Research goals: The necessity of developing a plugin for Moodle, which is used to support the activities of experimental chemistry are substantiated. Description of created VlabEmbed plugin and the process of installing and configuring VlabEmbed plugin in system Moodle are reviewed. Object of research: Moodle plugins for chemistry education. Subject of research: VlabEmbed - the new plugin Moodle for the chemistry education. Research methods: review and analysis of scientific publications and Moodle plugins for the chemistry education. Results of the research: VlabEmbed plugin in system Moodle are created.
1.1
Moodle has enough tools to visualize the other chemistry features – the chemical language (formulas, special symbols and notation forms) and the models of microcosm objects (atoms, molecules, crystal lattices). Some popular chemistry plugins and modules: Chemistry editor, EasyChem Chemical Structure and Equation Editor, Chemical Structures and Reactions Editor (for writing chemical formulas and equations); Jmol (for embedding 3D-models of the molecules in the learning modules); EasyOChem (set of plugins for creation of test tasks in organic chemistry with chemical formulas and equations usage).
But ensuring the possibility of chemical experiments (even a simulation) in the Moodle there was a gap. To carry out virtual laboratory experiments in chemistry there is a sufficient amount of software, the most famous of which is Model Science ChemLab and ChemCollective Virtual Lab (VLab). ChemLab is a proprietary software which runs only on the local computer. VLab is non-commercial software, available both online and offline. VLab allows to perform virtual laboratory works on chemistry (mainly analytical and physical chemistry). The program has multilingual interface (German, Spanish, French, Greek, Portuguese, Russian, Ukrainian etc.) with a large repository of chemistry problems. 1.3
Our main purpose was to create a plugin that brings the VLab functionality into Moodle and allows to download and install the VLab files to the site with Moodle training courses. 2 2.1
New plugin VlabEmbed is a filter that allows to embed the VLab problems into the Moodle courses pages using an applet vlab.jar. For correct operation of the applet, you will need to install Java Plugin.
VLab also requires several data files for the operation, mostly with the extension .xml. One of these files contains links to all the other files and is considered as a main file. The essence of the VlabEmbed filter is to replace the links to the according main XML file on the applet call, which runs virtual laboratory. For this purpose the link to the main XML file of virtual lab or any other text with a hyperlink to this file should be inserted into the block of the tags [vlab] ... [/vlab].
To install and run the filter, you need to follow the next steps: 1. Download the archive with the plugin to the computer by the link https://moodle.org/plugins/view/filter_vlabembed. 2. Log in to Moodle as an administrator, go to the Site Administration | Plugins | Installation of plugins. 3. In the installer of modules Select the file ... with downloaded plugin archive and click the Install the module from ZIP package. 4. Select the Site Administration | Plugins | Filters | Filters management. 5. Select On or Off in the drop-down menu, against "VlabEmbed". 6. Set the plugin parameters convenient for you: the width and height of the applet window and the language (Brazilian Portuguese, Catala, German, Spanish, French, Greek, Russian, Ukrainian) drop-down menu. 7. Because of the discrepancies in licensing the applet files that are required for the virtual laboratory, are not included into VlabEmbed filter package. But they can be downloaded from an external source using the built-in downloader by choosing the link Try to get a minimal set of Virtual Lab applet files from ChemCollective site.
You can also specify some paths (an external links), which will be used for the uploading of VLab files in the editing window: http://ictchem.ccjournals.eu/vlab_ukr.zip, http://kdpu.edu.ua/download/kaf_chem/books/vlab_ukr.zip or https://sites.google.com/site/kafedrahimiie/necipurenko-p/chemistry-virtual-labukrainian-version/ukraienskaversiavirtuallab/vlab_ukr.zip. If none of these links will be correct, plugin attempts to upload a minimal set of files from the ChemCollective site. If this does not succeed – visit the ChemCollective site, download manually the archive of Virtual Lab for offline use (for example, an international version for Windows), and ask your administrator to extract the archive files into the filter directory (path_to_moodle_on_server/filter/vlabemebed) according to the instructions given in n. 5 of the README.md file (access mode: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ssemerikov/moodlefilter_vlabembed/master/README.md).
Running a virtual lab is possible only with the presence of the main XML file and a set of files at the appropriate path. 2.2
Start a virtual lab is possible in several ways: 1. To insert a link in the form of http://address_of_your website_moodle/path_to_main_file.xml into the block [vlab] ... [/vlab]. 2. To upload a separate problem, which is contained in the filter directory, select the necessary files to run it in paragraph 4 from the list below. 3. Create a separate directory on the site and download the necessary files from an external source. 4. Download the required files from an external source, and upload them in specially created course directory or attach them to the document, and then insert a link to the main XML file into the block [vlab] ... [/vlab].
The downloadable archive vlab_ukr.zip (by the links in the settings of the filter) and vlab.2.1.0.int.zip (from the ChemCollective site) both have an identical problems set.
The following table lists the files and virtual laboratories for which they are needed (see Table 1). Dilutlieomn 1Prob- YDaarvoidn tDioilnu.tion of a glucose solu- /Ddiilluuttiioonn./xml tamysesnigtsn/-molari Dilutlieomn 2Prob- KMairkaebinos taPicoriendp.arfarotimon oaf acosntoccekntrsaotleud- /Ddiilluuttiioonn22./xml tamysesnigtsn/-molari
Sucrose Prob- Cuadros, lem Tim
Palucka MtaioksnionslgifdrSsoomlu- JCKMouairarkdadeibroinso,s
Jordi Metals Density Cuadros, Identify metals from their Metals.xml Problem Tim density. /metals/
Palucka LiqPuirdobDleemnsity JPTCoaiurmladudicrkoas, Iddeennstiitfyy. a liquid from its t/Llyii.qqxuumiiddldDeennss/iAltcyoPhorolbDleemnsi- JPTCoaiurmladudicrkoas, tfDirooentme. rtmheindeetnhseitcyoonfcethnetrasotiloun- /Aallccoohhooll./xml pdMeeorrscltaearnnittd,yi,nmgomcleoonlfacrleainctyttri,oatni,omnuasns.s- /t1Cic/ooonnn1cc.eexnnmttrrlaa-tion tamysesnigtsn/-molari dMifafkeirnegnt csoanltcenstoralutitoionn. s at /Mmoollaarrssoollnn./xml tamysesnigtsn/-molari
Iamnttiexmtthopisgtettophrecorobnsloetrlmoult,iothsnetsuirdinecnoatlns- /Jjeelllloo./xml assignments/molari ty assignments/molari ty assignments/molari ty assignments/stoichi ometry assignments/stoichi ometry assignments/stoichi ometry
or change. doLfeimtaeirrtmeinaicgnteiroetnah.geesnttopicrhoibolmemetrtoy /Oorraaccllee22./xml lcTehhmaellferlinomgmiintaignbgsoovrleueatwigoietnhn.ta pmroobre- /Oorraaccllee./xml gTLeeinxmttsbitoPinorogkbRSleteymal-es YKDMaaairrvkaoiedbni,nos luSisomilnivtgiinntgghe vreitreatxgutea-nlbtloaobpk.robsletymles /Hhsslliimmiitt11./xml
SRteTyalegexeLtnBitmPoiortoiknbg- DYaarvoidn
lem
Predicting DNA concentration
Design an experiment to Hslimit2.xml answer a limiting reagent /hslimit2/ style problem.
DNA/Dye Problem 2
DYaarvoidn ivPnorgelvdiinrcegtatgshteernirntesgssupoltrfsoDobfNleaAml.imiint-- /Ddnnaabbiinndd./xml
In this limiting reagent exDYaarvoidn eecrxocpniecsreein,mtsreatnutitdoetnontdsoefdteeravmneilnouepntlhaane- /DdnnaaDdyyee22/.xml amsesnigtsn/-quant
beled container.
KMairkaebinos oDNfiettreSartimelvisenorelutithoioennc.oinnceantSraitlivoenr /Ssiillvveerr./xml amsesnigtsn/-quant
apDrlesetesen.rimcipnreesethnet inamsooiulnstamof- /AarrssGgrraavv/.xml amsesnigtsn/-quant Bel- LCAeonCbeahxlatptleireirm(’IsIe)PntritnhcCaitopmlleo.polkesxeast /Ccoobbaalltt./xml
tsEetxampnstl.osrein ebqiuoiclhibermiuimcal csoyns-- /Ddnnaabbiinndd./xml
Cobalt Lab fBoordb abmsresiunigmtsn/-equili DNPAroBblienmding YDaarvoidn abmsresiunigmtsn/-equili anTdiet ymthopefesrsoaaltluutsbreil- fvRoiodrdbY,aBrDoenal-- sEaxlatsmbianseedthoen steomlupbeilriattieusre.of /Ssooll./xml iamtsyesnigtsn/-solubil tDheeptseroormlduuibncitilnitgy fvRoiodrdbY,aBrDoenal-- pvDareortideourumcstisnoceloidnsst.thaent s(Kolsup)bilfiotyr /Ssooll22./xml iamtsyesnigtsn/-solubil Solubility De- David Determine the solubility of CuClSolu.xml assigntermination
Problem
Yaron
Tim Palucka, David Yaron
Coolant I JPoarlduicka, Cuadros Tim Coolant II PDaalvuicdka, Yaron Tim Camping 1 PDaalvuicdka, Yaron Tim Camping 2 PDaalvuicdka, Yaron David Camping 3 JYoarrdoin, Cuadros ATP Reaction David (Thermochem- Yaron, istry and Bond- Jordi ing) Cuadros
Problems CuCl at different tempera- /cuclsolu/ tures. taOhqbeuseeorhvueseatsaonlodufttihoernensa.cdteitoenrsminine /Tthheerrmmoo/.xml Create a solution of Coffee Coffee.xml with a desired temperature. /coffee/
Law using three reactions, trwheaeatcetsrioolanunbdiolfiitnyaHoCfsoLNluaatiOnodnH thoinef /Hheeaattrrxxnn./xml HCL and a solution of NaOH. hkMeneaoatwsuncraleipqauacniiddt.y coomfpaanre uthne- /Ffrreeeezzee./xml
rMeaecatsiuorne. the enthalpy of a /TmthhoeeQrrm-1.oxQm1l/ ecaDrnoeetnthecvaeralmnrpityiernadoetifoanchreaoanfcgteiorenianacstattnhhtees /TmthhoeeQrrm-2.oxQm2l/ Create solutions that when Thermixed, increase to a certain moQ3.xml temperature. /thermoQ3/ Determine the enthalpy of Atp.xml the ATP reaction. /atp/ lRaenad Free- labTaneebdx.cthbebacoskeoekdprsuotysbillneegmsttsrhoetnhvgaitratccuaiandl /SmsttlrroonnggAacciidd/.x ments/solubil ity assignments/therm ochemistry assignments/therm ochemistry assignments/therm ochemistry assignments/therm ochemistry assignments/therm ochemistry assignments/therm ochemistry assignments/therm ochemistry assignments/therm ochemistry assignments/therm ochemistry assignments/acidba se pKa and Weak David Acid Problem Yaron
Exercises: Acid Base Titration
and Base Problem
Text book style weak acid assignRea Free- and base problems that can WeakAcid.xml ments/acidba land be checked using the virtual /weakacid/ se lab.
Exploring the pH Scale by assignBob Bel- Dilut.xml
the method of successive ments/acidba ford /dilut/ dilutions. se A collection of questions
PrelabAc- assignSophia and exercises to complete
id.xml ments/acidba Nussbaum before performing an ac
/prelabAcid/ se id/base titration.
In this prelab exercise, stu- assignDavid Titration.xml
dents standardize a solution ments/acidba Yaron /titration/ of NaOH using KHP. se In this exercise, students graph the titration curve of Unknownac- assignDavid
an unknown acid and base id.xml ments/acidba Yaron to determine their pKa’s and /unknownacid/ se concentrations.
Determine the pKa and assign
Buffer.xml concentration ratio of a ments/acidba
/buffer/ protein in solution. se An exercise to design a assign
MkBuffer.xml buffer solution with specific ments/acidba
/mkbuffer/ properties. se
Students examine equilibri- assignDavid Dnadye.xml
um and buffer solutions in a ments/acidba Yaron /dadye/ biological setting. se
Students prepare an oxidaBarry
tion reduction reaction se- Redox.xml assignCharing
ries from experimental data /redox/ ments/redox ton
collected in virtual lab.
Filter embeds any assigments (both local and global). This filter will replace links to a Vlab file (.xml) in [vlab]…[/vlab] block with a java applet that plays that ChemCollective Virtual Lab inline. The plugin interface is very simple and easy to use for students (see Fig. 1).
New VlabEmbed plugin very beneficial for the chemistry teachers. It helps in embedding ChemCollective virtual lab problems using the Vlab Java applet. This plugin greatly expands the capabilities of Moodle to support teaching chemistry, particularly in the chemical experiment. 3.1
The authors express their gratitude to David Mudrak and German Valero Elizondo for valuable comments, advice and participation in improvement of the quality of the plugin.