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Computer supported collaborative learning has the potential for driving educational reform efforts, but there are many challenges to face before achieving that vision. Two of the most critical are achieving teacher buy-in and motivating students to participate in a knowledge-building community. We have developed a new CSCL tool whose flexibility is inspiring good teachers to create exciting new collaborative learning activities, and whose persistence is an enticement to students. We are now attempting to use this tool to leverage a particular kind of educational reform goal: Achieving integration across curricular boundaries.

Stochastic dynamics simulations of n-alkane melts (C13H28 and C28H58 ) have been performed in order to calculate their static properties. The system consists of linear chains of mass points, which are connected by fixed bond lengths. Each point of a chain is subjected to valence bond and torsional forces. Additionally, nonbonded interactions are taken into account by a truncated, Lennard-Jones potential. The mean-square end-to-end distance and the radius of gyration of the chains as well as the average fraction of trans conformations were calculated and compared with the results obtained by Monte Carlo simulations and by unperturbed rotational isomeric states model calculations. The comparison exhibits very good agreement between the results of the different approaches, and demonstrates the potential advantages of stochastic dynamics simulations for polymeric systems. An investigation of different torsional potentials exhibited the subtle effect of the curvature of the torsional potential on bulk structures.