COLUMBIA COLLEGE
Chemistry 20 Joseph M. Ryan, PhD Spring 2012
· Office Location: Sugar Pine
· Office /Message Phone: (209) 588-5151
· E-mail: ryanj@yosemite.edu
· Office Hours Live or online through blackboard:
· Monday 8:10 to 10:40, Tuesday 8:30 to 11:00, Tuesday 5:00 to 6:00 PM
· Plus anytime you see me Blackboard IM – You can initiate a chat and I can help you.
· If you have specific questions, problems or issues it is best to post the question in the discussion area for help from me and everyone in the class.
· I check my e-mail regularly, but you should allow 24 to 36 hours for me to respond.
Columbia College adheres to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 that stipulates that no student shall be denied the benefits of an education, ‘. . . solely on the basis of disability. ‘ Disabilities covered by Section 504 and the American Disabilities Act include but are not limited to learning disabilities, hearing, sight, or mobility impairments. If you have a condition that may impact your work in this class and for which you may need accommodations, please see me by the end of the third week of class.
COURSE SYLLABUS
Chemistry 20 is an introduction to the way chemists look at the world. The course is designed for non-science majors with limited exposure to the sciences and especially to chemistry. Topics ranging from dirt and sunshine to water and explosives will be explored. A blend of chemistry content and real-life applications will be used to illustrate chemical principles and scientific thought processes. The student who completes this course will be able to:
· Identify general chemical principles as they relate to daily life
· Discuss chemistry using a limited but significant scientific vocabulary
· Process information using the scientific method, and apply scientific thought to new situations
· Feel comfortable taking other general science classes in the future
· Find out more information about a scientific subject using library and Web tools
· Work alone or in groups to accomplish a set of tasks
· Verbalize a generalized concept from tables, graphs and models
Required materials
1. Waldon, The Chemistry of Everything, first edition, 2007. ISBN: 0-13-008522-7
2. Computer with internet connection
3. Scientific Calculator
4. Composition notebook for Homework
An understanding of algebra will make your life a lot easier, but a course in algebra is not required. In each case where arithmetic is involved, sample problems are given.
Grading Procedures
Grades are determined on a total point basis, distributed among the following activities:
Exam 1 - Ch 1 to 2 100 points
Midterm Ch 1 to 4, 9 150 points
Final Ch 1 to 5, 7 to 9, 13 200 points
ChemActivities 100 points
Lecture Posts 50 points
Readings Posts 50 points
Homework 50 points
Learning Module Quizzes 100 points
Total Points Possible 800 points
Where total points for a category (the sum of all exercises) are more or less than those shown in the table, that total will be rescaled to the distribution given above. The final letter grade will be assigned based on this distribution:
100 - 90% A
89.9 - 80% B
79.9 - 70% C
69.9% - 60% D
There are no make-up examinations. If you don't take the final you will earn an "F" grade for the course, regardless of your performance in other activities.
If you decide this course is more fun than you planned to have this semester, it is your responsibility to drop the course. I will not initiate or force a drop due to non-attendance. You will be carried on the course roll and be assigned a grade based on your total points.
Weekly Schedule - General
1) Watch Archived Lecture
2) Start Team Activities
3) Start Readings
4) Homework Assessment opens (3 day window)
Tuesday –
1) Continue Team Activities
2) Chapter Quiz Opens (3 day window)
3) Make a reflection post about the lecture and reply to fellow classmate’s posts
Wednesday
1) Finish Team Activities
2) Post reading reflection and reply to fellow classmate’s posts
Thursday
1) Reading Posts and Lecture Posts are due
2) Homework assessment finished at 11:30 PM
Friday
1) Chapter Quiz Assessment Finished at 8 PM
Sat/Sun – online materials available for next learning module, large exams may run over into weekend for convenience.
Grading Criteria
Team ChemActivity Posts – 5 points each ChemActivity
You must build a wiki page for each ChemActivity and say more than “I agree” to get full credit. Take the time to add to your group’s wiki in proportion to your group’s size for full credit. Distribute the work and finish by Thursday morning each week for full credit!
Reading Posts – 5 points each
One original post about the reading = 3 points. Two replies to colleagues posts = 2 points. Finish by Thursday morning each week!
Lecture Posts – 5 points each
One original post about the lecture = 3 points. Two replies to colleagues posts = 2 points. Finish by Thursday morning each week!
Homework Assessment – 5 points each
Questions will be almost identical to the homework questions. Finish by Thursday evening each week!
Final Learning Module Quiz – 10 points each
Ten questions (randomized so each student gets different ones) selected from all the work. Make sure to have all your notes and homework finished and read for quick reference during this final evaluation of your learning. Finish by Friday evening each week!