As part of Cabrillo Community College’s Biology, Environment, Chemistry, and Health Occupations (BECHO) Division, organic chemistry (Chemistry 12) is taught with the aid of instructor Harry Ungar’s HyperCard lecture product.
Developed during Ungar’s sabbatical during the ’90-’91 academic year, the organic chemistry stacks enhance Ungar’s lectures with many visuals and graphics. Ungar developed each stack to coincide with the organic chemistry textbook he uses. He was attracted to HyperCard for its ability to prepare graphics that would illustrate his lectures. In the past, Ungar depended on colored chalk for class. With the stacks, he can present graphic images accompanying selective words to highlight topics.
During lectures, students see black-and-white diagrams of molecules and movement of electrons, indicated by arrows, within the molecules. Ungar is able to give the illusion that the electrons are in motion by fading in and out of each card.
The software is shown by way of a projector panel wired to the Macintosh that produces a second “transparent” screen on a traditional overhead projector. This setup is useful for the 25 to 30 students in Chemistry 12. Any classroom larger than 50 to 60 students would require much larger, much more expensive equipment, according to Ungar.
Students can access the lecture files in the chemistry lab at Cabrillo and can also use commercial software in the Learning Center to complete assignments.
Ungar is very interested in animation and color, which he feels have tremendous potential for his classes. He will continue to develop HyperCard stacks as time permits. Since he uses his stacks exclusively for his classes, the software is not published. However, Ungar is interested in publishing with someone who could support a programmer and an illustrator to polish it up.
For information, contact Harry Ungar, Cabrillo Community College, Chemistry Department, 6500 Soquel Dr., Aptos, CA 95003; (408) 479-6441.
