Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Panopto Is Now Available For Lecture Capture, Veronica Trammell

Veronica O. Trammell

The Distance Learning Center has purchased a new lecture delivery option for faculty who teach online. Panopto is a lecture capture application which allows faculty to capture their lectures using a simple webcam or a sophisticated video classroom.

Characterizing Preservice Teachers’ Mathematical Understanding Of Algebraic Relationships, Leah A. Nillas

Leah A. Nillas

A Web 2.0/Web3d Hybrid Platform For Engaging Students In E-Learning Environments, Penny De Byl, Janet Taylor

Penny de Byl

This paper explores the Web 2.0 ethos with respect to the application of pedagogy within 3D online virtual environments. 3D worlds can create a synthetic experience capturing the essence of being in a particular world or context. The AliveX3D platform adopts the Web 2.0 ethos and applies it to online 3D virtual environment forming a Web 2.0/Web3D hybrid that has wider usability than previous alternatives. This combined with the AliveX3D Scene Editor allows learning experiences, which are controlled by the learner, appear authentic and facilitate collaboration conversations to be developed simultaneously. This immersion enables learners to negotiate meaning based on …

Ethically Notable Videogames: Moral Dilemmas And Gameplay, Jose Zagal

Jose P Zagal

In what ways can we use games to make moral demands of players and encouraging them to reflect on ethical issues? In this article we propose an ethically notable game as one that provides opportunities for encouraging ethical reasoning and reflection. Our analysis of the videogames Ultima IV, Manhunt, and Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn highlights the central role that moral dilemmas can play towards creating ethically notable games. We discuss the different ways that these are implemented, such as placing players in situations in which their understanding of an ethical system is challenged, or by creating moral tension between the …

Selective Formation Of A Symmetric Sc3n@C78 Bisadduct:  Adduct Docking Controlled By An Internal Trimetallic Nitride Cluster, Ting Cai, Liaosa Xu, Chunying Shu, Hunter Champion, Jonathan Reid, Clemins Anklin, Mark Anderson, Harry Gibson, Harry Dorn

Mark R. Anderson

In this paper we report a regioselective Bingel−Hirsch reaction of Sc3N@C78 yielding a single mono- and a dominate bis-ethyl malonate derivative for the first time. The Cs-symmetric monoadduct 1 and C2v-symmetric bisadduct 2 were isolated by HPLC and characterized by MS, UV−vis, and NMR spectroscopy. The symmetric bisadduct 2 clearly demonstrate the remarkable regioselectivity control exerted by the encapsulated Sc3N cluster. We have employed a LUMO electron density surface computational approach to predict multiadduct docking sites on the ellipsoidal fullerene cage surface.

Rounds, Levels, And Waves: The Early Evolution Of Gameplay Segmentation, Jose Zagal, Clara Fernandez-Vara, Michael Mateas

Jose P Zagal

This article explores the early evolution of the structure and management of gameplay in videogames. We introduce the notion of gameplay segmentation to capture the role that design elements like level, boss, and wave play in videogames, and identify three modes of segmentation. Temporal segmentation limits, synchronizes and/or coordinates player activity over time. Spatial segmentation breaks the game’s virtual space into sub-locations. Challenge segmentation presents the player with a sequence of self-contained challenges. We describe each mode, and additional sub-modes, by analyzing vintage arcade games. Our analyses illustrate how these games represent a “primordial soup” in which many current game …

Collaborative Games: Lessons Learned From Board Games, Jose Zagal, Rick Jochen, Hsi Idris

Jose P Zagal

Collaborative mechanisms are starting to become prominent in computer games, like massively multiplayer online games (MMOGs); however, by their nature, these games are difficult to investigate. Game play is often complex and the underlying mechanisms are frequently opaque. In contrast, board games are simple. Their game play is fairly constrained and their core mechanisms are transparent enough to analyze. In this article, the authors seek to understand collaborative games. Because of their simplicity, they focus on board games. The authors present an analysis of collaborative games. In particular, they focus on Reiner Knizia’s LORDOFTHERINGS, considered by many to be the …

The Voltammetry Of C84 Isomers, Mark Anderson, Harry Dorn, Steven Stevenson, Susanne Dana

Mark R. Anderson

The square-wave voltammetry of isolated isomers of C84 is reported. Based on their relative abundance, the isomers are assumed to have D2 and D2d symmetry. The D2 isomer has four reversible reductions at −0.65, −0.98, −1.34, and −1.75 V versus Fc/Fc+ prior to electrolyte decomposition. This behavior is consistent with previous reports, and is similar to the voltammetry of C60 and C70 (e.g. sequential reductions spaced at slightly increasing intervals). The D2d isomer has five reversible reductions at −0.46, −0.77, −1.58, −1.98, and −2.27 V versus Fc/Fc+ prior to the onset of electrolyte decomposition. The large potential difference separating the …

The Voltammetry Of Sc3@C82, Mark Anderson, Harry Dorn, Paul Burbank, Steven Stevenson, James Gibson

Mark R. Anderson

Many endohedral metallofullerenes have a C82 cage surrounding the metals, even though the normal arc-vaporization method of fullerene preparation does not generate C82 in significant abundance.1-10Manolopous et al.11-13attribute the low abundance of empty-cage C82 to the unfavorable electron configuration of this species. Consequently, the prevalence of C82 in metallofullerenes may be the result of an electron transfer from the encapsulated metal atoms to the fullerene cage.10-13 The extent of this charge transfer also contributes to the properties (e.g. catalytic, superconductive, nonlinear optical, and ferromagnetic) that are attributed to the endohedral metallofullerenes.14,15Because of the importance of the charge transfer reaction, characterization …

Development And Evaluation Of Internet-Based Hypermedia Chemistry Tutorials, Brian Tissue, Ronald Earp, Ching-Wan Yip, Mark Anderson

Mark R. Anderson

This progress report describes the development and student use of World-Wide-Web-based prelaboratory exercises in senior-level Instrumental Analysis during the 1995 Fall semester. The laboratory preparation exercises contained hypermedia tutorials and multiple-choice questions that were intended to familiarize the students with the experiments and instrumentation before their laboratory session. The overall goal of our work is to explore ways in which computer and network technology can be applied in education to improve the cost-effectiveness and efficacy of teaching. The course material can be accessed at http://www.chem.vt.edu/chem-ed/4114/Fall1995.html.

Effect Of Applied Potential Upon The In Situ Structure Of Self-Assembled Monolayers On Gold Electrodes, Mark Anderson, Marilyn Gatin

Mark R. Anderson

Polarization modulation Fourier transform infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (PM-FTIRRAS) has been utilized to study the in situ structure of octadecanethiol when adsorbed to gold electrode surfaces and with the application of potential to the substrate. It is found that applied potential has little effect upon the spectrum of the monolayer in the presence of D2O solutions containing 0.10 M NaClO4. The presence of an acetonitrile solution contacting the monolayer leads to small changes in the infrared spectrum relative to that seen in D2O solutions, suggestive of some small disordering of the monolayer caused by the presence of the acetonitrile. With …

Physics Students' Understanding Of Relative Speed: A Phenomenographic Study, Eleanor Walsh, Gloria Dall'alba, John Bowden, Elaine Martin, Ference Marton, Geoff Masters, Paul Ramsden, Andrew Stephanou

Prof Geoff Masters AO

It is important that students of physics develop both quantitative and qualitative understanding of physical concepts and principles. Although accuracy and reliability in solving quantitative problems is necessary, a qualitative understanding is required in applying concepts and principles to new problems and in real-life situations. If students are not able to understand what underlies quantitative problem-solving procedures nor interpret the solution in physical terms, it is questionable whether they have developed an adequate understanding of physics. The research reported here is part of a larger phenomenographic study that is concerned with the assessment of physics students' understanding of some basic …

Displacement, Velocity, And Frames Of Reference: Phenomenographic Studies Of Students’ Understanding And Some Implications For Teaching And Assessment, John Bowden, Gloria Dall'alba, Elaine Martin, D Laurillard, Ference Marton, Geoff Masters, Paul Ramsden, Andrew Stephanou, E Walsh

Prof Geoff Masters AO

Student understanding of fundamental concepts in kinematics has been explored using the phenomenographic research method. University and high schoolphysics students were interviewed and their understandings of displacement, velocity, and frames of reference have been analyzed in particular problem contexts. Descriptions of the different ways students understand the concepts have been developed and relations between the different levels of understanding have been identified. The data highlight the contextual nature of learning and the need for teachers to focus on the nature of student understanding in specific contexts using questions that require qualitative explanation by students. In particular, it is demonstrated that …