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Fundamentals of Chemistry |
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| Fundamentals of Chemistry – Syllabus | |
| Instructor Information: | Office: |
| John W. Pluemer jwpluemer@swtc.edu 1-800-362-3322 x2621 1-608-822-2621 Schedule - Monday - Friday 8:30 to 3:30 (Generally On-Campus) |
SWTC Building 100 Room 107 1800 Bronson Blvd Fennimore, WI 53809 |
| Course Information: | ||
| Crs # - 10-806-109 | Semester Starts - Monday August 24, 2009 | |
| Credits - 2 | Semester Ends - Tuesday December 15, 2009 | |
| Prerequisites - None | Time Frame - 16 weeks | |
| Course Description:
Through Fundamentals of Chemistry students convert
measurements, design tables and graphs, create models, and use the
scientific method. Students interpret a model of the atom and use
the periodic table. They distinguish physical, chemical, and
nuclear changes and identify properties of common compounds. They
analyze chemical equations and apply common chemical reactions to
life science applications. Students examine biomolecules and
their relation to life processes. |
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| Course Outcomes: | Competencies: | |
| Primary Core Ability - Communicate Clearly | Convert measurements | |
| General Ed Outcome - Apply Scientific Concepts | Create tables and graphs | |
| Create a model | ||
| Materials: | Use the scientific method | |
| Worktext - Technical Science
4th
ed. by John W. Pluemer published by SWTC |
Interpret a model of an atom | |
| Supplies - Scientific Calculator | Use the Periodic Table | |
| Resources - Math/Science Resource Center | Distinguish between physical, nuclear, and chemical changes | |
| Determine chemical properties of basic compounds | ||
| Analyze a chemical equation | ||
| Relate technical applications to chemical or physical properties | ||
| Relate functions of biomolecules to life processes | ||
| Interpret basic cell function | ||
| Guidelines and Information | ||
| Progression Through the Course: | ||
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Worktext: Students will receive a worktext that is a combination textbook, workbook, and course guide. It will present and explain material, guide the student through various learning activities, and provide questions and exercises to monitor the student's learning. Students will progress through the sections of the worktext reading passages, completing computer tutorials, answering questions, and completing exercises. If at any time the student needs further explanation of a concept the instructor will be available to help. PLEASE ASK!! |
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Quizzes: There is a quiz following each section in the worktext. Quizzes are given often to insure that the student keeps up with the work and to insure that the material in one section is mastered before moving on to the next. The instructor will review quizzes with the student. If the results of a quiz indicate that the student has not mastered the material in that section, the instructor may require that the student spend more time on that section before moving on. The student will not continue until the material in the previous section is mastered. If at any time the student is having difficulty understanding the material in a section the instructor will be available to help. PLEASE ASK!! |
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Internet Assignments: There are also Internet assignments that must be completed by the student. These will be posted on the grade record sheet at the end of this document. The Internet assignments give students the opportunity to apply the science concepts to their occupation and to their everyday life. |
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| Report - A written report is required of all students. The purpose of the report is to give students an opportunity to explore a topic (related to science) that is of interest to them. The criteria for the report are listed in the on the web site. | ||
| Unit Tests: There is a Unit Test following each required unit. Study guides are available to help the student prepare for the test. You may use your completed quizzes as a study resource but they must be returned to your instructor before you take the test. | ||
| Tips and Policies for a Successful Performance: | ||
| 1. Get started immediately after your initial meeting with your instructor. Procrastination is the single biggest reason for poor performance in independent study courses. Be aware of the deadline for completing the course. | ||
| 2. Set a pace for yourself that will allow you to finish the
course on time. If you have 16
sections to complete and 16 weeks to get them done, then you should be
completing 1 section per week. (I recommend 2 sections per week) Even if it only takes you one day to do a
section, don't wait until the last 16 days to start working. |
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| 3. Ask questions when you don't understand. Take advantage of the communication resources: answer keys, instructor email and whiteboard contact, discussion with other students and ASC instructors. | ||
| 4. Be honest with yourself.
If you do a problem and check your answer and you find you got it right
then you probably understand that problem.
However, if you get a problem wrong, don't just look at the answer key
and say "Oh I know how to do it now." Find out why you got it wrong. |
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| 5.
Spend a reasonable amount of time on each question. Some problems will be easy for you and you will finish them quickly.
Other problems may take a little more effort. Don't give up too soon.
On
the other hand, don't spend hours on a single question. If you have given it your best effort, move on to another
problem and come back to it later or ask your instructor for help. |
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| Open Enrollment: | ||
| 1. Open enrollment courses will last 16 "school weeks"
beginning with the official registration date of the student.
(Your instructor will inform you of the exact ending date for the
course.) |
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| 2. If you register within the first two weeks of the Fall or
Spring semester, the course will finish at the end of that semester.
If you have not completed the course, you could get an Incomplete (I)
only if you have completed 80% of the course material and if you have put
forth significant effort as determined by the instructor of record. |
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| 3. If you register more than two weeks into the semester, you will receive an In-Progress (IP) and be given appropriate time in the following semester or summer session to finish the course. For example, if you register at the 8-week mark (halfway through the Fall semester), you would then be given 8 weeks in the Spring semester to complete the course. Late registration will mean a diminished or no refund period. | ||
| 4. Registration for a given semester stops when the registration
for the following semester begins. For
example, if you enroll in a course on December 1st, you will be registered for
the Spring semester. Your course
officially begins on the first day of the Spring semester (early January) and
ends at the time of the last class meeting in the Spring semester.
(Your instructor will inform you of the exact ending date for the
course.) In a situation like the one described above, you are free to get the course materials (textbook, etc) and begin to review them. However, your instructor will not begin grading any tests or assignments until the semester officially begins. For purposes of this open enrollment option the following applies: Registration for Spring semester begins in early November Registration for Fall semester begins the first day of Summer session (early June) |
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5. You can expect to have contact with your instructor during
the official Fall and Spring semesters and during the 6-week Summer session.
Do not expect to have contact with your instructor when SWTC in not in
session. |
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| ADA Statement: | ||
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Ethics Policy: |
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| Grading Information | ||
| Rationale: | ||
| Attendance - This course is
offered through the ASC in a self-paced, open-entry/open-exit format allowing
students to fit it into their schedule when it is most convenient for them.
However, students must show steady progress.
Sporadic attendance will adversely effect grades. |
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| Worktext - Students will be
required to complete the questions and activities in the worktext as they
study the various materials that are a part of this course. In order to be successful in this course, students must grasp
the concepts that are presented through the various activities in the worktext. |
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| Quizzes: The student will
be required to complete 16 quizzes covering material from the three units
outlined above. The quizzes range
in value from 14 to 50 points. Quizzes
represent 40% of the grade. |
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| Tests:
The student will be required to complete three tests one following each
required unit. The tests
represent 40% of the student's grade. |
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| Report:
A two-page report is required of all students.
Details about the nature of the
report will be covered on the web site.
The report represents 10% of the final grade. |
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| Internet Assignments - The
Internet assignment occur periodically as means of applying the content to the
students’ program area. This
will be 10% of the final grade. |
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| Final Grade Computation: | ||
| The final grade is based
40% on quizzes, 40% on tests, 10% on report, and 10% on Internet assignments. |
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| Quizzes -
At
the end of the course, the quiz points earned will be divided by the total
quiz points possible for that student. This
is the quiz score. Tests - The test points earned will be divided by the possible test points. This is the test score. Internet Assignments - The Internet assignment points earned will be divided by the possible internet assignment points. This is the assignment score. Final % = (Quiz Score x 40%) + (Test Score x 40%) + (Assign. Score x 10%) + (Report Score x 10%) The final percentage will translate into a grade based on the scale below. |
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| Grading Scale: | ||
| A = 92%
- 100% B = 83% - 91% C = 74% - 82% D = 65% - 73% F = Below 65% |
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Grade Record
| Unit 1 Scientific Tools and Methods | |||
| Section | Assignment | Quiz | Test |
| Making Observations |
---------- |
1 = | ---------- |
| Measurements | ---------- | 2 = | ---------- |
| Tables and Graphs | ---------- | 3 = | ---------- |
| Models | ---------- | 4 = | ---------- |
| Scientific Method | ---------- | 5 = | ---------- |
| 1 = | |||
| Unit 2 Introduction to Chemistry | |||
| Section | Assignment | Quiz | Test |
| Study of Matter | ---------- | 6 = | ---------- |
| Multidimensional Properties |
---------- | 7 = | ---------- |
| Atoms |
Atom
Web Assign |
8 = | ---------- |
| Elements, Isotopes, and Ions |
---------- | 9 = | ---------- |
| Periodic Table | Periodic Table Web Assign | 10 = | ---------- |
| Physical, Nuclear, & Chemical
Changes |
---------- | 11 = | ---------- |
| Chemical Bonds | ---------- | 12 = | ---------- |
| 2 = | |||
| Report | |
| Report Score |
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| Unit 3 Chemistry Applications | |||
| Section | Assignment | Quiz | Test |
| Making Compounds | ---------- | 13 = | ---------- |
| Chemical Equations | ---------- |
14 = |
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| Chemistry in Your Everyday Life. |
Salts Web Assign |
You should read this section but there is no quiz over the material. |
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| Biochemistry | ---------- | 15 = | ---------- |
| Cells | Tanning Web Assign | 16 = | ---------- |
| 3 = | |||
