March 15, 2015 (Vol. 35, No. 6)
URL:
http://www.chem.arizona.edu/chemt/ido.html
Rating:
Strong Points: Many different interactive simulations
Weak Points: A few dead links
Summary:
Sometimes (oftentimes, in fact) science concepts are best taught through demonstration. Drs. John Pollard and Vicente Talanquer of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Arizona have created a number of excellent online chemistry tools and simulations that can be found on the FIDO (Flash Interactive Digital Overheads) website. The simulations/animations are organized into seven categories: microscopic world, atomic structure, molecular structure, intermolecular forces, chemical reactions, chemical kinetics, and chemical equilibrium. The majority of the modules are flash-based, although there are Java counterparts for some of them. Some 3D visualization modules require the Chime plugin. Through the interactive simulations on the site, teachers can guide students as they explore concepts like molecular bonding, atomic orbitals, and isomerization, among many others.
