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Syllabus Fall 2006 |
Gateway 125/126/130 is not your typical General Chemistry class. A gateway is "an opening or entrance." The gateway course is designed to introduce you to the discipline of chemistry, what chemists do, the models they use, how they communicate, and what makes scientists and chemists unique. We will explore most of the traditional 125/126/130 topics that serve as your passport into higher level chemistry/science/engineering courses. However, what you do and how you explore these topics will be very different in the gateway course as you probably already guessed by the difference in class size and use of time and space.
In the gateway course, exploration, discussion, observation, creating and using models, and making connections between chemistry and the "real world" will be your learning tools. Your goals are to learn concepts, analysis, problem solving, modeling, and communication in the realm of chemistry. Along with learning about what scientists have done, you will have the opportunity to be a scientist creating hypotheses, carrying out experiments, analyzing data, forming models, and discussing the results.
The gateway classroom is a learning community oriented to learning with and among student peers. Working together will allow you as individuals to solidify your grasp on and deepen your understanding of chemical concepts by articulating them to others. You will also learn from the unique ideas and perspectives that others offer.
1) Chemical concepts: To gain literacy and competency in the chemical phenomenon that are explored in class.
2) Analysis & Connections: Given information, what does it mean? How should it be taken by you personally, and in the context of your peers, our state, our nation, etc. How is chemistry connected to the world around us? What models can we use to aid our understanding?
3) Problem Solving through the process of scientific inquiry: If asked a question or posed with a problem, how do you find an answer/solution? What questions would you like to ask? How does scientific inquiry create a hypotheses in response to questions; design experiments to test these hypotheses; collect and record scientific data; analyze data for correlations between variables and for other trends; create and use models; and clearly and efficiently communicate results and conclusions to others.
4) Communication and team work: These two skills top the list of qualities most desired in employees and future professional and graduate students. The majority of content needed for a specific job is learned on the job. But, first, you must get a job or a spot in school. Gateway chemistry will allow you many opportunities to hone your learning, communication, and team work skills?5) Creativity: Many modes of expression and thought are appropriate to teaching, learning, and creating new knowledge in the chemical sciences. This course will encourage you to explore and develop a variety of approaches to understanding via chemical models.
If you are taking this course, we assume you are pretty comfortable with the following concepts from your previous science and math courses:
- Unit Conversions
- Atomic Symbols
- Atomic Weight and Molecular Weight
- Physical vs. Chemical Change
- College algebra (MATH 105)
To clarify, these topics will not be covered explicitly as new topics in class. However, these topics will be incorporated into the material as they are critical to the understanding of chemistry. If you need further help in mastering these concepts, there are many web-based tutorials as well as your text to use as reference. And, as always, please feel free to ask any questions and take advantage of staff office hours.
- 1) The textbook:
- 2) A coursepack. You many record experimental data in your coursepack; you DO NOT need a separate laboratory notebook. Click here for more suggestions on keeping notebook in the laboratory.
- 3) We suggest a large 3-ring binder for your coursepack. You will need room to insert additional notes (such as those from interstudio) and handouts.
Moore, Stanitski, and Jurs "Chemistry The Molecular Science" 2nd Edition Blemont, CA: Brook/Cole-Thompson Learning, 2005. ISBN: 0534277810
- 4) A non-programmable scientific calculator. This will aid you in your laboratory and exam work.
- 5) Lab attire: In lab, you will be required to wear safety goggles at any time that any group is working on a chemical experiment. Goggles will be provided when you check in. Closed-toe shoes are also required (no flip-flops, no sandals). It is also recommended that you wear long pants and long sleeves to lab. If you are without safety goggles or the proper clothing, you must leave and will not be allowed back into lab until you are in proper attire. Missing lab will make presentations, collecting data for lab reports, etc. harder on you and your group.
Attendance/ Participation Policy
Attendance and participation from all students at all of the class meetings is expected. Since much of the teaching and learning will be student driven, your participation is essential to the success of the class. Part of your grade will come from in-class participation (ICP) assignments due at the end of most studios. Each assignment is worth up to 3 points unless otherwise noted. Your score will be automatically dropped to a 0 (for absence or safety violation) or 1 (for failure to clean up.)
If an unforeseen circumstance should arise and prohibit you from completing an assignment on time or taking an exam, then an excused absence may be granted and arrangements made to make up the work.
Automatically excused absences include:
1) Sickness with a doctor's excuse
2) Religious holidays (Please notify you section Professor by Sept 20 so that alternate plans can be made early.)
3) Documented travel for the University (including athletic, etc.)Other cases should be brought to our attention as soon as possible and will be handled on an individual basis.
Academic Integrity
"The undergraduate academic community, like all communities, functions best when its members treat one another with honesty, fairness, respect, and trust. The College holds all members of its community to high standards of scholarship and integrity. To accomplish its mission of providing an optimal educational environment and developing leaders of society, the College promotes the assumption of personal responsibility and integrity and prohibits all forms of academic dishonesty. Conduct that violates the academic integrity and ethical standards of the College community cannot be tolerated and will result in serious consequences and disciplinary action."
From: Academic Judiciary Manual of Procedures College of Literature, Science, and the Arts
Academic misconduct will result in a grade of 0 on the assignment for which it takes place. Please read the Academic Misconduct in LS&A for examples of academic misconduct.
Laboratory Etiquette
In the lab, you are expected to come prepared and to be considerate of your classmates and the other people who use the laboratories.
- Report any malfunctioning equipment, chemical spills, or accidents (no matter how small) to your GSI.
- Follow all safety rules
- CLEAN UP after yourself. This includes equipment, glassware, and your bench top
- Dispose of waste properly. This means use the waste bottles in the waste hood!
- If you take an excess of a reagent, dispose of it rather than putting it back in its original bottle.
- When using the balances, weigh your reagents on weigh paper or into a container and not directly on the balance.
- Be careful with stoppers and lids to reagent bottles. Use one bottle at a time. Hold the stopper/lid while you obtain your reagent. Then put the stopper or lid back in/on the bottle.
- Limit waste generated. Rinse glassware 1-2 times into the waste before washing (use 5-10 mL not 250 mL to rinse.)
The evaluation criteria for the Gateway course are designed to assess your progress towards achieving its goals. Evaluation will fall into one of four categories: in-class points, homework, exams, and communication and connection assignments.
In-class Points (14%)
Over the course of the semester you may earn up to 100 in-class points for class participation. Often your group will be asked hand in a short writing assignment. Your score will be automatically dropped to a 0 (for absence or safety violation) or 1 (for failure to clean up.)
There will be no make-ups for in-class points. Excused absences will lower your total available for the term and your ICP score will be based on the percentage of points possible.
Homework (14%)
Each week, you will have a homework assignment worth 10 points due at the beginning of studio on Monday. No late homework (after 1:10 or 3:10) will be accepted. Homework will be graded as follows: 4 points for completing all of the assignment, 3 points each for two random problems that will be graded. There will be 11 homework assignments, you may drop your one lowest grade.
Each individual must turn in their own unique assignment. Identical answers (copying) will be treated as academic dishonesty. You may however discuss problem solving strategy with one another.
Chemical Scholarship (43%)
Chemical scholarship includes an array of assignments: three individual reports/papers, a group briefing, a group debate, a group representation, and a group mini-research project. These assignments are designed to challenge you to analyze, connect, problem solve, and communicate chemical concepts. See the webpage for assignment due dates. There will be a 10% off per day penalty for late arrival (after 1:10 or 3:10.)
Exams (29%)
There will be three semester exams (40, 45, 50 pts each) plus a final (65 points) which are designed to asses your knowledge of chemical concepts as well as your analysis and problem solving skills using these concepts. The three in-semester exams are scheduled outside of class from 8:10-10:00 pm on Tuesdays.
Point Summary:
In class assessment Scholarship
Individual Reports/Papers (105)
Group Presentations (85)
Group Watershed project (110)
300
In order to receive credit for the class, you must complete all assignments and take all of the exams. After this requirement has been fulfilled, then letter grades will be assigned on the following basis:
It is human nature to compare your experience with that of your friends who are taking the same class, but a different section. If you fell inclined to do so, make sure you are compare with someone who is taking 130, 125, and 126 -the three courses that you are getting credit for.
CHEM 125/126 Gateway 130/125/126 Exams (2) GSI Points In-class assessment Pre-lab (6)
Post-lab (5)
Team reports (6)
Team presentations(6)Scholarship
43%
CHEM 130 Exams (3) Exams (3) Homework (12 drop 2) HW (11 drop 1) Quizzes (12 drop 2) 10% Final 24% Final
