DEVELOPMENT OF SCHOOLKIT SOFTWARE

Abstract

Chemistry Department of H.S. Skovoroda Kharkiv National Pedagogical University develops a program-methodical complex (PMK) SchoolKit. It is based on three software tools: ChemKit - designed to measure temperature, electromotive force, amperage, control devices (heaters, power sources, etc.); SoundCardScientificKit - focused on the use of DAC (digital-to-analog converter) and ADC DAC (analog-to-digital converter) computer sound card; created for visualization of low-frequency signals and generation of signals of a special form; ColorKit - developed for processing photos, movies and visual data in real time for scientific purposes. This software has been tested in student and master's projects.  All tools for working with visual data are divided into two categories: functions - non-specialized tools (allow to be fully creative, require some skills to work with the application, are a significant help in creating algorithms for processing visual data for the user's own software) and tools - specialized tools that simulate the operation of devices such as colorimeter, refractometer, spectrophotometer, polarimeter. To reduce the cost of projects, the paper proposes to use: digital-to-analog (DAC) and analog-to-digital (ADC) sound card converters, photo and video devices and other available peripherals in the development of digital learning tools. The paper also describes the interface and capabilities of ColorKit software. Its versatility shows that a student or teacher could build their own research system by adding and configuring macro modules. This software allows not only on the basis of visual data processing to make various measurements (colorimetric, refractometric, spectrophotometric, determination of the photosynthetic surface, etc.), but also to clearly demonstrate the principles of physicochemical devices. Peripherals for this software can be easily made by hand. Devices developed by students on the basis of ColorKit software have been repeatedly presented at various competitions: Junior Academy of Science, "Touch of Nature", "Water Net". The paper defines the main directions of applications of software ColorKit, ChemKit, SoundCardScientificKit in STEM training. Further prospects for the development of ColorKit software are outlined. The paper marks up the necessity of development of domestic educational digital laboratories and training of specialists in this field.