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CHEM 161 Course Info • Catalog Description: Prerequisite: Completion of a high school or other College-level Chemistry within the last five years, completion of CHEM 099, or assessment. MATH 109 with a grade of C or better or placement. An introduction to the basics of chemistry for those students who are concentrating their studies in the sciences. Those fundamentals concepts of chemistry included are chemical formulas, chemical reactions, stoichiometry, structure of molecules, chemical bonding, and the behavior of gases, liquids, and solids. A three-hour lab each week will reinforce the lecture material.
Course Info • Instructor Info • John Muench • I’m okay with either Mr. Muench or John or Professor • Office: ICN 2020 • Best method for contacting me is email: John.Muench@heartland.edu • Phone: 309-268-8656
Course Web Page • A CHEM 161 web page with all of the course materials is available • Can download, print most course materials • Any updates to the schedule will be posted here • employee.heartland.edu/rmuench/ • (Note – do not put a www in front!!!)
myHeartland • Student portal • my.heartland.edu • Provides access to IRIS, Library Services, WebCT, Student Email Account, and File Storage with a single logon • Email allows for occasional class announcements • All grade updates will be sent to your Heartland email account UNLESS YOU WISH TO OPT OUT
Course Info • Textbook is by Tro • Options – regular textbook, eBook, or rental. • Lab book in the bookstore. • Scientific Calculator and Periodic Table.
Course Objectives • Learn concepts in Chemistry. • Apply some problem-solving techniques. • Cover a total of twelve chapters (1 – 12) • Amount of math varies from section to section. • Many students at some point will hit the “wall.”
Accelerator Model • Shows relationship between previous knowledge and new knowledge. • Most of you will be eventually pushed out of the “Happy Zone” at some point. • When that occurs, seek help from other students, tutor, your instructor, etc.
Accelerator Model Cognitive skills Bored Zone Axes Legend Cognitive Skills = Skills already known Challenge = New skills Happy Zone Frustration Zone Challenge
Method of Instruction • Lectures – I try to present the material in a clear cut manner. • Format: PPT with problems on overhead. • Try to give at least one example problem for each general type of problem in class. • Memorization of formulas and constants are not necessary as I provide these to you on quizzes and exams. • You will be allowed to use your notes for quizzes and prepare one page of notes for the exams.
Method of Evaluation • Combination of online homework, group work, quizzes, exams, and lab exercises. • Online Homework and Group Activities are a total of 225 points. I’ll drop the lowest three group activities and quizzes. • There are four exams worth 125 points apiece, but I drop the lowest score, so the total exams are 375 points. • The final exam is comprehensive and worth 200 points (and not OPTIONAL!) • Lab is worth 200 points.
Method of Evaluation • Total points are 1000. • Grades are based on a 90.00 – 80.00 – 70.00 – 65.00 scale. • However, your overall lecture average must be greater than or equal to 65% to obtain a D, 70% to obtain a C, 80% to obtain a B, or 90% to obtain an A. Also, successful completion of your lab work is also required. • Ex) A student’s lecture percentage is 78.5%, lab is 92.1%, and overall is 81.1%. This student would get a C based on the lecture percentage.
General Policies • Attendance: • Required in the lab – cannot miss more than two labs. • In lecture, anyone missing more than 25% (8 class periods out of 32) will not pass. • Attendance taken through daily work. • Homework website is through MasteringChemistry.com and you must purchase the access kit to use this. • Course ID: MUENCHCHEM161SP13 • Register with your name and HCC ID Number (7-digit #) • Group activities and quizzes are assigned and collected. These are a show-your-work type of assignment and partial credit is given.
MasteringChemistry.com • The online homework is available 24/7. Can print off and take to tutor. • Due dates are posted for each chapter. • Opening hints will result in a small (3%) penalty. • Can complete after due date with a 2.5% penalty per day (maximum penalty is 50%).
General Policies • Exams are 32 questions, but in a multiple choice format. • No partial credit is given on exams. • Exams are curved to reflect their difficulty. • I’ll provide a sample exam before each exam to give you a flavor of the types of questions I’ve asked in the past. • There are NO make ups on exams. • A self-assessment will follow the first three exams.
General Policies • Final Exam is comprehensive and NOT optional. • The exam is 40 questions with about 10 questions from each of the four exams. • Will be allowed to use materials from the previous exams and the exams themselves.
General Policies • You must be present and participate to receive credit for the group assignments and quizzes. • Cell phones should be turned off before class. If your phone becomes a distraction during the semester, I may ask to have you removed from the course or from class that day – THIS INCLUDES TEXTING!!! • How would you feel if I stopped repeatedly in the middle of class to answer a text message?
Academic Integrity • You are encouraged to work with and check answers with students from the course. • However, merely copying someone else’s worksheet IS a violation of academic integrity. • Penalties range from getting a zero on that assignment to receiving an “F” for the course. • Cheating on ANY exam will result in an automatic failure in the course AND will become part of YOUR permanent record.
Support Services • Tutoring is available down in our library area. • My office hours are posted. • Web site contains all of the class resources.
Student Success • My rate of success (A, B, + C) is around 70%. • For example – start with 30 students • 6 disappear during the semester (W or non-W) • 24 finish – but only 21 pass (A, B, or C) • Traditional four-year schools have a success rate often less than 50%. • For example – start with 200 students in large lecture hall • 80 disappear during the semester (W or non-W) • 120 finish – but only 100 pass (A, B, or C) • A quota of A’s and B’s
Student Success Successful Students are: Struggling Students: • Ones that accept PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY • Discover SELF-MOTIVATION • Master SELF-MANAGEMENT • Are SELF-AWARE of their goals • And employ good study(BDA) habits • See themselves as VICTIMS • Have little MOTIVATION • Have no clear-stated GOALS • Are solitary, rarely request help, and may even reject help • Lack a good SUPPORT system • Do not pay attention in class or studying.
Course Calendar • Gives dates for all quizzes and exams. • Some topics may be started sooner or later than dates anticipated. • There will be other options for taking the Final Exam. • Questions?