13.1)
- Problem 2: What is the molar mass of Mg(OH)2? How many moles in 120g? (C5.5)
- Problem 3: What is the empirical formula of a compound that is 79.89% carbon and 20.11% hydrogen? (C6.1)
- Problem 4: Balance the equation P4O10 + H2O H3PO4 (C4.4)
- Problem 5: Complete the reaction 4P + 5O2?
- Problem 6: What is IUPAC name of NaHCO3? (C3.3)
These questions are available in the demo version of Educational Software OrChem. The student version is available in modules, with single or additional modules for purchase depending on the subject being studied.
About Siborg Systems Inc.
Established in 1994, Siborg is a source of engineering software and hardware for the semiconductor and electronics industries. Located in the city of Waterloo, Ontario, it enjoys being a part of the local world-renowned high-tech community. Please visit our online store offering a wide selection of electronics test equipment including renowned LCR-Reader and Smart Tweezers LCR-meters and accessories.
Michael Obrecht, Siborg Systems Inc., http://www.smarttweezers.us, +1 (519) 888-9906, [email protected]
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