Proposal

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

Proposal Approvers

Dept. Chair:

Ivy, Russell L.

Local IT:

Paredes, Jaime A.

Dean:

Ivy, Russell L.

Facilities:

N/A

OIT:

Campbell, Glen R.

Proposal Funding

Year 1:

$ 13,107.90

Year 2:

$ 0.00

Year 3:

$ 0.00

Total:

$ 13,107.90

Proposal Funding versus Average

Questionnaire

Narrative

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.

Facilities
N/A
Hardware Requirements

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

Software Requirements

These should be included with all hardware mentioned above. There will be no additional cost.

Personnel Costs

One time installation set up for all computers as well as standardizing software for virtual experiments.  Cost $2000.00 plus benefits of $153.00

Other Costs
N/A
Timeline

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. 

Sustainability
The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the College of Science IT Department will maintain the computer labs in the future.
Resource Matching
N/A
Implementing Organization
The Chemistry and Biochemistry Department.

Proposal Budget

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

Supporting Documentation

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