Computer Science Project Abstract
EDUCATIONPLUS.COM: INTERACTIVE EDUCATION IN MATH, SCIENCE, AND TECHNOLOGY
Presenters:
Amanda Metz, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, 1500 West Sullivan Road, Aurora, IL, 60506; blamanda@imsa.edu
Feifei Xue, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, 1500 West Sullivan Road, Aurora, IL, 60506; drageen3@imsa.edu
Junwei Ye, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, 1500 West Sullivan Road, Aurora, IL, 60506; juliaye@imsa.edu
Helen H. Yeung, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, 1500 West Sullivan Road, Aurora, IL, 60506; yeung@imsa.edu
Mentor:
Mr. David Gossman, 45W962 Plank Road, Hampshire, IL, 60140; 847-683-2582; dgossman @gcisolutions.com
Abstract:
Educationplus.com is a website developed over the last years that provides interactive education in math, science, and technology. The Units Converter and the Online Virtual Organic Chemistry Lab were the focus of this year’s work.
To understand, use, and compare scientific and mathematical units, a consistent measurement of units is essential. This is the sixth year of a long-term project to develop a website for users to convert multiple types of units to a consistent standard of measurement. The Units Converter has the ability to return a specific number of decimal places in the answer. Within the Units Converter, multiple functions convert between discrete types of measurement. Incorporating JavaScript, this website encompasses twenty-six sets of units, including more obscure conversions such as magnetism, viscosity, and computer storage. Planetary weight and illuminance converters were both added this year.
The second part of educationplus.com is the Online Virtual Organic Chemistry Lab which allows the user to obtain results from various tests on an unknown compound to deduct what the compound is. Previous glitches pertaining to the virtual ‘cost’ of each test, as well as errors displaying results in the form of graphs were addressed. This year we added five more compounds to the original set: ethyl acetate, benzene, toluene, carbon tetrachloride, and methylisobutylketone.