CHM 1025C (Hybrid)-CRN 22711
Course Syllabus-SPRING 2012
COURSE INFORMATION:
Course: Introduction to General Chemistry-Hybrid (Jan. 9th – Apr. 29th) Section Number 22711
As a blended Learning or Hybrid course, there are both online components and face-to-face laboratory practice. A hybrid course attempts to offer some flexibility of an online course with the benefit of meeting with the professor and other students in a laboratory chemistry environment. However, it is extremely easy to fall behind in an online class. To avoid this you must budget your time in a productive manner, and plan your schedule to accommodate all the weekly deadlines outlined in the course schedule. This method of instruction is not suitable for all learners, so please contact your advisor or the course instructor if you are insure this format meets your instructional needs, particularly if you have any special accessibility needs related to computer skills or ADA issues. Blended learning Format: CHM1025 is designed specifically to promote active class participation and foster a learning community amongst students through a combination of face-to-face and online sessions. The purpose of a course organized in this fashion is to give the student more flexibility and time for in-depth reading, reflection, and discussion of topics.
Course Link: http://learn.valenciacollege.edu
Course Meeting:
Lecture: Online Delivery through Blackboard.
Laboratory: CHM Lab Room, AHS-304, and Tuesday: 1:00 pm – 3:45 pm.
Description: CHM1025 receives 4-semester hour of letter grade credit. This course prepares the student without high school or with inadequate background for CHM1045C. You must attend all labs on Tuesday (1:00-3:45 pm). Some of the topics that will cover include modern chemical theories used to develop understanding of fundamentals of inorganic chemistry and its applications emphasis on quantitative relationships, using dimensional analysis to solve problems. Laboratory Experiences are integral part of course and illustrates principles discussed in the online environment.
INSTRUCTOR’S INFORMATION:
Name: Wanda I. Dávila
Office Hours: AHS-212; Monday/Thursday (2:30-4:00 pm).
Virtual Office in Blackboard: Saturday (9:30-11:00 am or by appointment).
Phone #: (407) 582-1435(Office); (407) 582-5953(Chemistry Prep-Room)
Science Office: AHS-231; (407) 582-1407
Emails: Blackboard Learn 9.1 (preferred) /
I will be teaching this course using Blackboard Learn 9.1 system. This Spring 2012 semester you will have access to the Blackboard 9.1 course. Blackboard Learn is our new management system for online learning, community building, and knowledge sharing. It is open, flexible, and centered on enhancing your academic achievement. Visit *Valencia Online 101 for Blackboard - will require you to enter Atlas Username and Password to enter course.
Blackboard and email:
I plan to use Blackboard, an Internet course management program. (Please familiarize yourself with the course site).
Here you will find Class Power Points with learning objectives, outlines, summaries, chapter introduction, instructor’s class notes, e-mail addresses to communicate with me and other students in your class, useful links, grades, and announcements regarding changes in the class calendar, among other things.
*To access Blackboard:
1. Launch Internet. Enter the college’s URL: http://valenciacollege.edu/
2. Click on Quick Links
3. Select “Online Courses”
4. Enter user name and password (same as your Atlas ones).
5. Click on this course’s hotlink.
NOTE: Please refer to the course link’s URL: http://learn.valenciacollege.edu for a shortcut to the course.
REQUIRED MATERIALS:
*TEXTBOOK: Introductory Chemistry, Concepts and Connections with mastering chemistry; 6th edition; Charles H. Corwin. ISBN: 0-321-70621-8
NOTE: You can purchase the e-textbook, with mastering chemistry access code (please refer to access to Mastering Chemistry Tutorials/Online Homework information.
* Online class outlines and other resources: Power Points lecture topics available via Blackboard 9.1.
For Laboratory:
* LABORATORY MANUAL: Introductory Chemistry concepts & connections, 5th edition, Charles H. Corwin.
ISBN: 0-13-604301-1
* Safety Goggles (will be provided); No safety glasses.
* Black or Blue pen
* Proper Lab Attire
For Both (Online Class and Laboratory):
* An inexpensive scientific calculator
* Video Lectures:
You will have access to Video Lectures performed by your instructor as part of the hybrid course. This is an effective learning experience for the students. Students watch a series of 45-60 minutes video lectures and then you must complete online exercises to reinforce concepts and demonstrate mastery of the topics. I will cover one or two chapters per week through the correlated video lecture. The lecture component of the course will present the fundamental concepts of chemistry, problem solving techniques, and sample problems. The Video Lectures and Power Point outlines for each chapter are available using Blackboard 9.1. Is highly suggested to study the Power Points lecture notes before class as soon is posted in Blackboard. Study Aids, and other relevant course materials will be made available online using Blackboard 9.1.
*Access to Mastering ChemistryTutorials/Online Homework:
Mastering Chemistry (www.masteringchemistry.com) tutorials guide students through the toughest topics in chemistry with self-paced tutorials that provide individualized coaching. These assignable, in-depth tutorials are designed to coach students with hints and feedback specific to their individual misconceptions. Registration (step-by-step Power Point presentation available on Blackboard):
o Purchase mastering chemistry access code without e-textbook: $56.30.
o Purchase mastering chemistry access code with e-textbook: $97.80.
You can purchase mastering chemistry access code with e-textbook visiting the website: www.coursesmart.com
http://www.coursesmart.com/IR/1078075/97803217554144 (cost: $105.60, sale price: $84.48)
IMPORTANT DATES:
SPRING 2012 Term Drop / Refund Deadline (11:59pm) Jan 17, 2012
SPRING 2012 Learning Day Feb 10, 2012
SPRING 2012 Term Withdrawal Deadline: ”W” grade (11:59pm) Mar 23, 2012
SPRING 2012 Day and Evening Classes end Apr 22, 2012
FINAL EXAM Apr 24th
Grading and Evaluation:
Grading: the table below shows the breakdown of the total points possible in this course.
Exams / best 4 out of 5 @ 100 pts each / 400Pre-Lab work Reports / best 11 out of 12 @ 10 pts each / 110
Lab Reports / best 11 out of 12 @ 20 pts each / 220
Lab Practical Exam / 1 @ 50 pts / 55
Online Homework / 13 @ 15 pts / 195
Cumulative Final Exam / 1 @ 200 pts / 200
Online Discussion in *BB / 6 @ 5 pts / 30
Total / 1210
*Blackboard Learn 9.1
Course letter grade will be assigned on your final percentage:
A / 89 – 100%B / 79 – 88%
C / 67 – 78%
D / 55 – 66%
F / 0 – 54%
METHODS OF EVALUATION:
The lowest class partial exam grade, online homework grade, pre-laboratory grade, and laboratory report grade will be dropped. NO score drop in Online Discussion.
Online Homework Assignment:
Graded online homework will be assigned for every week of class this semester. These assignments will be posted at the Mastering Chemistry website and be very similar to the end-of-chapter exercises. Mastering Chemistry is an online tutorial and Homework Program that accompanies your textbook (or e-textbook). The system guides students through the solution of multi-step problems, removing roadblocks with wrong-answer-based feedback and on- demand hints. It includes multi-step problems that incorporate a wide variety of answer types, including symbolic math, fill-in-the-blank, numerical, and multiple-choice. I will drop the lowest homework assignment. All online homework is due Sunday at the end of the day. Each HW Assignment is worth 15 pts.
Additional Chapter Problems:
The learning experience provided by solving problems is essential to mastering the concepts and successfully completing this course. In addition to the online homework assignment questions in MC; end-of chapter problems (although they will not be graded) are suggested to you each week. It is highly recommended that you do all online assigned practice problems in MC, especially as similar problems will appear on your exams.
Exams:
There are 5 exams (75 minutes) will be given in Testing Center and Lab Room 304. Please refer to the dates from the course schedule outlined at the end of the syllabus. The exam format will be a mixture of Multiple Choice Questions, Short Answers questions, True/False and Problems Solving. Your lowest score will be dropped. Exams will be closed notes and closed book. Each one is worth 100 pts.
Final Exam:
The Final Exam (2-1/2 hours) is cumulative and will cover chapters 1-12, 14-15. Final Exam is scheduled for Tuesday 4/24, 1:00-3:30 pm in Lab Room 304. It will consist of 100 Multiple Choice Questions (2 pts each). You will need a Scantron (form # 882-E) for the final exam. You cannot drop the Final Exam. Failure to take the Final Exam will result in an “F” grade in the course, regardless of your scores prior to the Final. Final Exam is worth 200 pts.
Online Discussion Participation:
Every other week will be an Online Discussion Forum. The Discussion Forum will cover selected reading topics and or lecture material. You must thoughtfully respond and reply at least two other student’s postings by the closing date. You must abide by proper “netiquette” (posted in the Blackboard under course content) in your postings. Online slangs and abbreviations will not be allowed. Constructive criticism of students’ postings is encouraged, but hurtful comments will not be tolerated. Each discussion will be assigned 5 points with 3 points assigned to your individual posting and 2 points to other students’ postings. I will post several questions relating to some aspect of the material or topics covered in the chapter. The goal of these discussions is to help clarify the chemistry concepts from the assigned chapter units. No Discussion Topic is dropped! All discussions close Sundays with a summary post giving you my general thoughts and comments on the discussions. I will grade discussions, posting grades and comments after discussion due date.
Netiquette: Please be respectful of your instructor and fellow students during all online sessions.
The following core rules of netiquette should be observed at all times (adapted from Virginia Shea via http://www.albion.com/netiquette/corerules.html):
1. Remember the human – when you communicate electronically, remember that you don’t have the opportunity to use facial expressions, gestures, and tone of voice, only words, so choose the latter carefully.
2. Adhere to the same standards of behavior online that you follow in real life – be ethical and use appropriate language.
3. Know where you are in cyberspace – netiquette varies from domain to domain.
4. Respect other’s people’s time and bandwidth.
5. Make yourself look good online – spelling and grammar do count!
6. Share expert knowledge.
7. Help keep flame wars under control – be careful not to destroy the camaraderie of a discussion group!
8. Respect other people’s privacy.
9. Don’t abuse your power.
10. Be forgiving of other’s people’s mistakes – if you decide to inform someone (including your instructor!) of a mistake, please point it out politely and preferably by private e-mail rather than in public.
Laboratory:
(See Course Schedule at the end of this Syllabus)
Note: Please refer to the link Lab Schedule under course content in Blackboard.
There will be 12 on-site labs. There will be no make-ups for on-site labs.
Attendance is mandatory. You will work with a partner during the lab.
Groups of three are no allowed!
You will be assessed on the pre-lab and post lab work.
Labs will be conducted Tuesday at 1:00 pm in Lab Room 304.
Be punctual as there will be Pre-lab discussion.
You won’t be able to do the lab if you get 15 minutes late and may result in a grade of zero for that lab.
There are no make-up labs. If you miss a lab your score will be zero, this one counts as the dropped lab.
1. Pre-laboratory Work:
Students are required to submit a Pre-lab Assignment for each schedule experiment. They are designed to ensure that students come to lab fully prepared, so that their lab work is efficient and safe.
Consists of the following:
o Experimental Procedure: You are required to read the experiment and write a procedure containing the key steps for the experiment. This can be written as paragraphs, outline, or flow chart.
o Laboratory Questions: This consists of the answers to selected pre-laboratory questions.
Each experiment has a Pre-Laboratory assignment. You only need to answer the ones stated
by the professor. Pre-Laboratory works are due at the beginning of the Laboratory period.
Each one is worth 10 points.
2. Laboratory Report: These consist of the Report Sheet (observations, data table, calculations and assigned post-lab questions of the experiment).
All Lab reports are to be turned in one week after the completion of an experiment.
Do not staple pre-labs and lab reports together. Each one is worth separate grade.
Make sure you place each one in its corresponding tray as soon as you walk into the
Lab Room. Do not hand in loose pages, whenever handling something in that has more
Than one page, staple them before coming to the lab. You will lose points if not stapled
(Folding corners or using paperclips is not acceptable). Pre-labs and Reports must be in
the correct tray within the first 5 minutes of the start of the lab periods.
Each one is worth 20 points.
Pre-labs and Lab Reports handed after the first 5 minutes (identified late and will lose 2 points for being
late.
Late pre-labs and late post-reports will lose 5 points per week.
Pre-Labs and Lab Reports will not be accepted two lab periods or more past due date.
3. Final Lab Practical:
This exam will consist of a practical laboratory experiment performed individually. It will be worth 55 pts.
This Lab Practical Exam will be posted in Blackboard.
Class Behavior
Monitoring Student Performance:
I will keep tracking of student progress and touch base with those struggling using the Early Warning System. Is a rule-driven communication tool that sends email messages to Students when the criteria for the rule are triggered. I will set an early system rules, related with grades, due dates, and attendance; then monitor performance against students. If a warning rule is met, there is a built-in notification feature to communicate with the student. You will be monitored your performance in Hybrid class using the following rules:
1) Grades:
Example: Rule set-up to see warnings for students who receive 66 or less on the Exam and midterm.