A COMPUTER-AIDED-INSTRUCTION MODULE ON POLYMERS

Polymers is a subject studied as an elective unit by senior high schoo l students in Israel who major in chemistry. Motivated by lack of adeq uate means to model dynamic processes and 3D structure of polymers, th e hazard and cost of experiments with polymers, and the need for diffe rent complexity levels, we have developed a computer-aided instruction (CAI) module on polymers. The module consists of three topics: organi c chemistry, polymerization, and structure and characteristics. Three 'information organizers'', concept map, database, and index, enable ea sy navigation and access to information. Each topic ends with a set of problems, for which immediate responses are provided. The use of grap hics and animation enables a vivid display of molecular structure and polymerization processes. The module has been assessed by teachers usi ng two tools, a questionnaire and the Card Traversal Graph, and was fo und to respond to needs that originally motivated us to develop the so ftware.