chemistry 1050 discovering chemistry a year of discoveries, experiences, and upcoming challenges

Chemistry 1050Discovering Chemistry

A year of

Discoveries, experiences,and upcoming challenges

Chem 1050

• Introduced in 2008

– Single stream: replaced both Chem 020 and 023– Builds on Grade 12 chemistry– Fewer calculations and more thinking– Less bubbling and more writing– Course workbook– Plenty of free assistance available

Building on Grade 12 Chem...

• Assumes knowledge of fundamental material

– Masses, moles, and molarity– Balancing reaction equations– Limiting reagent– Strong acids and bases (pH)– Reaction types (redox, precipitation, etc.)

• Most had no trouble, but some did not remember much from high school

Fewer calculations, more thinking...• High school and Chem 020/023

−log([H2SO4] − [NaOH]) = pH of solution

• Chem 1050– Much more thought-oriented

Explain why... What happens if... Consider...– Students had difficulties extending concepts

punch in calculatorthat’s what the

calculator gave me...it can’t be wrong

Less bubbling, more writing...

• Introduced a short-answer component to tests and exams in January of 2009

– Encouraged students to develop a coherent argument– Great for asking conceptual and thinking questions

– Allowed students to express their creativity

– Short-answer worth 1/3 of midterm test or final exam– Marked by course instructors and TAs

Course workbook

• Hybrid of textbook and lecture notes

– Students bring workbook to class

• Overall well-received by students

– More time listening in class and less writing– Students asked to read relevant topics before class– No additional notes to print; lectures not posted

• Promoted uniformity between instructors

Course workbook

• Hybrid of textbook and lecture notes

– Students bring workbook to class

• Overall well-received by students

– More time listening in class and less writing– Students asked to read relevant topics before class– No additional notes to print; lectures not posted

• Promoted uniformity between instructors

New labs

• Video pre-labs

– Very detailed (eliminated the need to read the lab manual beforehand) and long (good texting session)

– New this year: shorter videos and more TA interaction

• Computerized stations were well-received

• New this year: video questions and semi-formal reports instead of fill-in-the-blanks

Free assistance...

• Plenty to choose from

– Scheduled tutorials (optional, biweekly)– Resource Room (about 20 hours/week)– Residence and library TAs– WebCT discussion board

• Too much underutilization of all of them

– This year: no Resource Room and no res/lib TAs

Statistics...

Sept enrollment 1659

WDN and WDF 101

Remaining 1558

Average grade 67.6C

24%B

24%

A17%D

14%

F 13%

A+ 8%

Identical to combined, weightedaverage of Chem 020 and 023

Chemistry in 2010–11

• Chem 1050 to split into two half-courses

– Same combined curriculum as Chem 1050– Courses can be structured the same or differently• e.g. perhaps no tutorials in second half

– Greatest challenge: will students who wait a year or two before taking the second half remember that they learned from the first?