course overview 2024

Summary

This video provides an overview of the Introductory Chemistry course (Chemistry 121), offering insights into its structure and resources. The course is designed for hybrid, in-person, and online formats, with materials like videos, homework, quizzes, and lab activities. The instructor emphasizes a flexible learning environment, with resources such as a welcome quiz, discussion boards, and tutoring support. Weekly assignments, quizzes, and lab reports are clearly outlined in the course calendar, and students are encouraged to utilize counseling and office hours to succeed. The video is a guide to navigating the course and ensuring a successful experience.

Takeaways

• 😀 The course is called Introduction to Chemistry (Chemistry 121), and it is designed to give students a clear understanding of what to expect and how to succeed in the course.
• 😀 The course offers various learning modes including hybrid, fully in-person, and fully online options, with a focus on flexibility to cater to different student needs.
• 😀 The Welcome Module is essential and includes key resources like the syllabus, information on lab activities, and study materials.
• 😀 Students will complete an opening week quiz to ensure they have reviewed the Welcome Module content, which is not timed and can be completed at their own pace.
• 😀 A key feature of the course is fostering a sense of community, with an introduction assignment where students can share a bit about themselves and connect with peers.
• 😀 The course includes resources for additional support such as office hours, tutoring, counseling services, and information on how to use Zoom and Canvas effectively.
• 😀 Each week, there will be a clear structure that includes learning content (videos), assignments (homework, quizzes, and discussion boards), and lab activities (either at-home or in-person).
• 😀 Homework is graded on completion, not accuracy, and students are encouraged to show their work, especially for calculations.
• 😀 Quizzes are held weekly with two attempts allowed, and the highest score is recorded. There are also practice quizzes to help students prepare.
• 😀 Lab work will vary depending on the course format, with online students completing labs at home with a kit and in-person students performing labs on campus.
• 😀 The course calendar will include all assignments for the quarter, allowing students to plan ahead and track deadlines for quizzes, homework, labs, and discussions.

Q & A

What is the purpose of the introductory video?

The introductory video is designed to give students a sense of how the chemistry course works, provide a sneak peek behind the scenes of course design, and help students understand how much time they will spend on the material each week.

How is the course content delivered?

The course content is delivered through videos where the instructor explains and demonstrates the material, alongside additional resources like a textbook and extra videos for practice.

What is the 'Welcome Module' and why is it important?

The Welcome Module contains essential information for building a solid foundation for the course, including links to the syllabus, lab details, resources, and a quiz to check if students have reviewed the module.

What is the purpose of the Opening Week Quiz?

The Opening Week Quiz is not a traditional quiz; it checks whether students have read the material in the Welcome Module and ensures they are prepared for the course.

What resources are available for students in the course?

Students can access office hours, tutoring resources, a counseling link, and materials for additional help with Canvas and Zoom. These resources are essential for supporting students' success.

How are assignments structured in the course?

Assignments are broken into preparation (like homework) and assessment (quizzes and discussion boards). Homework is graded for completeness, and quizzes allow two attempts with the highest score recorded.

What is the role of lab activities in the course?

Lab activities are a critical part of the course. Online students purchase a lab kit to work at home, while in-person students complete labs on campus. Lab reports are done individually and in groups depending on the class format.

How is the grading for homework and quizzes managed?

Homework is graded based on completeness, with a key posted afterward for self-checking. Quizzes are given two attempts, and the highest score is recorded. The lowest quiz score is manually dropped after both attempts are completed.

What is the purpose of the 'Be Ready for Quizzes' page?

The 'Be Ready for Quizzes' page provides crucial information about how to format answers correctly in Canvas and offers additional resources like study guides and memorization sheets.

How does the instructor support student engagement in an online course?

The instructor fosters engagement in online courses through discussion boards, where students can interact with classmates and the instructor, creating a sense of community and connection.