Using visualization tools to improve undergraduates understanding of crystal structure

Abstract

In order to understand many of the important ideas in materials science, students need to have some understanding of crystal structure and symmetry. But many undergraduate students find crystal symmetry a difJicult and highly abstract subject. One of the reasons for this is the use of difJicult 2 -0 representations of complicated 3-0 structures. Although many teachers use physical models to help give their students a sense of the structure, physical models are limited in the informution they can provide. Using computers to visualize the crystal structure provides flexibility and the ability to link related concepts like symmetry or close packing. This paper reports on CrystalVis, a new visualization tool for crystal structures that is under development at UC Berkeley. The CrystalVis program displays crystals in a variety of ways allowing the student to rotate and zoom in on the crystal so as to get a better sense of the 3-0 structure. The program has just begun to be used in classes at UCB both as a lecture aid and for students to get hands on experience with crystal structures. The paper reports on the results from these classes and the plans for use the program in the future.

Imparting Materials Science Knowledge in the Field of the Crystal Structure of Metals in Times of Online Teaching: A Novel Online Laboratory Teaching Concept with an Augmented Reality Application

“…It has been consistently reported that many students have difficulties understanding the principles of atom packing, unit cells, and crystal lattices. − Thus, conventional teaching strategies and resources have been criticized for being ineffective at communicating these concepts . One reason for those difficulties may be that students are asked to connect models of atoms, traditionally communicated through two-dimensional projections (Figure ) and simple physical models, with macroscopic behavior …”

A Computer-Based Interactive Activity for Visualizing Crystal Structures in Introductory Materials Science Courses

“…In 1996, Foley [6] developed a computer program, CrystalVis, to teach students about crystal structures with a focus on crystallographic notation and crystal symmetry. Since then, other software programs have been developed to visualize crystal structures, such as CrystalMaker [7] and Luealamai and Panijpan's computer game on unit cells [8].…”