CHEM 161 Course InfoCatalog Description: Prerequisite:

Completion of a high school or other College-level Chemistry within the last five years, completion of CHEM 099, or assessment. MATH 109 with a grade of C or better or placement. An introduction to the basics of chemistry for those students who are concentrating their studies in the sciences. Those fundamentals concepts of chemistry included are chemical formulas, chemical reactions, stoichiometry, structure of molecules, chemical bonding, and the behavior of gases, liquids, and solids. A three-hour lab each week will reinforce the lecture material.

Course InfoInstructor Info

John Muench I’m okay with either Mr.

Muench or John or Professor

Office: ICN 2020Best method for

contacting me is email: John.Muench@heartland.edu

Phone: 309-268-8656

Course Web PageA CHEM 161 web page with all of the course

materials is availableCan download, print most course materialsAny updates to the schedule will be posted

hereemployee.heartland.edu/rmuench/(Note – do not put a www in front!!!)

myHeartlandStudent portal

my.heartland.eduProvides access to IRIS, Library Services,

WebCT, Student Email Account, and File Storage with a single logon

Email allows for occasional class announcements

All grade updates will be sent to your Heartland email account UNLESS YOU WISH TO OPT OUT

Course InfoTextbook is by Tro

Options – regular textbook, eBook, or rental.

Lab book in the bookstore.Scientific Calculator and

Periodic Table.

Course ObjectivesLearn concepts in Chemistry.Apply some problem-solving techniques.Cover a total of twelve chapters (1 – 12)Amount of math varies from section to

section.Many students at some point will hit the

“wall.”

Accelerator ModelShows relationship between previous

knowledge and new knowledge.Most of you will be eventually pushed out

of the “Happy Zone” at some point. When that occurs, seek help from other

students, tutor, your instructor, etc.

Accelerator ModelCo

gniti

ve sk

ills

Challenge

HappyZone

BoredZone

Frustration Zone

Axes Legend

Cognitive Skills = Skills already known

Challenge = New skills

Method of InstructionLectures – I try to present the material in a clear

cut manner.Format: PPT with problems on overhead.

Try to give at least one example problem for each general type of problem in class.

Memorization of formulas and constants are not necessary as I provide these to you on quizzes and exams.

You will be allowed to use your notes for quizzes and prepare one page of notes for the exams.

Method of EvaluationCombination of online homework, group

work, quizzes, exams, and lab exercises.Online Homework and Group Activities are a

total of 225 points. I’ll drop the lowest three group activities and quizzes.

There are four exams worth 125 points apiece, but I drop the lowest score, so the total exams are 375 points.

The final exam is comprehensive and worth 200 points (and not OPTIONAL!)

Lab is worth 200 points.

Method of EvaluationTotal points are 1000.Grades are based on a 90.00 – 80.00 – 70.00 –

65.00 scale.However, your overall lecture average must

be greater than or equal to 65% to obtain a D, 70% to obtain a C, 80% to obtain a B, or 90% to obtain an A. Also, successful completion of your lab work is also required.

Ex) A student’s lecture percentage is 78.5%, lab is 92.1%, and overall is 81.1%. This student would get a C based on the lecture percentage.

General PoliciesAttendance:

Required in the lab – cannot miss more than two labs.In lecture, anyone missing more than 25% (8 class

periods out of 32) will not pass.Attendance taken through daily work.

Homework website is through MasteringChemistry.com and you must purchase the access kit to use this.Course ID: MUENCHCHEM161SP13Register with your name and HCC ID Number (7-digit #)

Group activities and quizzes are assigned and collected. These are a show-your-work type of assignment and partial credit is given.

MasteringChemistry.comThe online homework is

available 24/7. Can print off and take to tutor.

Due dates are posted for each chapter.

Opening hints will result in a small (3%) penalty.

Can complete after due date with a 2.5% penalty per day (maximum penalty is 50%).

0 1 2 3 4 50

8

16

24

32

Average Student GradeLe

ctur

e D

ays

Att

ende

d

General PoliciesExams are 32 questions, but in a multiple choice

format. No partial credit is given on exams.Exams are curved to reflect their difficulty.I’ll provide a sample exam before each exam to

give you a flavor of the types of questions I’ve asked in the past.

There are NO make ups on exams.A self-assessment will follow the first three

exams.

General PoliciesFinal Exam is comprehensive and NOT

optional. The exam is 40 questions with about 10

questions from each of the four exams. Will be allowed to use materials from the

previous exams and the exams themselves.

General PoliciesYou must be present and

participate to receive credit for the group assignments and quizzes.

Cell phones should be turned off before class. If your phone becomes a distraction during the semester, I may ask to have you removed from the course or from class that day – THIS INCLUDES TEXTING!!!

How would you feel if I stopped repeatedly in the middle of class to answer a text message?

Academic IntegrityYou are encouraged to work with and check

answers with students from the course.However, merely copying someone else’s

worksheet IS a violation of academic integrity. Penalties range from getting a zero on that

assignment to receiving an “F” for the course.Cheating on ANY exam will result in an

automatic failure in the course AND will become part of YOUR permanent record.

Academic Integrity

Support ServicesTutoring is available down in our library

area.My office hours are posted.Web site contains all of the class resources.

Student SuccessMy rate of success (A, B, + C) is around 70%.

For example – start with 30 students 6 disappear during the semester (W or non-W) 24 finish – but only 21 pass (A, B, or C)

Traditional four-year schools have a success rate often less than 50%.For example – start with 200 students in large

lecture hall 80 disappear during the semester (W or non-W) 120 finish – but only 100 pass (A, B, or C) A quota of A’s and B’s

Student SuccessSuccessful Students are: Struggling Students:Ones that accept

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY

Discover SELF-MOTIVATION

Master SELF-MANAGEMENT

Are SELF-AWARE of their goals

And employ good study(BDA) habits

See themselves as VICTIMS

Have little MOTIVATIONHave no clear-stated

GOALSAre solitary, rarely

request help, and may even reject help

Lack a good SUPPORT system

Do not pay attention in class or studying.

Course CalendarGives dates for all quizzes and exams.Some topics may be started sooner or later

than dates anticipated.There will be other options for taking the

Final Exam.Questions?