Proposal

Name:

CHEM Catalyst 2.0

FiscalYear:

2017

Audience:

Honors College

Submitter:

Maldonado, Monica

Budget Manager:

Atkinson, Crystal A.

Project Manager:

Maldonado, Monica Aura Flores

Proposal Approvers

Dept. Chair:

Hoim, Terje

Local IT:

Fernandez, Alberto

Dean:

Goldey, Ellen

Facilities:

N/A

OIT:

Bagdonas, Joseph A.

Proposal Funding

Year 1:

$ 0.00

Year 2:

$ 0.00

Year 3:

$ 0.00

Total:

$ 0.00

Proposal Funding versus Average

Questionnaire

Narrative
NARRATIVE Limited access to instrumentation can have a negative impact on student learning—giving our students at Wilkes Honors College hands-on experience with new technology is critical to accomplishing our goal. We have redesigned the curriculum used in chemistry laboratory courses by two methods to include a broad range of instrumental tools to train our students. First, we engineered and tested smartphone applications (apps) to scan via the phone’s camera and calibrate various solutions used in the laboratory. Second, we incorporated low cost microcontroller-based instruments which are capable of controlling various chemical instrumentation (e.g. pH meter) and collect data in real time. NOTE: The number indicated for "students/faculty impacted" are the number of current FAU students per semester that will benefit from the proposed project. PROJECT DESCRIPTION Spectroscopes, commonly used in college general chemistry laboratories, are used to observe atomic line emission spectra to illustrate the quantum nature of matter. This involves the use of a manual spectroscope in which students calibrated the wavelength scale prior to experimentally recording measurements needed to accomplish “the lab”; which we found to be a time consuming and complex process leaving a large percentage of the students not understanding the purpose behind calibration or the experiment. For the past four years, a chemistry professor at Wilkes Honors College, Dr. Gene Smith, designed a smartphone app which allows the student to “scan” liquid solutions in the laboratory with the use of their phone’s camera and calibrate the wavelength scale in about 15 minutes. Streamlining the calibration process allows students to spend more time observing emission lines and to consider the theory behind their observations. The second group of instruments used in our teaching labs are a commercial development board (or microcontroller) which are connected to a student-use laptop and accomplishes two things. First the microcontroller is capable of running various chemical instruments such as spectrometers (laser refractometer, visible, flame photometer) and electrochemical analyzers (pH meter, potentiostat, and data logger) and it then collects data in real-time directly into an Excel spreadsheet on the student-use laptop. An open source platform is used by these instruments, including the plans for construction (e.g., PCB boards and 3-D parts), which allows this system to be flexible to changes in computer hardware and software (e.g. operating systems). FAU STRATEGIC PLAN With the incorporation of tech based solutions in our chemical curriculum we will be able to address (a) undergraduate curriculum which provides students the intellectual skills necessary to successfully engage in undergraduate research and inquiry, (b) strengthening an institutional climate that supports undergraduate research and inquiry [FAU Platform] and (c) assist faculty to develop innovative instructional methodologies and designs across curriculum [strategic actions & initiatives]. In fact, we have directly addressed the “strategic actions and initiatives” detailed in the strategic plan which states that FAU’s goal is to “evaluate and update curricula to be aligned with evidence-based practices,…”. CURRENT & REQUESTED EQUIPMENT CURRENT: For the use of the smartphone app, the lab is dependent on students downloading the app on their personal smartphone (if they own one) and use their phone in the lab course. This brings a high risk of possible damage to a student’s personal property with possible exposure to solutions/chemical that are used in the lab. REQUEST: To alleviate the this risk we request funds to purchase six iPod Touch devices for use of the Spectroscope App and future apps (currently new apps are in the testing phase of development). With the iPod Touch, we will facilitate and enrich our students training in the chemical laboratory. CURRENT: The microcontroller system that was developed at Wilkes Honors College for use in chemical teaching labs functions on four Dell D800 laptops. These laptops were purchased in 2004, and expectantly, do not function well at all and its practicality (weighs ~8-10lbs) do not fit the needs of a mobile laboratory computer. The current computers are outfitted with the original battery and the instructor/faculty are required to prepare the laptops an hour or more before the labs begin to allow time for the D800 laptops to start-up for student use. REQUEST: To give our students training on the most up to date technology we request funds for six Dell Latitude laptops to update the microcontroller system that is used in our teaching labs.
Facilities
Due to the request of mobile devices/tech (i.e. laptops and iPods) there is no need of space or facilities for this proposal.
Hardware Requirements
This is a request for the following items. Cost for each grouped item is indicated below (rounded up to the nearest dollar amount) according to quotes provided by FAU OIT (please see uploaded PDFs). • 6 laptops for use in chemistry labs, Dell Latitude, $10,092 Laboratory laptops will facilitate and enrich the learning experience of our students on the chemical principles that are necessary to pursue a STEM career. Having hands on experience of generating, collecting and analyzing data (in real-time!) will prepare students for solving scientific problems with technology that is rapidly evolving. With this much needed upgrade (students are currently using laptops from 2004!) the capability of the techniques used in our teaching labs will grow exponentially! • 6 iPod Touch (and accessories), 32GB, $1,344 The use of smartphone applications (apps) in the chemical laboratory setting has been proven to enrich the learning experience for students at Wilkes Honors College. Unfortunately, the use of these apps have solely depended on the students using their own personal smartphones (and this is if they possessed one). This puts the student’s personal property at risk in the laboratory setting where chemicals and liquids are being used. We request the purchase of iPod Touch as a solution. We will have the spectroscope app downloaded to each iPod Touch for student’s use. The use access to the iPod Touch will also facilitate the generation of new apps that can be used not only in chemical teaching laboratories, but can expand to include apps that can be used in physics, biology and anatomy & physiology teaching laboratories. • 2 External hard drives (4Tb), $210 Data generated by numerous students in our teaching labs will be stored on external hard drives each semester. This is will be done in effort to (1) backup data and (2) preserve the life of the laptops. • 2 Belkin 10-port charge station, $344 Two charging stations will be needed to charge the multiple devices requested (laptops and iPod Touch) that will be used in the teaching laboratories. In a teaching lab, there are indeed many outlets placed within the lab, but these outlets are continually occupied/used by chemical instrumentation (e.g. pH meters) needed for the lab assignment. TOTAL HARDWARE COST: $11,990
Software Requirements
No new software is requested.
Personnel Costs
N/A
Other Costs
In an effort to increase the longevity of the requested equipment, we are requesting funds for the following items to protect laptops and iPod Touch from exposure of solutions, chemicals, student usage/falls that have a potential of occurring in a teaching laboratory. Each item have been priced on Amazon (a tax-exempt account will be used for purchase) at the date of submission of the grant. A “screenshot” of the listed items has been included to show individual costs (below total cost for listed items is indicated). • Carrying case for Dell Inspiron (6): $120 • iPod Touch Otterbox case (6): $150 • Estimated Total Shipping Cost: $50 TOTAL OTHER COST: $320
Timeline
Equipment will be purchased as soon as funds are available. Our goal is to have the equipment available for students’ use beginning Fall 2018 for General Chemistry Lab courses, CHM 2045L, CHM 2046L, and any upper division chemistry courses (e.g. Instrumental Method Analysis Lab CHM4135L, and/or CHM Quantitative Analytics, CHM 3141L).
Sustainability
Oversight and management of the equipment will be accomplished by Dr. Gene Smith, Professor of Chemistry, and Dr. Shree Kundalkar, Director Academic Support Services. By design of the chemical instrumentation and software (i.e. smartphone apps), the use of the requested equipment will have a long term use. In other words, the open platform design which is compatible with changes in the computer operating system will extend the life of the requested equipment.
Resource Matching
The requested equipment is to augment the current equipment used in the chemistry teaching labs. Other devices required for the chemistry teaching labs, such as microcontroller devices, circuit boards and various chemical instrumentation, will be provided the chemistry department at the Wilkes Honors College.
Implementing Organization
The Chemistry faculty and staff will be responsible for implementing the proposed project with the use of the requested equipment. Minimal assistance will be needed from FAU OIT (Jupiter) office to set up standard software (Microsoft Office, antivirus software, etc.) on the requested student-use laptops (in teaching laboratories). Additionally, logistical support (e.g. purchasing, etc.) will be managed by the Wilkes Honors College program assistant.

Proposal Budget

Fiscal Year 1 Fiscal Year 2 Fiscal Year 3 Total
Hardware One-Time $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00
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 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00
Personnel Recurring $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00
Other One-time $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00
Other Recurring $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00
Totals $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00

Supporting Documentation

Filename Size Description
CHEM.Catalyst_10 Port USB charger.pdf 93,334b Charging Station
External Hard Drive 4TB (CC2.0).PNG 235,126b External Hard Drive
iPod Case.PNG 179,535b iPod Touch Case
iPod Touch (CC2.0).PNG 136,390b iPod Touch (student use)
Laptop Carrying Case (CC2.0).tif 173,763b Carrying case
Latitude7480 (CC2.0).PNG 136,468b Latitude7480 (student laptop)