Experiments in Learning Series

Presented by Alex Chang, PhD Student, Department of Chemistry

Understanding the theoretical concepts that explain observable phenomena is often challenging for students. This is especially true in chemistry, where molecules not only cannot be seen but also can behave in ways that defy intuition. In the general chemistry course CHEM 31A, we ran a virtual reality lab that leveraged tools from computational chemistry to immerse students in the world of molecules. Students were able to watch individual molecules vibrate, react, and respond to human interaction – actions that previously had been unobservable.

Join us to hear more about this virtual reality lab and to consider how you might incorporate modern technology into your curricula.