CHEM100:  Chemistry for Changing Times

- On-Line Course -

Harford Community College

Department/Division of Nursing, Allied Health and Sciences

This is a sample course syllabus!!  **  Please e-mail the professor for a current syllabus!  **

Instructor Information:

e-mail:  skyoung@harford.edu (all current students should relay course related questions through WebCT Chem100 e-mail)  If you have any questions about taking the course, please do not hesitate to e-mail me.  I check my e-mail frequently and will respond as soon as possible!

Faculty Website:  http://www.harford.edu/faculty/SKYoung/

Other important websites:

• Harford Community College - Distance Learning Website

• Harford Community College - Bookstore Website

Scheduled course offerings:

Please check HCC Course Schedule for Future Course offerings.  Course has been offered during Fall (15-week), Spring, (15-week) and Summer (10-week) Semesters.

Course Description (According to the Publisher):

A course for non-science majors, which allows students to enter the fascinating world of chemistry, the science of molecular change.  Students gain an understanding of basic chemical principles and applications that promote an appreciation for the interface between chemistry, technology and society.  Topics include air and water pollution, the natural world of organic-biochemistry, food, agriculture, nutrition, synthetic materials, drugs, medicine, nuclear power and radioactivity.

Course Description (According to the professor):

This course will be taught online

·        There will be an on-line orientation session in the WebCT Chem100 chat room the first week of class (please contact me via e-mail prior to the start of the semester to confirm the date/time of this)

·        Students must have a basic understanding of the Internet and how to use E-mail (WebCT software has e-mail associated with it for every person in every class).

A few years ago, the American Chemical Society (ACS - http://chemistry.org), the largest organization for chemists, released a study stating that less than 10% of the US population has a good understanding of basic chemistry.  Considering how much chemistry and science affects everyday life, this is a staggering number.  Consequently, through this course, students should gain a basic understanding of chemistry; how chemistry impacts the world around them and that at least certain aspects of chemistry are not only practical but also interesting.

What You Will Need:

Computer Needs:

• Students enrolled in this course will need a Macintosh or Personal Computer (PC) with Windows 95 or higher (or ability to readily access computers through the HCC campus or local library), access to the Internet, a WWW browser (Netscape or Internet Explorer) and an E-mail address.

Textbook Needs:

• You will need the following Textbook:  Chemistry for Changing Times, John W. Hill & Doris K. Kolb, Prentice Hall, 10th Edition.  You can obtain this book through any of the following methods:
• Purchase at the Harford Community College Bookstore (@$110) - Harford Community College Bookstore Website
• Purchase through the Pearson/Prentice Hall website (http://vig.prenhall.com/) - @$107 + S/H
• Purchase through (www.half.com) – prices & condition of books vary

DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE TO BUY YOUR BOOK AND THEN E-MAIL ME TO TELL ME THAT YOU CAN’T SUBMIT YOUR ASSIGNMENTS ON-TIME!!

You should be able to order your book on-line via the HCC Bookstore website.  It takes a little patience but here are instructions:

• Go to the Harford Community College Bookstore Website
• Click on the "Textbook Ordering" link
• You need to input several options here:

1. Term (Whatever term you are searching for...)
2. Department:  CHEM
3. Course:  100
4. Section:
5. Instructor:  Young

• From this menu, you should access the list of Chem100 sections being taught - there should be some on-campus classes and then there will be an on-line class listed as a section.  Put a check mark on the box to select the on-line course, and click the button to go to selected books.  You should see a list of books/software listed for the class.  We only use the book and the software.  There is a study guide but I do not use it, nor do I refer to it in the class, so I suggest you save your hard earned money and not buy it.

Software Needs:

• You will need the following Software in order to do the electronic labs: Model ChemLab – Student Edition, Model Science Software, v2.4 (current version as of summer 2005).  You can use or obtain this software through any of the following methods:
• If you are local to Harford Community College, the software is located on the first two computers in the library when you walk through the doors (no purchase necessary by you) - ask staff if you can not figure out where these 2 computers are located
• If you don’t know if you can make it up to campus or are not local, you can purchase the software at the Harford Community College Bookstore - Harford Community College Bookstore Website
• The software can be downloaded directly through the Model Science Software’s website (http://modelscience.com) – We use the Standard Version of the software - @$30
• Model Science has good support staff - if you have software problems (or problems with your download), please do not hesitate to e-mail them and figure out what the problem is and how it can be fixed.  (Model Science e-mail support:  info@modelscience.com)

DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE TO BUY YOUR SOFTWARE AND THEN E-MAIL ME TO TELL ME THAT YOU CAN’T SUBMIT YOUR ASSIGNMENTS ON-TIME!!

Problems??

If you have course related problems, please contact the instructor through WebCT e-mail.

DO NOT E-MAIL ME TO TELL ME THAT AT 11PM THE NIGHT THE ASSIGNMENT IS DUE THAT YOUR COMPUTER CRASHED WHEN YOU HAD 5-WEEKS TO DO THE ASSIGNMENT – THIS IS NOT A LEGITIMATE EXCUSE FOR WHY YOUR HOMEWORK SHOULD BE TURNED IN LATE.

If you have computer related problems, contact the HCC Digital Library Desk: by calling them 443-412-2256 or by e-mailing them at (online@harford.edu).

Course Objectives:

We will be covering the entire book - the book is split into 2 parts.  The first part (chapters 1-10) is mostly basic chemistry material.  There are a lot of basic concepts to go through.  The instructor notes on these chapters are more detailed and I spend time working example problems. The second part (chapters 11-20) is chemistry in everyday life topics.  The notes on these chapters just list what kind of problems you should be able to do.  You will have to read and know the topics within the chapter.  Because this is (1) an introductory course and (2) for non-science majors, more emphasis will be placed on how chemistry is applied in real life - we will NOT be memorizing dates, scientists names, or equations.  An on-line class infers that the student can use a book to look things up during quizzes and exams but also knows how to use various equations.

Course Format:

• There will be an on-line orientation session in the WebCT Chem100 chat room the first week of class (please contact me via e-mail prior to the start of the semester to confirm the date/time of this)
• The entire list of assignments for the semester is available to you when you register for the class and are given access to WebCT Chem100 site (via the link ‘Current Semester Assignments Schedule’) – I also e-mail everyone a Word document (that you can print out) containing all the assignments.  See separate link on my faculty website for an example assignment schedule for a 15-week Chem100 class.
• Please always be aware of assignment availability and closure by checking the ‘Submission Link for: Homework / Labs / Quizzes / Exams / Bonus Assignments’ Page on the WebCT Chem100 site.
• All homework, laboratory assignments, and bonus assignments are available for you to complete and submit via the WebCT Chem100 site from the 1^st day of class.  If you know that you will be away for a weekend, please feel free to do the homework the week before you leave and submit.  LATE ASSIGNMENTS CAN NOT BE ACCEPTED.
• Please be aware that the laboratory assignments vary from on-line assignments, to electronic labs (using the Model ChemLab software), to hands-on labs and sometimes a mixture of these.  It is your responsibility to read the assignments schedule and be aware of the due dates.
• All quizzes and exams are available for you to complete and submit via the WebCT Chem100 site starting the Sunday the week they are listed on the syllabus through the following Sunday.  Again, LATE QUIZZES/EXAMS CAN NOT BE ACCEPTED.
• There are 2 Bonus Assignments available EVERY semester that you can choose to do (whether you have an ‘A’ or a ‘C’ - everyone can do the assignments).  These bonus assignment points are available to boost your laboratory or homework grades ONLY.

Communication:

WebCT e-mail will be used to communicate with the professor and other students.  There will be several chat sessions scheduled throughout the semester.  These are for your benefit - please make sure you are aware of the dates of the chat sessions - students will be required to participate in a number of these per semester!!

Grading Policy:

You will be graded for this class!  That means that you will be required to do some work (homework & labs) and take some exams (and quizzes).  In order to be able to do these things, you will have to read the textbook and do some work/research on-line.  These expectations are no different from taking a psychology class, philosophy class, or biology class.

Final Grade is based on the Following Table:

If you have any questions about taking the course, please do not hesitate to e-mail me.  I check my e-mail frequently and will respond as soon as possible!