Data Acquisition in the Undergraduate Physical Chemistry Laboratory
Dr Mark Buntine, Dr Vicky Barnett
Department of Chemistry, Adelaide University
"Students conduct experiments in real time using technology readily available in the commercial and research environments. They can now concentrate on the chemistry, not on plotting graphs."
Description | Aim | LabVIEW | PASCO | Evaluation | Contact
Description
National Intrument's "LabVIEW" and PASCO's "Science Workshop" are graphical software environments for computer-based instrument control, data acquisition, display and analysis. In almost universal industry use, LabVIEW was initially adapted for specific experiments in the undergraduate Physical Chemistry laboratory. Most recently, we have incorporated elements of PASCO's Science Workshop into the laboratory curriculum. The Science Workshop package offers a more cost-effective approach to data collection and analysis. A graphical "front end" to both software packages makes acquisition and manipulation of data quick and easy.
Aim
- to streamline and improve experimental practice so that students can concentrate on the core aspects of the experiment
- to give students experience with industry-standard software
LabVIEW
Prior to the introduction of LabVIEW students would perform the experiment under question, with one student conducting the experiment and the other spending time manually plotting the data for analysis. LabVIEW allows students to concentrate on the experiment itself by automating the data acquisition. Previously also, a student may go home, spend half an hour drawing a graph before realising that something was wrong. Now they can instantly spot the mistake on a computer-generated graph, re-examine the variables, identify the possible error and run the experiment again. LabVIEW helps the students focus on the point of the experimental learning exercise.
LabVIEW is used in our "Potentiometric Titration" and "Mass Spectrometry" (see screen image below) experiments.
PASCO Science Workshop
One problem with using LabVIEW is the large expense associated with the top-of-the-line data acquisition hardware. As we have expanded the use of computer-aided data collection and analysis in the undergraduate laboratory, we have remained conscious of the costs involved. PASCO's Science Workshop offers a cost-effective means of expanding this initiative to many experiments in the laboratory. Science Workshop is a modular suite of hardware and software that can be tailored to suit specific teaching needs.
Currently Science Workshop modules are used in the following undergraduate experiments: "Ion Selective Electrochemistry" (see screen images below), "Stopped-Flow Reaction Kinetics" and "High Performance Ion Chromatography" as well as several pH measurement and ion complexation activities. The software suite consists of multiple windows, one window displays the data, another allows for students to control the experimental parameters, while a third provides customised notes reminding students of actions to be performed.
Evaluation
Evaluation of the use of LabVIEW and Science Workshop has taken several forms. On-going and immediate student feedback is sought during each laboratory session. Such an evaluation mechanism aids in refining the laboratory protocol so as to ensure effective learning outcomes. A second evaluation tool draws upon the impressions of students, demonstrators and academic staff brought together in a "focus group" type environment. In-depth discussion helps to identify areas for improvement in the software.
Dr Mark Buntine can be contacted on: Tel: +61 8 8303 5580 Fax: +61 8 8303 4358
E-mail: mark.buntine@adelaide.edu.au
Adelaide University, Australia 5005
See the Australian Physical Chemistry Enhanced Laboratory Learning (APCELL) site
Dr Vicky Barnett can be contacted on: Tel: +61 8 8303 5770 Fax: +61 8 8303 4358
E-mail: vicky.barnett@adelaide.edu.au
Adelaide University, Australia 5005
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