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: [email protected]
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.edu
Provides 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 ModelC
ognit
ive s
kills
Challenge
Happy
Zone
Bored
Zone
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 Grade
Lectu
re D
ays
Att
en
ded
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?