Name:
Incorporating Interface Devices and Computers for General Chemistry Teaching Labs
FiscalYear:
2013
Audience:
Science, College of
Submitter:
Ande, Patrick
Budget Manager:
Blanchard, Dominique
Project Manager:
Ande, Patrick J
Dept. Chair:
Ivy, Russell L.
Local IT:
Paredes, Jaime A.
Dean:
Ivy, Russell L.
Facilities:
N/A
OIT:
Campbell, Glen R.
Year 1:
$ 13,107.90
Year 2:
$ 0.00
Year 3:
$ 0.00
Total:
$ 13,107.90
This project
proposes to upgrade computers for General Chemistry labs 2045L and 2046L. We need computers capable of supporting instructional
technology for programs to assist students and teachers from companies like CHEM
ED or other online sources, and new Inventory and EHS systems.
Additionally, there is a critical need to
purchase more computer interface devices like Vernier pH probes and Oxidation Reduction Potential (ORP) sensors
for use in our general chemistry labs, which are currently short in supply and some,
are in need of repair and replacement. Currently the Undergraduate teaching
labs and prep rooms do not have adequate equipment and software programs to
handle the additional load of incoming students. We need to upgrade our
computers to current standards in order to provide the hands on knowledge
necessary for our future graduates to leave the university as active learners.
The addition of more probes will enhance the chemical lab experience by
providing working equipment for the labs.
This project
seeks funding to substantially enhance the technology available for computer
simulations and interfacing with computer based technology. The purchase of
additional probes from Vernier and computers for teaching to review
experiments and track students’ progress is necessary. The chemical prep rooms also need computers available for inventory or use by graduate students in labs.
The project Goals are:
1) To provide
FAU graduate students with instrumentation for data collection and enhancement
of computer interfacing technology (like the Ocean Optics Spectroscopy
experiments and Vernier interface data collection for Acid –base and Hess’ law
and others) in order to better prepare and assess the progress of incoming
students.
2) To provide
additional equipment for Teaching Assistants to review and enhance more student
experiments that are challenging and pertinent to today’s research climate and
coincide with the University Quality Enhancement Plan incentive of expanding
research and inquiring opportunities into the curriculum.
3) To provide
training to FAU graduate students on advanced equipment used in experimental
and research labs.
To accomplish these goals, this
project specifically seeks funding for the following:
1) To purchase
new computers to expand the lab facility capability and replace outdated
machines.
2) To purchase
new computer interface probes like the Vernier ORP sensors and pH probes to
better enhance the versatile interface experiments critical to hands on
learning. Increasing the number of units of equipment on hand will meet the
increasing enrollment and reduce the number of students per unit currently at 6-8
to 2 per unit.
3) To purchase
new software essential to conducting new experiments and to keep pace with
current trends in education for a modern educational institute.
The details and benefits for each of
these initiatives are provided below:
1) Enhances
the General Chemistry 1 & 2 lab computing capabilities by installing new
computers to replace outdated computer ones. Purchasing specialized probes from
Vernier to enhances the hands on experience.
2) Our present
limited resources have 6-8 students using one Vernier pH or ORP probes. This
limits their progress and experience with these machines as well as
understanding of the experimental concepts. This grant will allow fewer
students to share one unit thus expanding the practical learning experience.
3) By
working in the Chemistry 1 & 2 labs the students are exposed to new
advances in real research and lab work that enhances their college career and
prepares them for advanced study or research.
5) How is this project aligned with the Strategic
Plan?
The project
is highly aligned with the FAU 2006-2013 strategic plan. Specifically, this
project fits with FAU’s strategic plan in the following ways:
GOAL 1- Providing Increased Access to Higher Education. By improving
student performance in lower-division chemistry courses, through implementation
of integrated computer based technology, we expect to improve the retention of
concepts and problem solving that is essential to a higher success rate in the
chemistry core courses. This will be realized
in the greater graduation rate of “first-time in college” students.
GOAL 2- Build World Class Academic
Programs. In the
General Chemistry teaching labs, students will be able to “Visualize chemistry”
with enhanced Iridium –virtual labs and Ocean Optics Spectra-suite experiences
on the computer. Teachers will be able to access other experiments which are available
to enhance and expand the required curriculum for the chemistry lecture and
lab.
GOAL 5 – Build a state- of- the-art
information technology environment. The computer equipment and software outlined in this
proposal builds upon FAU’s strategic plan’s fifth goal, to build a state-of-the
–art information technology (IT) environment. Updating the lab computers will
allow our faculty and students access to the latest technology and software.
This will boost FAU’s IT infrastructure by providing equipment to train
students and faculty in the use of the latest software and programs.
This project
requires 5 new desktop computers with 22” monitors for teaching use
and 2 new workstation computers for prep rooms to facilitate software upgrades
and monitoring of lab experimental data. All hardware will comply with OIT standards.
We envision
purchasing all 5 desktop computers from Dell. The Optiplex 7010 with
Standard power supply, Windows 7 Professional, 64 bit, English. Based on a
quote from Dell prepared on 30th January 2014, quote # 1009723205894,
by Dell Online sales.
Cost per computer is $974.07 for a total of $ 4870.36
Two (2) Workstation
Terminal for backup, software upgrades and lab experiment data retrieval. A
Dell Precision T1700 Workstation Base and 22” display. Based on a quote
from Dell Online prepared on 30th January, 2014, quote # 1016335945379 . Cost
per terminal is $1070.77 Total of $2141.54
The project also
requires the purchase of 24 new ORP Sensors and 24 pH probes. For experiments
done in the lab and interfaced with the computers for data collection and
analysis. We will use them in the current general chemistry labs and some
analytical course labs. These are critical for the 12 additional labs
envisioned for the fall 2014. Cost per unit is $79.00. A total cost of $3,793.00
Security hardware for 7 computers $150.00
Total cost for Hardware= $10,954.90
These should
be included with all hardware mentioned above. There will be no additional
cost.
One time
installation set up for all computers as well as standardizing
software for virtual experiments. Cost $2000.00
plus benefits of $153.00
We would like
the computers and additional probes to be ready and available for use at the
start of fall semester 2014. If funded we will install all hardware and
software during the summer 2014 semester.
Fiscal Year 1 | Fiscal Year 2 | Fiscal Year 3 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Hardware One-Time | $ 10,954.90 | $ 0.00 | $ 0.00 | $ 10,954.90 |
Hardware Recurring | $ 0.00 | $ 0.00 | $ 0.00 | $ 0.00 |
Software One-time | $ 0.00 | $ 0.00 | $ 0.00 | $ 0.00 |
Software Recurring | $ 0.00 | $ 0.00 | $ 0.00 | $ 0.00 |
Personnel One-time | $ 2,000.00 | $ 0.00 | $ 0.00 | $ 2,000.00 |
Personnel Recurring | $ 153.00 | $ 0.00 | $ 0.00 | $ 153.00 |
Other One-time | $ 0.00 | $ 0.00 | $ 0.00 | $ 0.00 |
Other Recurring | $ 0.00 | $ 0.00 | $ 0.00 | $ 0.00 |
Totals | $ 13,107.90 | $ 0.00 | $ 0.00 | $ 13,107.90 |
Filename | Size | Description |
---|---|---|
Dell Quote for 2 workstations.docx | 39,393b | Quote for Dell Precision 1700 Workstations |
Desktop Computers.pdf | 95,203b | Quote on Dell Optiplex 7010 computers |
Email011714085922.pdf | 68,301b | Quote from Vernier for interface devices |