Welcome to SC155:
Introduction to Chemistry
Introduction, Goals,
and Policies
Freddie Arocho-Perez
Kaplan University
SC155: Introduction to Chemistry
Introduction to the Course
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Instructor: Freddie Arocho-Perez
Kaplan E-mail: FArocho-Perez@kaplan.edu
Alternate E-mail: fredarocho@gmail.com
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This course allows students to explore the fundamental
theories of Chemistry, with an emphasis on the chemical
processes that affect their lives.
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Students will learn how to apply new knowledge about a
variety of topics to better understand the natural and
human-made world.
Introduction to the Course
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There are 2 components to this course:
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Quantitative, problem-based assignments like the
self-assessments
Qualitative, discussion-based assignments like the
Seminars and Discussion boards.
BOTH are equally important, and BOTH
illustrate how chemistry is used in personal,
professional, and everyday contexts.
Introduction to the Course
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You will be learning some of the basic concepts
behind Chemistry, but also real-life examples
and applications:
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Environment
Forensic Science
Nutritional Chemistry
Nanotechnology
- Climate Change
- Energy Sources
- Drugs
Chemistry is a very challenging subject, yet very
rewarding.
We will work together!!!
Introduction to the Course
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Seminar 1 will focus on course introduction
and general course policies.
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Please, leave any questions you may have to
the end. You can also e-mail me.
Important points will be addressed today.
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Important Documents/Information
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Course Syllabus
Course/Term Calendar
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Course Announcements:
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Updated weekly
Deadlines
Additional resources
Important recommendations
Math Center/Writing Center
Important Documents/Information
Important Documents/Information
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Make sure you have my contact information.
E-mail will be our primary form of
communication.
Make sure you check your e-mail regularly.
I send e-mails on a weekly basis to keep you
posted on “what’s going on in the class”.
In case of an emergency, you are welcome to
contact me by phone. Let me know by e-mail
first so that we can set up a time to talk.
Course Materials
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Main Text: “Thinkwell: Chemistry”
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Supplemental Text: “Chemistry Made Simple”
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All the course’s videos, notes, and transcripts will be
available inside the course site.
You can save some of these PDF files on your computer.
Please note that the “Thinkwell: Chemistry” materials
are the primary textbook for the course.
This book is a study guide only.
Documents in DocSharing
Strongly Recommended: Calculator (or Microsoft
Calculator). Links to free calculators online are
provided in DocSharing.
Course Materials
Grading/Assignments
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Course Assignments and Grading are designed to help you out
better.
Grading will take place on Sundays, beginning with the Sunday
followed after the end of Unit 1.
By Monday morning, your gradebook will be updated.
Kaplan’s Weekly Unit Format:
Sun
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Mon
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Tue
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Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
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Grading/Assignments
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Course Assignments:
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Seminar
Discussion
Self-Assessments (Quizzes)
Mini-Projects
Tests
Seminar
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There are 2 options.
Option 1:Participation in seminars that will be
held every week using the KHE Seminar tool.
Option 2:This option for Seminar requires the
student to complete an asynchronous learning
activity. The exact activity is listed on the
Seminar information link or page for each Unit in
the course site.
Seminar
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The learning activities listed on the Seminar information
link in the course site WILL NOT be discussed during
the weekly Seminar chat (Option 1).
Weekly Seminar chat will be used for:
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Discussion of real-life applications:
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Environment
Drug Development/Pharmaceuticals
Periodic Table
Math Review
Forensics
Nutrition/Health
Reviews for tests
Answers to general questions
Announcements
Seminar
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All presentations (including this one) will be
uploaded in DocSharingfor your use.
You can also access the Seminar Archives in
case you missed it (see announcement in
Course Home).
I strongly encourage students NOT to
choose the Option 2, and instead to attend
the weekly Seminar chat (Seminar Option 1).
Discussion
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Discussion questions provide a forum for students to
ask questions and answer important questions about
the course material.
Creation of a learning community, discussing real-life
problems and applications.
Participation will be made throughout the unit’s
week.
Instructor will be participating as well, providing new
information, answering questions, providing web
links and documents, etc.
Discussion
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Timeline for Discussions:
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Mon
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Tue
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Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
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Students will be able to participate throughout
the unit’s week, until the following Saturday
after the unit’s end.
Discussion
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Rule of “3”: Students should make a grand total
of 3 posts: Your own response and 2 responses
to your peers per discussion thread.
Posts should be made throughout the week.
Making ALL posts on the same day is NOT
acceptable. Try to make them on different days
(at least on 2 different days).
Your first response should be made within the
first 4 days of the unit (Wed – Sat).
Discussion
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Posts should be “meaningful” (making contributions).
You should avoid the following:
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“Great job, Mike!!!”
“What an awesome post, Sarah. It was sweet.”
“WOW, I am amazed.”
General suggestions (ideas):
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Make follow-up questions
Share any personal experience
Comment to Freddie’s posts
Provide new information or web links
Share information from a newspaper
Self-Assessments (Quizzes)
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Each Unit of this course contains a selfassessment that is designed to help you work
through the concepts and ideas presented in
that unit.
Grades are based on whether or not you do
them.
The points are all or nothing: you will receive 5
points for each self-assessment by completing
that week’s assessment, even if you answer all
the problems incorrectly.
Self-Assessments (Quizzes)
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The rationale is to encourage you to work each
week’s problems on your own.
Remember that there are 2 components to this
course:
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Quantitative, problem-based assignments like the
self-assessments
Qualitative, discussion-based assignments like the
Seminars and Discussion boards.
Self-Assessments (Quizzes)
Sun
X
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Mon
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Tue
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Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
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Self-Assessments are due by Saturday after the unit’s end.
Answer keys with brief explanations will be sent by e-mail after the
unit’s end.
Multiple submissions are allowed.
Questions are written by members of an instructional committee to
keep consistency will all SC155 sections.
Mini-Projects
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There are 3 Mini-Projects:
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Mini-Project 1: Due at the end of Unit 2 (Periodic Table)
Mini-Project 2: Due at the end of Unit 5 (Energy/Environment)
Mini-Project 3: Due at the end of Unit 8 (Health/Nutrition)
All Projects will be submitted in MS Word doc format.
Study Guides with examples will be sent by e-mail and
posted in DocSharing to assist you in the completion of
these mini-projects.
Deadlines will be announced by e-mail and during
seminar.
Tests
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There are 2 tests:
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Test 1: Units 1-4
Test 2: Units 5-9
The tests are NOT cumulative.
There is NO final test or exam.
The tests will include material from seminars,
discussion, and reading assignments.
These exams will take the form of 30 multiplechoice questions, similar to some of the
questions in your weekly self-assessments.
Tests
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Some questions are written by members of an
instructional committee to keep consistency will all
SC155 sections.
Some questions are written by me.
Study Guides will be provided.
Approximately 2 weeks will be given to complete them.
Seminar chat will be used to review.
Deadlines will be announced by e-mail and during
seminar.
Calendar of Assignments
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See the “September 2010 Term (1004A)
Calendar: Important Dates/Times” for more
information on deadlines and assignments.
Deadlines will be also announced by e-mail
and during seminar throughout the term.
Calendar of Assignments
Calendar of Assignments
Important Recommendations
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Take advantage of Discussion, Seminar, Quizzes, and
Mini-Projects. Do NOT underestimate their power in
your grade.
Tests might be a bit more challenging, but I will give you
helpful hints and supplemental information.
Use your time and resources wisely.
Your instructor is another resource.
Try to not fall behind. If you run into problems, do NOT
hesitate to contact me.
Important Recommendations
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I know this class may be challenging as it
requires a lot of time management and
independent study, but don’t feel
overwhelmed as you will have a lot of
resources, plus I am very flexible.
You will find this class an adventure of selfexploration, as well as establishing a firm
science base for other courses you will take
for your program of study (like Biochemistry).
Important Recommendations
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Learning is about reading, practicing, asking, etc.
You will NOT learn everything about Chemistry in 10
weeks. The main goal is to provide you with a good
base and to reinforce skills such as research and
writing.
This class is not only about learning Chemistry, but to
become a more educated person and citizen.
If you run into troubles, contact me.
Don’t let yourself to be discouraged.
I DON’T like “quitters”!!!
My best wishes to you during
this term. Thank you for coming
tonight.
Questions???