CHEM 1151L - Survey of Chemistry Laboratory I
Course Syllabus - Fall, 2007

---

| Course description | Objectives | Outcomes | Term | Instructor information | Class meetings |
| Lab Materials | Assessments | Make-Up/Late Work | Lecture Requirement | Evaluation |
| Grading |  Course schedule | Course policies | 

---

Individuals with disabilities who need to request accommodations should contact the Disability Services Coordinator, Student Center Room 255, 678-466-5445, disabilityservices@clayton.edu.

Course Description:

Number and Title:

Chemistry 1151L (CRN 85593, 85594, 85595, 85596, 85597, 85598, 85599, 85600, 85601, 85602, 86147)
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  (CRN 85588, 85589, 85590, 85591, 85592, 86146)

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.
Braun's campus e-mail address is jimbraun@clayton.edu.  This course has a web page which can be accessed through Braun's home page at http://a-s.clayton.edu/braun/default.html.  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 use a Web browser and Search Engine (Internet Explorer®)

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

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

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

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.

Course Objectives:

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.

Student 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 2007

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.  

---

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.

Laboratory Schedule:

Course Policies:

Homework:  The lab meets in the designated room at the designated time.  You are to complete the assigned laboratory exercise at that time.  The instructor cannot guarantee the possibility of a make-up lab.  Your laboratory experiments should be prepared.  This includes pre-lab reading and preparation, performing the experiment, collection and proper recording of data and observations, conclusions, answers to all questions and clean-up as well as the experiment write-up.  Points will be lost for late work received at the rate of 10% per day of the week.

Reports:  Reports are due at the beginning of the next laboratory period, unless announced differently by the instructor in class or through e-mail.  The report is considered late if submitted 5 minutes after the class begins by the instructor's watch.  This means that after 5 minutes the report is considered one day late and the penalty is 10% per day. The report should include the data sheet and the laboratory report sheet with all questions answered.  These sheets are supplied as a computer "form" accessible from the course web page.  The forms should be typed and printed and submitted on time.  Reports will not be accepted via e-mail.  The student is expected to spend time outside of the laboratory on the report sheet.  Proper writing skills are expected.  Points will be lost for poor grammar, spelling, writing, etc.  and/or the instructor may request that the report be redone.  Points will be lost for late reports at the rate of 10% per day of the week.  Reports are considered late if not handed in at the beginning of the next laboratory period.  No reports will be accepted after the last day of classes as printed in the College schedule.  

Group Work:  We will normal work in small groups in the laboratory.  It is each individual's responsibility to insure that everyone in the group participates in all aspects of the experiment.  You are responsible for cleaning all equipment used and keeping the lab neat and clean.  Points may be deducted for failure to wear safety glasses while physically in the laboratory, for messy labs, late reports, horseplay in lab, etc., at the discretion of the instructor.
Even though we may perform the experiment in groups, and even though we encourage an exchange of ideas for comprehension of the laboratory exercise, all reports must be of an individual nature.  Written work must be original and must be the individual's expression of the results and understanding of the laboratory concepts.  Work that has been copied from another individual will result in the lowering of both scores.

Risk:  Participation in laboratory activities involves an inherent risk of injury.  In the event of injury, the student should immediately inform the instructor who will contact the Campus Public Safety Officer.  The officer will file an accident report and administer first aid or contact appropriate medical help.

Note:  The instructor reserves the right to alter the laboratory schedule as he sees fit.  Students must participate in the laboratory in order to successfully complete the course.

Calculators:  Electronic calculators are permitted and most likely needed for completion of the laboratory exercise. Calculators limited to addition, subtraction, multiplication and division are sufficient. The battery and working of your calculator will be your responsibility. You will find it useful to have your calculator while in the laboratory.

Attendance:  Class roll will be taken and attendance is required. You are also responsible for all attendance requirements for external programs (i.e. financial aid). It is your responsibility to sign the roll sheet at every class meeting you attend. This roll sheet is the instructor's official record. You must complete all laboratory exercises or make specific alternate arrangements with the instructor. Students should be in the laboratory at the start of the laboratory class period. Information, techniques and changes to the experiment are often discussed at the start of the period and should not be missed. If a student is tardy to lab, the instructor may deduct points from that lab report or may refuse to allow the student to complete the laboratory experiment.

Computers:  Every student on campus is required to have access to a laptop computer. This computer gives you access to e-mail and access to the World Wide Web (WWW). This course has a web page which can be accessed through Dr. Braun’s home page at http://a-s.clayton.edu/braun/Chem1151LFolder/Chem1151L.htm.  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 access the computer "on-line" forms for the laboratory experiments. It is your responsibility to become familiar with these materials.

Your instructor may have access to more font sets than your computer currently holds. Therefore, your first computer assignment is to access the "Font Remedy" reference on the course web page and download these fonts to your computer. This will be important when viewing the laboratory sheets to be sure you are getting the correct data.

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 e-mail. Do not send time-sensitive information via e-mail—use the old system of the telephone. A delivered e-mail message does not relieve you of the responsibility of informing the instructor about some concern. On the other hand, the instructor may send e-mail messages 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.

Academic irregularity:  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/studentlife/judicial_affairs.htm.

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® word processing program and print them to be submitted to the instructor. Make-up laboratories are at the discretion of the instructor. Points may be deducted for late laboratory reports at the rate of 10% per day of the week.

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

As a courtesy to your classmates:

1.      Arrive to lab on time and stay until the exercise is complete.

2.      No children or visitors are allowed in the Laboratory.

3.      Turn off beepers, phones, radios and other electronic devices.  If one of these devices does go off during class, the offending student may be penalized by:

            1. Having points deducted from his/her grade

            2. Being asked to leave the room and being reported for disruptive behavior.

4.      No eating, smoking or drinking in the laboratory. No food is allowed in the laboratory.

5.      Be aware of all policies and procedures.

Make-ups / Late Work:  All of the 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. The lab meets in Business and Health Sciences Room C-48 at the time designated above. You are to complete the assigned lab exercise during this time period. The instructor cannot guarantee the possibility of a make-up lab. Experiments include pre-lab reading and preparation, performing the experiment (viewing videotape during renovations), collection and proper recording of data and observations, conclusions, and answers to all questions, as well as the experiment write-up. Points will be lost for late work received at the rate of 10% per working day.

Lab reports will be due at the beginning of the next laboratory period, unless announced differently by the instructor in the lab. The report should include the data sheet and the laboratory report sheet with all questions answered. These sheets are supplied as computer "forms" accessible from the course web page. The forms should be typed and printed and submitted on time. The forms will not be accepted by e-mail. The student is expected to spend time outside of the laboratory working on the report sheet. Proper writing skills are expected. Points will be lost for poor grammar, spelling, writing, etc, and/or the instructor may request that the report be redone. Points will be lost for late reports at the rate of 10% per day of the week. Reports are considered late if not handed in at the beginning of the next laboratory period. No reports will be accepted after the last day of classes as printed in the College schedule.

Even though we perform the experiments in groups, and even though we encourage an exchange of ideas for comprehension of laboratory exercises, all reports must be of an individual nature. Written work must be original and must be the individual's expression of the results and understanding of the laboratory concepts. Work that has been copied from another individual will result in the lowering of both scores and possible action by the College Judicial Board of Review.

The instructor reserves the right to alter the laboratory schedule as he or she sees fit. Students must participate in the laboratory in order to successfully complete the course.

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.

 

Last update: August 16, 2007