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CHEMISTRY 106 / Fall 2017: SYLLABUS
[Translate and/or listen to Syllabus, or any Web page] Choice of over 50 languages.

Meetings * Texts & Materials * Topics * Homework * Grading * Attendance & Absences * Lab * Safety * Internet

Dr. Ron Rusay Office: PS 235, tel. (925) 969-4216; Office Hours: MW 11:00 - 12:30; Tuesday, Thursday, Friday by appointment, daily e-mail with replies usually within 24 hours.

E-mail: rrusay@chemconnections.org

or rrusay@dvc.edu

Course Homepage: http://chemconnections.org/general/chem106/

This course is designed to develop scientific literacy for non-science majors and to meet the General Education requirement for physical science with lab. The course places chemistry concepts in a practical context using qualitative and quantitative examples that are encountered in everyday life. Laboratory exercises include hands-on experiments related to concepts covered in on-line, open video & Powerpoint e-learning resources.

Note: this is not a preparatory course for other chemistry courses.

Units:	4.00
Grade Code:	Student choice
Repeatability:	0

Prerequisites: MATH-090 or MATH-090SP or MATH 090E or one year of high school algebra or equivalent. Recommended: Eligibility for ENGL 122 or equivalent

PLEASE CONSIDER CAREFULLY: The teaching style of this course, which is based upon current research and progress in on-line instruction, cognition and learning, aims to improve scientific literacy and understanding using chemistry as a central theme. Chem 106 incorporates many innovations in guided, digital teaching methods & practices, instructional technologies, and pedagogical applications. The organization and approach are likely quite different from other courses that you are experienced in and comfortable with. The material will not be treated linearly as simple page turning in relation to a course textbook. You will be challenged personally: to discover how you learn, to better use your time, to build knowkedge, to develop, find, and build vocabulary, to access a variety of digital information, to appraise its value, and to use it constructively in different globally & socially relevant contexts, to answer guided questions, and to solve practical problems. You will have various digital assets and tools available to you that go well beyond a textbook and lecture notes. You will need to be disciplined and develop reading, viewing and reporting skills & habits that must be used very frequently (daily is recommended or every 2-3 days at least) in which you decide how to use these resources to effectively answer questions, communicate and meet challenges. Everyone will not have the same approach, which is expected and normal. We are all quite different in our learning, and yet, as you will see, we are very much alike, genetically >99% of our natural DNA makeup is the same! You will need to develop your own personal learning plan according to your own skills, goals and challenges. Not all knowledge will be provided to you to repeat back accurately for a grade as you are accustomed to in most courses that you are accustomed to. Your learning plan will most likely be different in one or more respects than anyone else's. Without a plan that you can use productively and adjust as the course progresses, you will likely not meet your personal objectives. This metacognitive approach to teaching-learning will translate to any of your other courses and more importantly empower you to effectively address any topic in any discipline at anytime in your careers. Certain student performance standards are uncompromising and unconditional. You are expected to attend each weekly meeting and be present the entire time. You are expected to be punctual and arrive on time for each meeting. You are expected to start promptly at the beginning of each meeting. You are expected to be prepared before coming to each meeting by reading, viewing, and answering the on-line Guiding Questions and embedded Powerpoint questions. You are expected to have an undersatnding of what is planned for each laboratory experiment, and also be practiced in the vocabulary, skills, and concepts of previous on-line classes /lab meetings. You are expected to be informed, attentive, polite and respectful to everyone in your on-line and face-to-face course activities throughout the course. If in the event that you are late or cannot attend a lab, please advise Dr. R. by e-mail or phone as quickly as possible and arrangements will be made to assist you.

A. Class Meetings: Sec. 2273, On-line

Discussion & Lab Meetings: Sec. 2273, M 2:00-4:50 PS221

Lab Attendance is required. NOTE: College policy calls for dropping students from Chem 106 if 2 weeks of class/lab meetings are missed cumulatively.

Classes begin: 8/14; Holidays: 9/4, 9/22, 11/10, 11/23-11/24
Tentative in-class Exam dates: 9/18, 10/30, 12/4
Final Exam: To Be Announced

B. References and Equipment:

1: Principal Resources: http://chemconnections.org/general/chem106/ & REQUIRED/FREE individual ChemWiki accounts will be provided, http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/; OPTIONAL REFERENCES: Any edition of any Introductory or General or General, Organic, Biological Chemistry textbooks. A selection is on reserve @ the DVC library.

2: A personal e-mail account. (REQUIRED/MUST HAVE)
3: Chem 106 Course & Lab Manual (REQUIRED/MUST HAVE: Available in the DVC Bookstore)
4: i<clicker (REQUIRED/MUST HAVE) The older version that is shown above is acceptable, as well as the newer version

5: Chem 106 Notebook: 3 ring recommended (REQUIRED/MUST HAVE)

6: Lab safety glasses with side shields or goggles. (REQUIRED/MUST HAVE)

7: Access to the Internet (Can be limited, such as only on DVC Campus, but (REQUIRED/MUST HAVE)

8: An individual ChemWiki account, which will be provided. (REQUIRED/MUST HAVE)

C. Course Outline/ Student Learning Objectives / Topics:

Student Learning Objectives (SLOs), Students will be able to:

Apply the basic concepts of chemistry to problems in everyday life.

Use the scientific method to analyze current societal issues related to chemistry.

Solve quantitative problems related to chemical concepts.

Perform basic laboratory techniques and analyze both qualitative and quantitative observations.

Topics:

The following concepts and/or topics will be discussed in the context of examples in everyday life:

Scientific Method. Measurement and Experimentation

The Periodic Table

Atoms, Elements, Ions, Molecules, Compounds

Ionic and Covalent Bonding

The Mole, Avogadro's Number

Chemical Reactions, Stoichiometry

Solids, Liquids, Gases

Solutions, Concentration

Acids and Bases

Selected concepts and/or topics from among the following will be discussed:

Energy: its Forms and Sources

Oxidation/Reduction

Nuclear Chemistry

Organic and Biological Chemistry

Cooking Chemistry

Environmental Chemistry

Polymers

Nutrition

Medicine

Cosmetics

Topics of a timely and relevant nature may be added by individual instructors.

Laboratory Skills and Topics

Safe Use of basic lab equipment

Measuring using metric units

Observing and classifying chemical and physical properties

Acid/Base Titration

Separation of common substances (for example chromatography, distillation, filtration)

Qualitative and Quantitative observations of Chemical Reactions

D. Material Preparation & Homework: Staying current: developing, practicing, and applying vocabulary, course content & cognitive skills on a daily basis. These are essential for your success in this course, and in all of your courses of study & endeavors. The amount of preparation, practice and time required will differ for each of you. In order to score well on exams & quizzzes, the questions to ask yourself while going through this experience are, "Do I know and understand the meaning of the technical vocabulary? Do I understand the concepts? Can I effectively communicate and teach the concepts to someone else? And, can I recognize and correctly answer questions that are similar to the ones contained in the i-clicker response questions, the lab worksheets and the class/lab activities?". Correlating the time related to your answer to these questions will provide an estimate of what you will likely need to invest. Exams will be designed to test content & concepts based on these materials. There will be weekly graded guided questions relating to short topical on-line video clips and other embedded on-line questions in Powerpoint presentations; the questions and topics build upon each other as the course progresses so understanding and proficiency from previous weeks are important to your success. This will begin each weekly meeting. Suggested order of work and emphasis is: (Refer to the course calendar page frequently!!) 1) Before coming to each weekly meeting: Read, View & Do the linked on-line materials: Videos, Powerpoint Class Slides (Print as necessary/ NOTE: Printing is highly recommended.) , Guiding Questions, and informational pages. Answer the Guiding Questions. Review and consider logical answers & explanations for the given answers to the embedded Powerpoint i-clicker questions. (Most questions will have answers provided.) Write personal notes to yourself relating to the material (Anything important to remember, to relate, and that may very likely be used again. Understand the given i-clicker answers & be able to answer similar questions. Review questions before the next class/lab meeting, one or more previous class/lab meting questions will start each class. 2) Collaboratively complete all lab assignments & worksheets with your group members, which will include 1-3 partners 3) Individually and collaboratively use all available resources as you deem necessary to develop a sufficient level of mastery of the class/lab vocabulary, problems and topics. Keep a separate notebook for your notes and work which should be neat and organized.

E. Grading:
Guiding Questions & embedded i-clicker questions are valued at 10% of the TOTAL grade. Laboratory experiments, activities, pre- & post-lab questions, worksheets and simulations are valued at 30% of the TOTAL grade. Capstone Global Warming writing/research project is valued at 10% of the TOTAL grade. 3 exams, and a final exam, which equal two hour exams in value, comprise 50% of the TOTAL grade.Tentative Exam Dates: 9/18, 10/30, 12/4 Final Exam:.TBA. Final letter grades will be assigned based on: 87-100 A; 75-86 B; 60-74 C; 50-59 D; <50 F, using a normalized class average. NOTE: The DVC Code of Conduct will be strictly enforced. Cheating and plagiarism are unacceptable and will unconditionally result in a failing grade. [Cell phones will not be allowed in rooms during exams and quizzes.] SEE: DVC Academic College Policies

F. Attendance & Absences:
On-time attendance at all scheduled 3 hour lab/discussion meetings is unconditionally expected. If you arrive late for lab, you will be marked absent. Two late arrivals will be excused provided that you advise Dr. R. immediately after lab. If you are to miss a weekly meeting due to illness or other legitimate reason, you must advise Dr. R. prior to, or on the day that it is scheduled. If you do not do so, there will be no possibility of making up any missed work or of being excused from assignments, activities or the material presented. Notifying Dr. R. can be done by calling: (925) 969-4216 or sending an e-mail to Dr. R. If you miss a cumulative total of 3 weekly meetings regardless of the reasons, you may be dropped from the course. [College policy provides for a student being dropped from a course if the student misses a cumulative total of two weeks of class/lab meetings.]

G. Laboratory:
The laboratory component of the course is skill based and essential to the overall course. A failing grade in the lab portion will result in a failing grade for the course. The laboratory curriculum will consist of a set of experiments and activities relating to the class topics. The lab grade constitutes 30% of the final grade.

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H. Safety:
Laboratory safety is of the utmost importance to your well being and to your lab mates. Chemical exposure must be minimized through good lab practices. All wastes must be properly disposed of, eye protection must be worn at all times. No one can work in the lab without an instructor being present. Only scheduled experiments are allowed. Bare feet, food, drink, eating, and conduct which places anyone at risk are unacceptable. Violation of safety standards can result in being dropped from the course.

I. Internet and ChemWiki use and related:

The course will employ the Internet as the chief vehicle to communicate and Information Technologies in a variety of ways. This is NOT a course which teaches the Internet. You are expected to have basic skill and experience in using the Internet. The course is designed to use the Internet with its wealth of resources as a transparent tool to teach chemistry. Combined with good study practices, it will help you, the student, to better and more easily understand concepts and to make your learning experience broader and more successful.

Students are not required to have a computer or off campus access to a computer. (Please see Dr. R. privately and as soon as possible if your only access will be on the DVC campus.)

Free e-mail accounts are available. Each student MUST have their own e-mail account for class communication!

There will be no charges for the use of the Internet, computers or course related software.

The course will employ the Internet and Information Technologies in a variety of ways. The class will need the latest version of a Net browser for the Internet as well as other computer programs. All of these programs will be free for student use. Since it is realized that not every student has a computer or off-campus access to a computer, computer related assignments are devised and time budgeted so that these assignments can be done while on the DVC campus by accessing the Internet from the Physical Science building's computers or other computers on the DVC campus that are available to DVC students.

Students are expected to visit regularly the course Homepage, particularly the calendar. The Homepage is the main tool for communicating information to the class. It includes all information on the course in addition to providing Internet links to many useful Web sites and materials for the course. The Homepage is a living course document. Information will be added as the course proceeds and past information will be archived.

If you do not already have e-mail, consult the Web Resource information linked from the Homepage for information on how to obtain your free e-mail account. Select a provider: Yahoo, Hotmail, G-mail, etc. and follow their on-line instructions.