EKU Department of Chemistry

Research Summary

Dr. Tofan’s research interests reside in an area that effectively combines aspects of Chemical Information, Chemical Education and General/Inorganic Chemistry. The focus of his work is in the application and use of computers and software for teaching and learning Chemistry, and also for the representation and exchange of chemical data in academic environments. He is developing an XML namespace for chemical education software and digital libraries. This is driven by the need to encode introductory chemistry entities into course management systems and the lack of current XML specifications for academic and educational use. This new format is called Chemical Education Markup Language (ChEdML). Dr. Tofan maintains a web site for the project at www.chedml.org.

Dr. Tofan is also the developer of ChemWhiz, an object-oriented intelligent chemistry assessment tool written in the Java programming language. ChemWhiz takes a template-based approach to build its own knowledge base and then uses it to determine the correct responses to questions involving chemical concepts. One example would be the ability to predict the outcome of chemical reactions. Such a tool has dual purpose. It can be used by instructors to create items for computer administered tests in the form of templates, without the need to provide the correct responses. The software will instantiate appropriate parameters at runtime and will determine the correct answers based on its own logic. Students can use the tool to take tutorials and have homework graded. Detailed response analysis with comprehensive feedback is possible. The software will be portable across platforms and hardware independent.
Dr. Tofan is a SUN Certified Java Programmer since 2002.

Publications

Articles

• “Towards an automated introductory chemistry open lab” – online article published in the CONFCHEM Fall 2005 Newsletter
• “Open laboratories in college science” – Handbook of College Science Teaching, September 2005 (accepted for publication)
• “The need for XML in Chemical Education” – Chemistry International, 2004, No. 4 (July-August)
• “XML for Chemical Education” – Fall 2003 Newsletter of the Committee for Computers in Chemical Education, ACS Division for Chemical Education (9/25/2003)
• “Pushing JButtonGroup – Build a better ButtonGroup” - JavaWorld (9/19/2003)
• “LUCID: A Web-Based Learning and Assessment System” – Conferences in Chemistry by the ACS Division of Chemical Education (4/18/2003); co-authors: Troy Wolfskill and David M. Hanson
• “Molecular Structure of the Seven-Coordinate Aqua-N-hydroxyethyl-ethylenediamine-triacetatotitanium (III) and Aqua-(N-ethoxy)-ethylenediamine-triacetatotitanium(IV)” – Inorganica Chimica Acta, 2001, 319, 63-66; co-authors: Joseph E. Earley, Sr. and Michael H. Dickman
• "Reduction of Perchlorate Ion by Titanous Ions in Ethanolic Solution" – chapter in the book “Perchlorate in the Environment” : Plenum Press, New York, 2000, 89-97; co-authors: Joseph E. Earley, Sr. and Giulio A. Amadei
• "Reduction of Perchlorate Ion by Titanous Ions in Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Media" – in "Perchlorate Treatment Technology Workshop", 5th Annual Joint Services Pollution Prevention & Hazardous Waste Management Conference & Exhibition, August 21-24, 2000, Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, San Antonio, Texas; co-authors: Joseph E. Earley, Sr. and Giulio A. Amadei
• “Novel method for rapid reduction of perchlorate ions in ethanolic media” – patent registered with Georgetown University (August 2000); co-authors: Joseph E. Earley, Sr. and Giulio A. Amadei

Presentations

• “Towards an automated introductory chemistry open lab” – presented at the ChemEd 2005, Vancouver, British Columbia (1-3 August 2005)
• “ChemWhiz – an intelligent chemistry teaching and testing tool” – presented at the ChemEd 2005, Vancouver, British Columbia (1-3 August 2005)
• “A markup language for chemical education” – presented at the ChemEd 2005, Vancouver, British Columbia (1-3 August 2005)
• “ChemWhiz – an intelligent chemistry teaching and testing tool” – presented at the 18th Biennial Conference in Chemical Education (BCCE), Ames, Iowa (18-22 July 2004)
• “Chemical Education Markup Language (ChEdML®) – An XML namespace for educational chemistry software” – presented at the 227th ACS meeting in Anaheim, California (March-April 2004)
• “ChemWhiz – an intelligent chemistry teaching tool” – presented at the 227th ACS meeting in Anaheim, California (March-April 2004)
• “LUCID: Web-based team learning and real-time multilevel assessment for introductory chemistry” – poster presented at the 227th ACS meeting in Anaheim, California (March-April 2004); co-authors: Troy Wolfskill and David M. Hanson
• “XML for Chemical Information: Educational needs and examples from a student response analysis system” – Sci-Mix poster and oral paper delivered at the 226th American Chemical Society National Meeting, New York, September 7-11, 2003
• “Rapid reduction of Perchlorate Ion by Titanium (III) in Ethanol” – posters presented at the ACS National meetings in New Orleans (August 1999) and Washington DC (August 2000); co-authors: Joseph E. Earley, Sr. and Giulio A. Amadei

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Research Summary Dr. Tofan’s research interests reside in an area that effectively combines aspects of Chemical Information, Chemical Education and General/Inorganic Chemistry. The focus of his work is in the application and use of computers and software for teaching and learning Chemistry, and also for the representation and exchange of chemical data in academic environments. He is developing an XML namespace for chemical education software and digital libraries. This is driven by the need to encode introductory chemistry entities into course management systems and the lack of current XML specifications for academic and educational use. This new format is called Chemical Education Markup Language (ChEdML). Dr. Tofan maintains a web site for the project at www.chedml.org. Dr. Tofan is also the developer of ChemWhiz, an object-oriented intelligent chemistry assessment tool written in the Java programming language. ChemWhiz takes a template-based approach to build its own knowledge base and then uses it to determine the correct responses to questions involving chemical concepts. One example would be the ability to predict the outcome of chemical reactions. Such a tool has dual purpose. It can be used by instructors to create items for computer administered tests in the form of templates, without the need to provide the correct responses. The software will instantiate appropriate parameters at runtime and will determine the correct answers based on its own logic. Students can use the tool to take tutorials and have homework graded. Detailed response analysis with comprehensive feedback is possible. The software will be portable across platforms and hardware independent. Dr. Tofan is a SUN Certified Java Programmer since 2002. Publications Articles • “Towards an automated introductory chemistry open lab” – online article published in the CONFCHEM Fall 2005 Newsletter • “Open laboratories in college science” – Handbook of College Science Teaching, September 2005 (accepted for publication) • “The need for XML in Chemical Education” – Chemistry International, 2004, No. 4 (July-August) • “XML for Chemical Education” – Fall 2003 Newsletter of the Committee for Computers in Chemical Education, ACS Division for Chemical Education (9/25/2003) • “Pushing JButtonGroup – Build a better ButtonGroup” - JavaWorld (9/19/2003) • “LUCID: A Web-Based Learning and Assessment System” – Conferences in Chemistry by the ACS Division of Chemical Education (4/18/2003); co-authors: Troy Wolfskill and David M. Hanson • “Molecular Structure of the Seven-Coordinate Aqua-N-hydroxyethyl-ethylenediamine-triacetatotitanium (III) and Aqua-(N-ethoxy)-ethylenediamine-triacetatotitanium(IV)” – Inorganica Chimica Acta, 2001, 319, 63-66; co-authors: Joseph E. Earley, Sr. and Michael H. Dickman • "Reduction of Perchlorate Ion by Titanous Ions in Ethanolic Solution" – chapter in the book “Perchlorate in the Environment” : Plenum Press, New York, 2000, 89-97; co-authors: Joseph E. Earley, Sr. and Giulio A. Amadei • "Reduction of Perchlorate Ion by Titanous Ions in Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Media" – in "Perchlorate Treatment Technology Workshop", 5th Annual Joint Services Pollution Prevention & Hazardous Waste Management Conference & Exhibition, August 21-24, 2000, Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, San Antonio, Texas; co-authors: Joseph E. Earley, Sr. and Giulio A. Amadei • “Novel method for rapid reduction of perchlorate ions in ethanolic media” – patent registered with Georgetown University (August 2000); co-authors: Joseph E. Earley, Sr. and Giulio A. Amadei Presentations • “Towards an automated introductory chemistry open lab” – presented at the ChemEd 2005, Vancouver, British Columbia (1-3 August 2005) • “ChemWhiz – an intelligent chemistry teaching and testing tool” – presented at the ChemEd 2005, Vancouver, British Columbia (1-3 August 2005) • “A markup language for chemical education” – presented at the ChemEd 2005, Vancouver, British Columbia (1-3 August 2005) • “ChemWhiz – an intelligent chemistry teaching and testing tool” – presented at the 18th Biennial Conference in Chemical Education (BCCE), Ames, Iowa (18-22 July 2004) • “Chemical Education Markup Language (ChEdML®) – An XML namespace for educational chemistry software” – presented at the 227th ACS meeting in Anaheim, California (March-April 2004) • “ChemWhiz – an intelligent chemistry teaching tool” – presented at the 227th ACS meeting in Anaheim, California (March-April 2004) • “LUCID: Web-based team learning and real-time multilevel assessment for introductory chemistry” – poster presented at the 227th ACS meeting in Anaheim, California (March-April 2004); co-authors: Troy Wolfskill and David M. Hanson • “XML for Chemical Information: Educational needs and examples from a student response analysis system” – Sci-Mix poster and oral paper delivered at the 226th American Chemical Society National Meeting, New York, September 7-11, 2003 • “Rapid reduction of Perchlorate Ion by Titanium (III) in Ethanol” – posters presented at the ACS National meetings in New Orleans (August 1999) and Washington DC (August 2000); co-authors: Joseph E. Earley, Sr. and Giulio A. Amadei			Education / Appointments B.S. 1995, Chemistry, University of Iasi, Romania M.S. 1997, Inorganic Chemistry, University of Iasi, Romania Ph.D. 2001, Inorganic Chemistry, Georgetown University, Washington DC Postdoctoral Associate, 2001-2004, State University of New York, Stony Brook Research Interests Chemical Education Chemical Information Computers in Chem. Ed. Student Advising Chemistry Majors and Minors General Chemistry Laboratory Coordinator