Expectations

Class Culture and Learning Process

Treat our time with respect

We have a very short time together for learning. Make sure that each time you approach our class, you are ready to learn when the class starts. Try to settle your mind, limit distractions, and stay engaged until you have finished the work.

Approach your classmates with kindness and respect

Learning is best done in a collaborative and supportive environment. Being successful in this class will mean being able to rely on those around us when necessary. Be the type of person you'd like to turn to when you are in need of help.

Struggle Productively

My goal is to give you what you need to attempt chapter problems, lab assignments, quizzes, and exams. Still, I expect you to be able to complete only some of your practice problems and assignments on your own and successfully. I want you to work hard and independently, but I don't want you to spend all your time trying to figure out one concept or problem. If you are not making progress, please ask for help. A little bit of direction and guidance can make a big difference.

Learning is a Process

This class is set up so that you do a small amount of work over several days. An hour of work spread over four days is much more productive than four hours on a single day. It is my job to assign you the right amount of work, and it is your job to complete that work in good faith. I always say that learning chemistry is like learning a language, learning to play an instrument, or learning to play a sport: you have to practice a little each day. If you have ever participated in a sport, think about all the time you spent practicing and training and how it was over time, like a season, and not all at once. That same model should be applied to this class. "Cramming" and marathon sessions will not only be stressful but also not best for learning.

Commitment

• Please note that we cover a lot of information in a short 16-week semester! Consequently, you must complete the work for several topics each week.

• You will be required to do a great deal of reading, calculating, and thinking about Chemistry over the semester. It will be very intense at times. Please reconsider your enrollment in this course if you are unable or unwilling to do the following each week:

  • Read a minimum of one textbook chapter and post questions and comments and/or respond to classmate's posted questions and comments

  • Engaging in several hours of lecture

  • Participate in your lectures by following along with the examples and by submitting the prompts

  • Completing dozens of homework problems for each chapter

  • Submit lab assignments each week

  • Completing dozens of calculations each week for practice

  • Preparing for exams and a final exam

It sounds like a lot, I know, but you are capable of completing these, and I am here to guide you through this work.

Hours per week

We will cover just under 3 hours of lecture material per week and another 3 hours of lab material each week. This is considered "class time."

*AND*

Outside of class time, you will still need to be devoting another 12-15 hours of your own time to studying (reviewing lecture material, working through problems, preparing for labs, and completing assignments).

**This means approximately 20 hours of each of your weeks will be dedicated to chemistry**

Considering all of your commitments: your motivation, other courses, family responsibilities, work, and social obligations...can you invest the necessary time and energy required to succeed in this course? I am here to support you, but unfortunately, I cannot add more hours in each day. I am not saying this to scare you, but to impress upon you that you will work hard in this class.

Attendance

You will need to log onto our Canvas class page and access the course materials at least once every two days (i.e. at least once every other day, except weekends). As mentioned above, you should be working through the material a little bit each day.

Involuntary Withdrawal

Attendance in CHEM 101 is based on participating in scheduled Zoom discussions (to be announced), completing assignments, and taking your exams (just logging into Canvas and looking at course content is not sufficient). Students who have not completed any graded work for two weeks are subject to involuntary withdrawal from the course at any point until the last date to withdraw with a "W" (For Spring 2023 that's March 31, 2023).

Late Work

Deadlines are firm and established and known in advance. No late work is accepted, there are no make-up exams, and there are no make-up labs. All deadlines are firm. You are only allowed to attend your registered lab section. If you are unable to attend your lab section, you will not be able to attend another.

If you have an extenuating circumstance, please get in touch with me ASAP so we can discuss options.

Extra Credit

There will be opportunities for extra credit throughout the semester. They will be announced.

Student Success

Students should complete chapter readings before attending lectures (or watching course videos), watch any and all required or recommended additional online videos, and complete all activities and all suggested chapter problems. Students should be self-motivated respectful, and interested in improving their critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Students may use each other, Chemistry Department tutors, family and friends, and the instructor for help with material and problems.

**Successful performance in this class requires a significant amount of problem-solving. If you find yourself struggling at any point during the semester, please ask for help as soon as possible. The material is all related, so misunderstanding foundational concepts will mean you will feel overwhelmed and confused if you continue without getting help and guidance**

If you find it necessary to drop the course, it is your responsibility to complete all appropriate paperwork required by the Admissions & Records Office by the drop deadline (March 31: drop with a “W”, for Spring 2023). If you do not drop by this deadline, you cannot obtain a “W”; the instructor must assign a grade.

Academic Integrity

Students in this course are expected to comply with SBCC’s Academic Honesty Policy. Dr. Napoleon and SBCC will not tolerate any form of academic dishonesty. As an SBCC student, you must conduct your academic work with honesty and integrity. It is expected that all work you submit will be your own and that you have done the work that you are submitting. Such dishonesty consists of but is not limited to: cheating, fabrication, facilitating academic dishonesty, and plagiarism. Should you be found guilty of cheating, you will receive a zero for that exam or assignment, and a record of that misconduct will be filed with the Dean of Educational Programs office. Please follow the link below for more information: http://www.sbcc.edu/distanceeducation/policiesandprocedures.php