Computer Gaming as a Tool for Chemistry Education Presenter: Jenny Hastings Mentor: Ashish Amresh Arizona State University April 17, 2010

Acknowledgments Ryan Scott- provided ideas and feedback for game play and strategy. Dr. Pamela Marks- answered chemistry related questions.

Objectives Promote science literacy Combine technology and education to engage students Provide students and teachers with a new learning tool Support AZ academic standards (Strand 5: Concept 1: PO 8 and others)

About the Game Title: Octet Subject: The Octet Rule for Covalent Bonding Target Audience: High School chemistry students Requires: An internet connection, browser, and Flash Player. Adobe Flash, ActionScript 3.0, PHP, and MySQL were used to make the game.

Game Rules Play 1 atom per turn Option to add bonds to form a molecule Molecules must obey the Octet Rule Molecules must contain at least 3 atoms Points are awarded for valid molecules and lost for invalid ones. The player with the most points wins

User Interface

Game Play: An Unlikely Case Large molecules are possible but are unlikely to be formed in a competitive game. A strategic player will not allow his opponent to make this ethanol molecule. Students can choose not to play competitively if they wish to practice forming these molecules.

Game Play: A Strategic Example Players will not place atoms such that a third atom can be played to connect them. This continues until no other option is left. Strategy is similar to that of Dots & Boxes game.

Game Play: A Strategic Example

Interpretations The game helps students: -identify an atom's number of valence electrons -learn how to use valencies for determining bonds -become familiar with the atoms that comprise covalent molecules. Limitations: allows for the formation of purely theoretical molecules and does not allow legitimate molecules that form by other rules.

Thank You