CHEM 1151L - Survey of Chemistry Laboratory I
Course Syllabus - Fall 2008

Course Description:

Number and Title:

Chemistry 1151L (CRN 87180)
Survey of Chemistry Laboratory I

Credit Hours:

1.0 semester credit hours

Catalog Description:

Laboratory accompanying CHEM 1151.

CHEM 1151L is a one-hour credit science laboratory course, associated with Chemistry 1151, for Area D1 of the Core Curriculum of Clayton State University.

Course Co-requisite:

CHEM 1151  Survey of Chemistry I

Note: Due to the co-requisite nature of CHEM 1151 and CHEM 1151L, students dropping one of the two courses must also drop the other.

Notebook Computer Requirement:

Each CSU student is required to have ready access throughout the semester to a notebook computer that meets faculty-approved hardware and software requirements for the student's academic program. Students will sign a statement attesting to such access.  For further information on CSU's Official Notebook Computer Policy, please go to http://itpchoice.clayton.edu/policy.htm.
My campus e-mail address is aagyeman@mail.clayton.edu.  This course has a web page which can be accessed through my home page at http://a-s.clayton.edu/aagyeman/.  Once you have accessed the course web page, you may wish to "bookmark" this site as you will refer to it often during the semester.  

The course web page offers you many instructional aides:  pre-lab lectures, laboratory safety forms,  data and report sheets, etc.  It is your responsibility to become familiar with these materials.   

Computer Skills Prerequisites:

               1.  Able to use the computer’s operation system (Windows®)

2.  Able to access and send E-mail (Outlook® or Outlook Express®)

3.  Able to attach and retrieve attached files in e-mail

4.  Able to use a Web browser and Search Engine (Internet Explorer®)

5.  Able to download files from a web site to your computer

6.  Able to use a word processor system (Word®) including use of forms

7.  Able to use a spread sheet system (Excel®) including graphing

Your instructor may have access to more font sets than your computer currently holds.  Therefore, there may be some differences in the appearance of symbols when viewing laboratory data and report sheets.  If this is a problem, consult the instructor.  

You should develop the habit of checking your e-mail daily.  Because of the number of students we typically have, there may be some delay in the instructor's response to an individual's e-mail.  Do not send time-sensitive information via e-mail--use the old system of the telephone.  A delivered e-mail does not relieve you of the responsibility of informing the instructor about some concern.  On the other hand, the instructor may send e-mails with information vital to your success in the course.  Check your e-mail often, at least once a day.  Instructors will only respond to CSU e-mail addresses.

In-class Use of Student Notebook Computers:

Student notebook computers will be used in the lab room twice in the semester in this course. Two laboratory sessions will be held to offer instruction/review of Word® and Excel®. Participation in these sessions will not be required if the student feels comfortable with these programs, but topics specific to use in a chemistry class will be covered.  A homework assignment is given for each session and all students are responsible for the assignments and they must be submitted on time. Computers will also be used to access course materials and to communicate with your instructor.

Student Learning Outcomes:

1.      To learn the basic laws of general chemistry and how to apply them.

2.      To learn how to use the scientific process and gain facility with experimental techniques.

Program Learning Outcomes:

The following links provide tabular descriptions of the communications outcome and the critical thinking outcome components  (see CHEM 1151L in the tables):

·        Communications outcomes components

·        Critical thinking outcomes components

Term:

Fall Semester 2008

Instructor Information:

Class Meetings:

Lab Materials Information:

Chemistry 1151L Laboratory Manual 
Safety Glasses
Scientific Calculator
Laptop Computer

You are required to supply your own safety glasses for the laboratory.  These are available in the campus book store but may be purchased elsewhere.  Safety glasses MUST be worn in the laboratory at all times.  You will not be allowed to complete the lab without safety glasses.  If necessary, the instructor will deduct points from lab reports for not wearing safety glasses while in the laboratory.

Assessments:

You must complete the laboratory data sheet and report sheet for each experiment by accessing these forms from the course web page.  You may complete the forms directly on the web and print them, or you may download them to your computer and complete them using  Word^TM on your laptop computer, print them, and submit to your instructor.  Each report is worth 100 points with the grade distribution described elsewhere in this syllabus.  The report will include the data sheet along with the report sheet.  There will be a penalty for late lab reports of 10% per day of the week.  Reports may not be submitted by e-mail.  

Make-ups / Late Work:

All laboratory exercises must be completed or arrangements made with the instructor or the student may fail the course, even if they have a passing average.  Due to the difficulty in making up missed laboratories, every effort should be made to attend the laboratory session.  Make-up laboratories are totally at the discretion of the instructor, who might make alternate arrangements.  Each student must physically complete the laboratory experiment for credit.  You may not simply obtain the data from another student.  Anyone doing this will receive a zero on the laboratory exercise and forfeit any chance to make-up the missed lab. Points will be deducted for late laboratory reports at the rate of 10% per day of the week (not lab day).

Lecture Requirement:

The student should note that the lecture is a co- or prerequisite for this course.  If you are currently enrolled in the lecture, you should take special note that if you withdraw from either the lecture course or the laboratory, you must withdraw from the other.  

Evaluation: 

Your evaluation in CHEM 1151L will be based upon the following components:

Grading:

The grade you receive in Chemistry 1151L will be based upon the following distribution:

Mid-term Progress Report

Due to the relatively small number of laboratory reports that will have been returned by mid-term, mid-term grade may not be reported for this course.  Students making unsatisfactory progress will be contacted individually by the instructor before mid-term.  If the instructor feels that enough lab reports have been completed by the deadline for mid-term grades, they may issue a mid-term grade report.  If issued the mid-term grade in this course will be issued on or about October 7, reflects only a portion of the entire course grade.  Based on this grade, students may choose to withdraw from the course and receive a grade of "W."  Students pursuing this option must fill out an official withdrawal form, available in the Office of the Registrar, by mid-term, which occurs on October 10, 2008.

Laboratory Schedule:

The preparation and set-up of the chemistry laboratories is not an easy chore.  There are multitudes of sections and courses that use the same laboratory.  It is critical that you attend the laboratory during your scheduled time period, we cannot guarantee a make-up.

Course Policies:

General Policy:
Students must abide by policies in the Clayton State University Student Handbook, and the Basic Undergraduate Student Responsibilities.

University Attendance Policy:
Students are expected to attend and participate in every class meeting. Instructors establish specific policies relating to absences in their courses and communicate these policies to the students through the course syllabi. Individual instructors, based upon the nature of the course, determine what effect excused and unexcused absences have in determining grades and upon students' ability to remain enrolled in their courses. The university reserve the right to determine that excessive absences, whether justified or not, are sufficient cause for institutional withdrawals or failing grades.

Course Attendance Policy:
Attendance is required in lab until you have completed the experimental portion of this course. You will be institutionally withdraw from the laboratory course if you have a total of FOUR excused or unexcused laboratory absences.

Academic Dishonesty: 
Any type of activity that is considered dishonest by reasonable standards may constitute academic misconduct.  The most common forms of academic misconduct are cheating and plagiarism. Cheating in any form will not be tolerated.  Consequences may include a zero grade on the assessment instrument, or possible action by the College Judicial Board of Review.   Judicial procedures are described at
http://adminservices.clayton.edu/judicial/.

Disruption of the learning Environment:
Behavior which disrupts the teaching-learning process during class activities will not be tolerated. While a variety of behaviors can be disruptive in a classroom setting, more serious examples include belligerent, abusive, profane and or threatening behavior. A students who fails to respond to reasonable faculty direction regarding classroom behavior while participating in classroom activities may be dismissed from class. A student who is dismissed is entitled to due process and will afforded such rights as soon as possible following dismissal. If found in violation , a students may be administratively withdrawn and may receive a grade of WF.

A more detailed description of examples of disruptive behavior and appeal procedures is provided at:  http://a-s.clayton.edu/DisruptiveClassroomBehavior.htm

 

Other Policies:

Participation in laboratory activities involves an inherent risk of injury. In the event of injury, the student should immediately inform the instructor or laboratory technician who will file an accident report. The injured party will be given first aid through the Campus Public Safety Officer and be referred to the appropriate medical facility for follow-up.

Safety glasses must be worn at all times in the laboratory.

As a courtesy to your classmates:

• Arrive to lab on time and stay until the exercise is complete.
• No children or visitors are allowed in the laboratory.
• Turn off beepers, phones, radios and other electronic devices.
• No eating, smoking or drinking in the laboratory. No food is allowed in the laboratory.
• Be aware of all policies and procedures.

No extra credit work will be assigned

It is the students responsibility to complete the Student Survey and Course/Instructor Evaluation for each course and each instructor every semester. If this is not done during the allotted time period, the student will be restricted from seeing their final course grade until approximately one week after final exams have ended. Instructors are not allowed to give course grades to those who did not complete these evaluations. Also, I am not allowed to give out grades over the telephone or via email due to federal privacy laws.

Reports are due on the dates indicated in the schedule. There is a 10% per working day penalty for late labs. Under no circumstances will reports will be accepted after the last day of classes as printed in the College schedule.

Student Survey Requirement:

Students have the responsibility to complete the Student Survey and Course/Instructor Evaluation for each course and each instructor every semester. If this in not done during the allotted time period, the student will be restricted from seeing their final course grade for a period of approximately one week after final exams have ended. Instructors are not allowed to give course grades to those who did not complete these evaluations. Also, no grades of any kind will be given out over the telephone or email due to federal privacy laws.