Course Syllabus
CH 100 – Chemistry
and Society
Fall 2008
Instructor
Information:
|
Name: Natasha Cleveland |
Office: C-114 |
|
E-mail: ncleveland@frederick.edu |
Phone
Number: 301-846-2563 |
|
Office
Hours: T: 12:00pm – 12:30pm; 3:30pm – 4:30pm; by
appointment |
Campus
Mail Box Number: 168 |
Course Information:
|
Credits: 4 |
Last
Day to Drop: 2008 |
|
Prerequisites:
EN 50A, EN 52, MA 82 or MA 91 |
Co-requisites: |
|
Meeting
Day(s): Tues. (C-101); Online |
Meeting
Time(s): |
Course Description:
|
Explores
important concepts of modern chemistry.
Emphasizes connection between basic scientific principles and the
current technologies of our society.
Laboratory experiments illustrate the process of scientific discovery. No background in science is required. Will not serve as a prerequisite for CH
102, CH 201 or advanced science courses.
For non-science majors. |
Core Learning
Outcomes:
By
the completion of this course students will:
|
1.
Describe fundamental concepts of chemistry. |
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2.
Apply units of measurement. |
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3.
Compare/contrast characteristics of states of matter. |
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4.
Analyze chemical reactions by:
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5.
Solve the gas law problems. |
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6.
Be able to apply concepts of chemistry to real world
scenarios. |
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7.
Understand the role of chemistry in today’s society –
ranging from the food we eat and the cars we drive to the products we apply
to ourselves and our possessions. |
|
As
a hybrid course, there are both online and classroom components to
instruction. Methods will include
lecture, online and in class discussions, demonstrations, group
problem-solving, and take-home/laboratory investigations. |
|
Suchoki,
John, 2007, Conceptual Chemistry: Understanding Our World of Atoms and
Molecules, 3rd edition. |
If
you have taken an online course before you probably have realized that they are
not necessarily easier or less demanding than traditional classes; online
courses are designed to require the same effort and participation, sometimes
even more, as a face-to-face course. The
great benefit to online courses is the flexibility they offer so that you can
complete course requirements as your schedule allows, making it a little easier
to juggle family, work, and education responsibilities and time demands.
A
hybrid course attempts to offer some of the flexibility of an online course
with the benefit of meeting with the professor and other students in a classroom
learning environment. We will meet on campus once a week for the
laboratory component of the course; the remaining assignments, lecture notes,
and course resources will be offered online. There is an expectation that you are able to
work online multiple times throughout the week.
Remember that any FCC student has online access on available computers
on campus.
I
expect that most students will spend between 6-8 hours per week outside of the
campus laboratory in preparation, studying, and completing assignments. If you have some experience with the subject
matter you may spend less time; if you have little experience with the subject
you may spend more time.
Course Organization: An Overview
Chemistry
100 is composed of 11 modules that focus on chemistry concepts and applications
within the context of real world problems and situations. Each module extends from Wednesday to the
following Tuesday, with the in-class laboratory experience serving as the
“final” day of the module topic. The
online, or home, part of the course is composed of:
The
laboratory component will consist of a mix of laboratory investigations, group
problem-solving, and class discussions that are connected to the module
topic.
Exams: There are three exams throughout the
semester. All exams will primarily
consist of multiple-choice and short answer questions and will cover assigned
readings, assignments, and classroom content.
Please be aware that I collect each exam after it has been graded and
you have had a chance to review it. Exams
are cumulative. Exams 1 and 2 will be
given in class and Exam 3 will be given in the Testing Center.
Home Investigations: Each week (excluding exam weeks) there will
be an assignment that will enable you to practice, apply, and connect ideas and
concepts. Assignments will be available on Blackboard and must be typed with
responses in complete sentences (if applicable). All assignments must be submitted via
Blackboard no later than Tuesday’s
class. There will be a 10% deduction if
you turn the assignment in on Tuesday after class. I will NOT accept any investigations after Tuesday,
regardless of the reason. You are
excused from one investigation.
Discussion
Postings: Each week (excluding
exam weeks) you will review some topic in the popular media and discuss it
within your online discussion group. The
topics will originate from a range of sources, including online articles, newscasts,
and videos. A minimum of three postings
each week are required for full credit. These
responses include an initial response to the discussion prompt questions and at
least two meaningful responses to comments posted by your group members. Points will be based on instructor monitoring
of discussion groups and a self-scored rubric that you will submit each
week. You are excused from one
discussion.
Module Quizzes: Each module contains a multiple-choice quiz. The quizzes will initially be available on
Blackboard, where you will have access to your notes and your text. If I feel that students are unprepared each
week for the campus portion of the course I reserve the right to move the
quizzes to the beginning of each Tuesday’s lab, where they will be closed note
and closed text. You are excused from one quiz.
Labs: During each Tuesday’s lab, we will complete a
lab investigation. You will turn in a
few of the lab assignments for credit. You are excused from one lab that is turned
in for credit. Please note that more
than three unexcused absences from lab will automatically result in a failing
grade for the course. Arriving more than
15 minutes late qualifies as an unexcused lab absence.
Lab
Practicals: On the day of each exam you will also complete a lab practical; each one
covers the previous 3-4 labs. The
practicals consist of lab skills, exercises, and concepts. While exams are closed notes (except for a 3”
x 5” notecard) you may use your lab notebook for the practicals. The more complete, accurate, and legible the
lab notebook, the more useful it will be for you on the practicals.
Exams / Assignments / Labs
|
Pts. Each |
Total Pts. |
|
Exam
1 |
100 |
100 |
|
Exam
2 |
120 |
120 |
|
Exam
3 |
140 |
140 |
|
Home
Investigations (1 dropped) |
10 |
100 |
|
Weekly
Quizzes (1 dropped) |
10 |
100 |
|
Discussion
Postings (1 dropped) |
5 |
50 |
|
Selected
Labs (1 dropped) |
10 |
50 |
|
Lab
Practicals (3) |
30 |
90 |
|
Total |
|
750 |
|
By
the end of the sixth week of the semester, you will have an opportunity to
evaluate your progress in this course and decide if you need to make any
adjustments (additional study, tutoring, conference with instructor) to
assure your success in this course. |
|
Attendance: Chemistry is a
sequential course. Attendance and
participation in laboratory and keeping up with the online component are
essential in order to obtain a good grasp of the material. Students are expected to attend all labs
except in the cases of serious illness, emergency, religious holidays or
participation in College functions. Registration
for this course implies this is your first commitment during the
stated times and that sufficient time has been scheduled for preparation. Three unexcused absences will automatically
result in a failing grade for the course. Honesty: Students are expected to adhere to FCC’s
Code of Academic Honesty, including policies regarding plagiarism and
cheating. Violations of this code may
be cause for a failing grade for the assignment in question and/or a failing
grade in the course. Please note that
this policy applies to ALL parties involved in any situation involving
copying, cheating, etc. You may refer
to the FCC Student Handbook for more information about these policies. Email: Email is an instructional tool essential to
student-instructor and student-student communication. In the Blackboard
environment by default, your email address is available to all students in
this course. However, students are
permitted to use email addresses of other students in this course only for
the purpose and the duration of this course.
I expect you to set up and use
your myFCC email account for all course communication. Please be aware that other email accounts
(i.e., hotmail, yahoo, etc.) are often automatically sent to my spam folder,
which I do not check. Make-up Exams: Make-up exams will be given at the instructor’s discretion. Students who fail to make arrangements with the instructor to take a missed exam PRIOR to the exam date should not expect to be able to make it up. Any emergency situation must be verified with appropriate documentation and contact information.
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Additional Notes:
|
Tentative Topical
Outline
(Please refer to
Blackboard on a frequent basis for updates to this schedule)
|
Week |
Lab |
Module |
|
Assignments (due
Tues.) |
|
1 |
Introduction;
Measurements and Equipment |
1: The Air We Breathe |
1.1-1.7;
2.1-2.3 |
|
|
2 |
Physical
and Chemical Changes |
2: The Periodic Table |
2.6;
3.6; 5.8; 1.8 |
Inv.
1; Disc. 1; Quiz 1 |
|
3 |
Density |
3: Atoms and Atomic Theory |
3.3-3.5;
5.1-5.4 |
Inv.
2; Disc. 2; Quiz 2 |
|
4 |
Line
Spectra and Flame Tests |
Prepare
for Exam 1 |
|
Inv.
3; Disc. 3; Quiz 3 |
|
5 |
Exam 1; Lab
Practical 1 |
4: Protecting Our Ozone Layer |
9.1,
9.3-9.4 17.4 |
|
|
6 |
Clock
Reactions |
5: Energy Resources |
9.5-9.6;
19.1-19.2; 19.4-19.7; |
Inv.
4; Disc. 4; Quiz 4 |
|
7 |
Exo
and Endo Processes; Intro. to Stoichiometry |
6: Our
Changing Climate |
6.1;
6.4-6.7; 17.1-17.2; 17.5; 9.2 |
Inv.
5; Disc. 5; Quiz 5 |
|
8 |
More
Stoichiometry; Molecular Shapes |
7: Nuclear Energy: Energy from the Atom |
4.1-4.10 |
Inv.
6; Disc. 6; Quiz 6 |
|
9 |
Nuclear
Technology; Half-Life Problems |
Prepare
for Exam 2 |
|
Inv.
7; Disc. 7; Quiz 7 |
|
10 |
Exam 2; Lab
Practical 2 |
8: Amazing Water |
6.2-6.3;
7.4; 8.1-8.6; 16.1-16.2 |
|
|
|
Election Day! |
|
|
|
|
11 |
Acids
and Bases; Mystery Powders |
9: The Problem of Acid Rain |
10.1-10.4 |
Inv.
8; Disc. 8; Quiz 8 |
|
12 |
Food
Chemistry |
10: The Food We Eat |
13.1-13.8 |
Inv.
9; Disc. 9; Quiz 9 |
|
13 |
Water
Chemistry (take-home) |
11: Chemistry of Drugs |
14.1-14.3,
14.5 |
Inv.
10; Disc. 10; Quiz 10 |
|
14 |
Viruses
and Bacteria |
Prepare
for Exam 3 |
|
Inv.
11; Disc. 11; Quiz 11 |
|
15 |
Lab Practical 3 |
|
|
Exam 3 (in Testing
Center) |
HAVE A GREAT
SEMESTER!