Visualizing molecules : on-line simulations and virtual reality

Abstract

Science education, in particular physics education, is being changed by the use of new technology. One of the most promising means of teaching and learning science is the Internet. A lot of material has appeared on the Web. Its impact in education has in most cases still to be evaluated. Relatively small and less developed countries like Portugal offer interesting ground for observing the dissemination of computers in science education. The Portuguese Physical, Chemical and Mathematical Societies set up, in 1991, a common action – “Softsciences - for creating, producing and distributing software for learning Science and Mathematics, especially at the middle and high schools levels. "Softsciences" had the intention of making somewhat "softer" the learning of the so-called "hard" sciences, but without compromising rigour.