Syllabus, CHEM 101-WWW Spring 2009, page 3
Instructor: Glenn V. Lo, Ph.D. Office: Peltier 227A Phone: (985) 448-4547 Email:
Office Hours: MWF 9:00-9:30 am, 10:45-11:45 am, TTh: 9:00-11:45 am, 1:30-3:45 pm, or by appointment. The instructor is available for online consultations (through Blackboard's virtual classroom), by appointment.
On campus meetings. Students in this course are required to take exams on campus or at an approved testing site. See Course Requirements section for details.
Catalog Description. CHEM 101. General Chemistry I. 3 3 0. Prerequisite or corequisite: MATH 101. The nature and properties of matter including the common elements and their compounds. Periodic classification, atomic and molecular theories, and the relation of atomic and molecular structure to chemical behavior. For students needing only one year of chemistry or as preparation for various health related programs – Nursing, Dietetics, etc. An introduction to CHEM 208. Degree credit will not be given for both CHEM 101 and 105. This course is also available via Internet. Basic computer knowledge is required for students enrolled in the Internet section. (40.0501)
Prerequisite or corequisite: MATH 101.
Textbook:. None required. Recommended: Introductory Chemistry , 6/e by Zumdahl, Steven S. and DeCoste, Donald J.
ISBN-13: 978-0-618-80328-6, ©2008 ISBN-10: 0-618-80328-9. You can buy the book directly at the publisher’s website (https://secure.college.hmco.com/store/ProfileOrderMgmtController?cmd=Cart&subcmd=AddItem&division=C01&cartQuantity=1&cartProductID=9780618803286)
Required Supplements:
· The course website is set up at the Nicholls Blackboard TM server: http://blackboard.nicholls.edu You must access this website on a regular basis. At this website, you will find course announcements, a copy of this syllabus, class notes, and links to various online resources.
· Online homework is posted at http:// i-assign.com. Instructions for accessing the website are posted on the Blackboard course site.
Hardware and Software Requirements. Minimum requirements for Internet-based courses at Nicholls can be found at
http://www.nicholls.edu/distance/requirements.htm. Broadband access to the Internet is highly recommended to facilitate access to instructional videos. This course utilizes the Blackboard course management system. For a tutorial on how to use Blackboard, go to http://www.nicholls.edu/distance/blackboard-tutorial/
Course Goals: To teach students the fundamental concepts of Chemistry and their real-world applications. CHEM 101, as a Core Curriculum course, fulfills three hours of general education requirements in the area of the natural sciences and is thus designed to enable students to meet the following broad outcome for all the natural sciences:
Goal: Upon completion of the undergraduate curriculum, students will be able to comprehend and to apply the basic principles of science and methods of scientific inquiry. For further explanation of the learning objectives associated with this goal, go to http://www.nicholls.edu/gened/goals_objectives.html.
CHEM 101 is also designed to enable students to meet the following goals from the core skill area:
Higher Order Thinking and independent Learning: Upon completion of the undergraduate curriculum, students will be able to think critically, independently, and creatively so that they can make informed and logical judgments of the arguments of others, arrive at reasoned and meaningful arguments and positions, and formulate and apply ideas to new contexts.
Quantitative Reasoning: Graduates will be able to comprehend and to use quantitative concepts and methods to interpret and to critically evaluate data and to effectively problem-solve in a variety of contexts demanding quantitative literacy.
CHEM 101 meets these goals by the following course-specific student learning outcomes.
Student Learning Outcomes. At the end of this course the student will be able to:
· use basic Chemistry vocabulary in proper context
· interpret standard symbolic representations of nature and natural phenomena
· interpret real-world phenomena using ideas pertaining to atoms, molecules, and ions
· perform calculations and other tasks that apply basic chemistry concepts
For education majors, this course addresses the following Louisiana Grade Level Expectations (GLE) for Chemistry: properties and changes of properties of matter (PS-M-A1 through A9) transformations of energy (PS-M-C1, C2, C3, C7), measurement and symbolic representation (PS-H-A1, A2) atomic structure (PS-H-B1 to B3), structure and properties of matter (PS-H-C1 to C5), chemical reactions (PS-H-D1, D3, D5, D7), energy (PS-H-F2), interaction of energy and matter (PS-H-G1). Details can be found at http://www.doe.state.la.us/lde/ssa/1842.html#Chemistry
Course Content. Learning objectives for each set of topics listed below are listed at the end of this document.
Unit 1. Introductory Concepts: the scientific method, physical states of matter, separation techniques, the elements and the periodic table, atomic concept: Dalton through Rutherford, atoms molecules and ions, names and formulas of compounds, chemical changes, chemical equations, net ionic equations
Unit 2. Atomic and Molecular Structure. Electromagnetic radiation, electron configurations, periodic properties of atoms, molecular structure, molecular geometry, intermolecular forces
Unit 3. Chemical Calculations. Measurements, mole concept, chemical composition, empirical and molecular formulas, stoichiometry
Unit 4. Solutions and Gases
Course Requirements.
Summary of requirements
Requirement / Due Date / Maximum Required ScoreClass Participation / Ongoing / 50 points*
Online Homework / Ongoing / 50 points*
Exam I. Covers all topics in Unit 1 / 2/26/2009 / 100 points
Exam II. Covers all topics in Unit 2 / 3/26/2009 / 100 points
Exam III. Covers all topics in Unit 3 / 4/23/2008 / 100 points
Final Exam / 5/12/2008 / 100 points
*You may earn more than 50 points for Class Participation and Online Homework by doing more than what is required; see below.
The exams are cumulative with emphasis on material covered since the last test. These tests consist of multiple choice questions. Answers to multiple-choice questions must be submitted on a Scantron sheet. The final exam is comprehensive and is all multiple-choice; 20% of questions for the final exam will come from Unit 4. You may take your exams in Peltier 237 at 6 pm on the dates indicated above. You may also take the tests at other approved testing centers (on or before the dates indicated above) if you live near one; please notify the instructor at least one week before the scheduled test date. Some testing centers are listed below.
Class participation. Class participation involves responding to discussion forums started by the instructor on Blackboard.
Rubric for grading of discussion board posts:
Reasonable response posted by deadline; complete; no errors;(Gets OK response from instructor) / 2 points
Reasonable response posted by deadline; needs revision*; revised to instructor’s satisfaction (Eventually gets OK response from instructor) / 2 points
Reasonable response posted by deadline; needs revision; not revised / 1.5 points
Reasonable response posted within one week after deadline; complete; no errors;
(Gets OK response from instructor) / 1.5 points
Reasonable response posted within one week after deadline; needs revision; revised to instructor’s satisfaction (Eventually gets OK response from instructor) / 1.5 points
Reasonable response posted within one week after deadline; needs revision; not revised / 1.0 point
No response within one week after deadline. / 0
*Instructor will respond with expected revisions (what needs to be corrected, what’s missing) as well as provide additional comments (where to find additional information such as links to web resources that the student might find helpful, reference to other students’ posts).
Since there are 30 forums, you can earn as much as 60 points. I only require 50 points for class participation; any points you earn over 50 is bonus. EXPECT a reply from me within one week after the deadline. If you need help prior to the deadline, it is best to send me an email. I'm also available for consultation in the Virtual Classroom at a mutually convenient time (24 hour advance notice by email required). I check my email several times a day; expect a reply to your email within 24 hours. You may also help each other. Most of required postings involve giving examples to show that you understand important concepts. I have purposely required that you do not repeat an answer already given by someone before you, so that you read your classmates' responses and learn from them. In some cases, this is not possible --- if this is the case, you may repeat an answer but indicate that you are repeating someone else's answer.
Online Homework. Instructions for online homework are provided on Blackboard (see Course Documents); at least one online homework assignment is due every week. Each homework assignment is worth 2.0 points, regardless of how many questions are in the assignment. I-Assign shows your homework score as a “scaled score.” I only require 50 points, which you can obtain by getting a perfect score on 25 assignments. Since there are more than 25 assignments, you may earn bonus points by doing more than what is required.
List of Approved Testing Centers
These testing centers are in Louisiana. If you live elsewhere, please check with me AS SOON AS POSSIBLE so that we can make appropriate arrangements. For example, in Spring 2008, I had one student in Iraq, two in California, and one in Texas.
· Delgado Community College, West Bank Campus. $20 testing fee. Contact Glenn Schiro (Chancellor, Testing Services) at 504-361-6408.
· UNO. $10 testing fee (money order); extra charge for tests lasting more than two hours. Contact Michael McMurray (testing director) at 504-280-8378.
· LSU-Alexandria. $20 testing fee. Contact Katie Cooley (testing coordinator) at 318-427-4492.
· Northwestern State University (Natchitoches). No charge. ContactBarbara Gillis (director, department of testing) at (318) 357-5246.
· UL-Lafayette. $15 testing fee (cash). Contact Wanda Clark (supervisor of testing services) at 337-482-6480.
· SLU. $25 testing fee (payable prior to appointment; midterm and final exam; same fee with no midterm). Contact Mary Koppenol (director) at 985-549-3897.
· LSU-Shreveport. Free. Contact Kelly Collins (continuing education) at (318)-798-4177
Methods of Evaluation. Course grades will be based on total points earned in the requirements listed above (see Course Requirements section).
A: at least 450 points, B. 400-449 points, C. 350-399 points, D. 300-349 points, F. less than 300 points
An adjustment of this scale may be made at instructor's discretion. Your final exam score will replace an exam score if it is higher.
Checking your Grades. Click on the My Grades button on Blackboard. Exam scores will be posted within 3 days after each exam. Homework and class participation scores will also be updated at that time. You can check your current homework score at anytime on i-Assign.
Make-up. The final exam will serve as make up for any missed exam; no excuses necessary. If you miss the final exam, with a valid, verifiable excuse, a make-up will be scheduled at a mutually convenient time. No make-up work will be given for class participation, online homework, and bonus points. If you have a valid, verifiable excuse, the instructor may make adjustments. Your instructor is aware of technical problems that could occur with technology and will take them into consideration to adjust scores for class participation and online homework, if necessary.
Attendance. Students should be aware of consequences of absences to their eligibility for financial aid. A student in this course is considered as having attended at least once if the student has made a post on the Blackboard course site's discussion board, submitted an answer to at least one online homework question, or taken at least one exam.
Academic Honesty. Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. The University’s cheating and plagiarism policy as stated in the Student Code of Conduct will be followed.
Withdrawals. The last day to withdraw form the class with a “W” is April 3, 2009 (Friday).
Academic Grievances. The proper procedure for filing grade appeals or grievances related to academic matters is listed in Section 5 of the Code of Student Conduct and at the following link:
http://www.nicholls.edu/documents/student_life/code_of_conduct.pdf.
Continued Learning following an Extreme Emergency. In order to make continued learning possible following an extreme
emergency, students are responsible for:
· reading regular emergency notifications on the NSU website;
· knowing how to use and access Blackboard (or university designated electronic delivery system);
· being familiar with emergency guidelines;
· evacuating textbooks and other course materials;
· knowing their Blackboard (or designated system) student login and password;
· contacting faculty regarding their intentions for completing the course.
Faculty are responsible for:
· their development in the use of the Blackboard (or designated) software;
· having a plan for continuing their courses using only Blackboard and email;
· continuing their course in whatever way suits the completion of the course best, and being creative in the continuation of these courses;
· making adjustments or compensations to a student’s progress in special programs with labs, clinical sequences or the like only in the immediate semester following the emergency.
Disabilities. If you have a documented disability that requires assistance, you will need to register with the Office of Disability Services for coordination of your academic accommodations. The Office of Disability Services is located in Peltier Hall, Room 100-A. The phone number is (985) 448-4430 (TDD 449-7002
DISCLAIMER. This syllabus is not a contract and no part of it should be construed as such. The syllabus is subject to change. Students will be notified of these changes in a timely manner.
CHEM 101 WWW
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
UNIT 1. INTRODUCTORY CONCEPTS
At the end of this course, the student will be able to…
Objective 1. Differentiate hypothesis, observation, theory, and law.
Objective 2. Differentiate physical states of matter in terms of shape, volume (compressibility), intermolecular distances, molecular motion.
Objective 3. Select appropriate separation techniques for samples of matter.
Objective 4. Differentiate elements, compounds, and mixtures.
Objective 5. Write correct symbols for elements.
Objective 6. Classify elements based on their location in the periodic table
Objective 7. Describe naturally-occurring forms of elements under ordinary conditions
Objective 8. Describe the law of conservation of matter (mass) and law of definite proportion
Objective 9. Apply postulates of Dalton's atomic theory to explain: why elements cannot be separated into two or more distinct parts, the law of conservation of matter, the law of definite composition
Objective 10. Describe the currently accepted model of the atom in terms of location, and relative masses of subatomic particles