There is a notable growth of enrolling students in
distance learning-based universities. This research work describes a new
statistical toolbox, developed in MATLAB environment, to be used in senior
courses of analytical chemistry studies. The software provides different tools
to assist and to reinforce the theoretical aspects of subjects for students, intended
to establish the calculations needed to perform an instrumental analysis
calibration and the quality parameters of an analytical method. The statistical
program, called AChemFIT, has been
implemented to be used on the basis of distance education learning systems.
Thus, it has example generators where students can have unlimited number of
examples to optimize an analytical method based on a calibration line using an
external standard (weighted or unweighted) or standard addition method. From
these examples, they can practice with the software and can acquire the skills
to establish the quality parameters of an analytical method. In addition, the
toolbox includes the most relevant analytical tests that are normally used to
study the possible matrix effect or to compare the results from different
methods or students. The software is complemented with an interactive tutorial
framed in Captivate, a HTML5-based eLearning application, dedicated to instruct
students in the use of the AChemFIT.
