Space groups and crystallographic symmetry: writing a multi-featured tutorial in a new style.

Bruce M Foxman

doi:10.1107/s2056989021007039

Abstract

Knowledge of space groups and the implications of space group symmetry on the physical and chemical properties of solids are pivotal factors in all areas of crystalline solids. As Jerry Jasinski and I met to bring our ideas in teaching this subject to life, we both felt that 'early and often' - teaching the concepts with textual and visual reinforcement, is the key to providing a sound basis for students in this subject. The tutorial contains > 200 PowerPoint 'slides', in five modules, arranged by crystal class; a sixth module covers special topics. A 'credits' module gives the direct addresses of all embedded links. Space-group diagrams appear in Inter-national Tables format. The triclinic and monoclinic groups (2+13) are built from 'scratch', and are derived from the Hermann-Mauguin symbol. An additional section provides practice on many (but not all) of the ortho-rhom-bic groups in crystal class 222. Finally, a 'Special Topics' section on enanti-omorphous space groups features space groups P41 and P43. In the tutorial, lattice points build iteratively and inter-actively via keyclick, and the coordinates of points 'pop up' as the unit cell is filled. We trust that the elements of guidance, inquiry and occasional humor will make the learning process enjoyable.

Highlights

Two decades ago, the late Jerry Jasinski (Keene State College, New Hampshire, USA) and I conceived and wrote an extensive tutorial and placed it on the Web
One rarely gets an opportunity to describe the conception, ideas, evolution, goals and progress of the preparation of a successful piece of teaching material, and I hope that this will encourage others to see that a different approach, using as simple a tool as PowerPoint, can provide a stimulating, enjoyable experience for students and teachers alike
Our initial plan was not highly ambitious: we proposed to assemble a course in X-ray structure determination using extant Web material

Summary

Introduction

The late Jerry Jasinski (Keene State College, New Hampshire, USA) and I conceived and wrote an extensive tutorial ( over 220 multi-part PowerPoint ‘slides’) and placed it on the Web. One rarely gets an opportunity to describe the conception, ideas, evolution, goals and progress of the preparation of a successful piece of teaching material, and I hope that this will encourage others to see that a different approach, using as simple a tool as PowerPoint, can provide a stimulating, enjoyable experience for students and teachers alike. My friend Lachlan Cranswick, called away at far too early a time, played an important role in stimulating the development of the tutorial. Jerry Jasinski spent time at Brandeis, where we worked closely together; he played a major role in the ideas, pedagogy, and the nuts and bolts of the production. In this paper I will describe how we conceived the tutorial, thought about many new and old aspects that needed to be there, and developed it into an independent package that connects well with students, and has permanence, important issues that will be described below.

First thoughts

Combining presentation and history

Combining inquiry and history

Producing a stable presentation