CHEMCOM OUTLINE - Chemistry in the Community
MR. KONIECZKO, INSTRUCTOR
BRUNSWICK HIGH SCHOOL
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Course Overview.
ChemCom is a full year course designed to enhance science literacy by emphasizing the application of chemistry to societal issues. This class will prepare the student to take an introductory level chemistry course in college or in vocational school. While this course is normally taken during the junior year, many seniors may also take the class. Sophomores are not to take this class without permission of their guidance counselors. This is a demanding course and most students who pass have at least taken Algebra I, and are currently enrolled in a higher math course. If you did not pass Algebra I, you might want to reconsider waiting to take ChemCom at a later time. Mathematics is the language and foundation of all the physical sciences, including chemistry and much of the success in this course will depend on your use of mathematics.
Each of ChemCom's eight units will focus on a chemistry related technological issue currently confronting our society and the world. The study issue serves as a basis for introducing the chemistry needed to understand and analyze it. The major ChemCom topics are:
1. Supplying Our Water Needs
2. Conserving Chemical Resources
3. Petroleum: To Burn? To Build?
4. Understanding Food
5. Nuclear Chemistry in Our World
6. Living in a Sea of Air: Chemistry and the Atmosphere
7. Personal Chemistry and Choices
8. The Chemical Industry: Promise and Challenge
The eight units include major concepts, vocabulary, critical thinking skills, and the laboratory skills and techniques expected in any introductory chemistry course. This program, however, contains a greater number and variety of student-oriented activities than is customary as chemical principles are presented on a "need to know" basis. In addition to numerous laboratory exercises, including many developed especially for the course, each unit contains three levels of decision-making activities and several types of problem-solving techniques. This will not be a spectator class! You will need to participate in all areas of the course on a daily basis in order to meet your expectations. It is my sincere hope that the class will be substantial and lasting and that those who study ChemCom will find chemistry interesting, captivating, challenging and useful.
Absences. Any absence (regardless of the reason) is a loss to the individual, as instructional time is reduced to zero for that period of time. In an effort to minimize the damage, you should take the following steps prior to, or, on the day you return:
1. Check http://www.gwi.net/~dkoniecz/cchw.htm for reading and homework assignments.
2. Ask someone in your class for any notes you might have missed.
3. Check the in class board for assignments, announcements, etc.
4. Check with me after class for further clarifications of previous assignments.
Make-up exams. Make up exams will be given the Wednesday of the week following the regular exam. These makeup's are only for students who were absent on the day the regular exam was given. These exams will be administered from 2:30 - 3:20 PM at a single location on that one day only. The date will be announced and/or put on the board ahead of time, enabling you to inform employers, coaches, other teachers, and the main office of this obligation and to reschedule any conflicting activities, as well as make arrangements for transportation, if necessary.
Tardiness. Anyone who is not in the room when the bell rings will be marked as tardy. There are no exceptions to this policy. Offenders will be dealt with on an individual basis. If you enter late for a quiz, without a pass, you cannot take the quiz. You will lose grade points for excessive tardiness (excessive means more than two tardies in a term).
Eating in Class. There will be no eating or drinking in the classroom. Anyone who eats or drinks will be posing a safety hazard as we will be dealing with poisons and toxic materials on a regular basis.
When Class Begins. Class begins immediately after the bell sounds, when I normally take attendance, go over homework and answer any questions. Students arriving tardy after that time will be hindering progress and/or interfering with lab safety. In addition to automatically disqualifying themselves from taking a quiz, those students may be referred to an appropriate administrator for further action. Once class begins, do not get up to sharpen a pencil, get paper, or anything else that will interrupt the class. I expect the class to be absolutely quiet during my lectures, and you are to raise your hand if you wish to ask a question or contribute to the discussion. There will at no time be any horseplay, i.e., inappropriate behavior, or immediate actions will be taken.
Heading on Papers. Each homework paper, quiz, test, and lab report turned in must have a proper heading. If the heading is not exactly as shown below, points will be deducted.
TESTS: Simply fill in the information in the spaces provided in the appropriate places.
QUIZZES: In the upper right corner of your paper.
Name
Date
Period
HOMEWORK: In the upper right corner of your paper
Name
Date
Period
Pages and problem numbers
LAB REPORTS: See directions in the lab manual or follow the directions as given. If no directions are given, use the homework format, except use the lab title in place of the pages and problem numbers line.
Grading. Each student will be evaluated according to the criteria below. Grades cannot be determined for individuals during class time, but you are welcome to see me at a mutually agreed to time to review your grades.
TESTS = 30%
QUIZZES = 15%
LABS, LAB REPORTS and LAB QUIZZES = 35%
HOMEWORK = 10%
CLASS MANAGEMENT/NOTEBOOK = 10%
Notes: CLASS MANAGEMENT will be based upon attitude, behavior, participation, daily preparedness (to include bringing to class and maintaining a notebook), and tardiness. Repeated lack of attendance (excused or unexcused) may have a severe effect upon the student's grade. Any laboratory exercise will receive a grade of ZERO if a lab report is not turned in on time.
Tests. You will be given at least two days' notice prior to a test. You may use a non-programmable calculator on any test (unless otherwise indicated), but you may not share a calculator with your neighbor! I do not provide calculators. Your tests will be graded and should be returned within two class days.
Quizzes. Quizzes will be announced or unannounced. They are generally based upon reading assignments, notes, vocabulary and/or problems given earlier. Lab quizzes are a part of the lab problems. You will be given a pre-lab quiz prior to each lab and a minimum passing grade of 60% is required in order for you to participate in the scheduled lab. If you fail to make 60% you will be given an alternate “dry” lab to complete for your lab grade. You may complete a maximum of two dry labs in a term. Failure to achieve a minimum of 60% on the third and subsequent term labs will result in a lab grade of zero.
Testing Conditions. Certain conditions must be maintained while examinations are being given. If these conditions are not maintained, the evaluation cannot be valid. Therefore, if a student breaks any of the following rules governing testing conditions they could receive a zero with no make-up as your grade will be determined at the discretion of the teacher and may not be related to your performance on the test. The following conditions are mandated:
* NO TALKING DURING THE ENTIRE TEST PERIOD. This will reflect on class management.
* NO DISCUSSION OF ANSWERS - WITH THE TEACHER OR WITH OTHER STUDENTS
* NO SHARING OF BOOKS, CALCULATORS, NOTES, ETC.
* NO LOOKING AT ANOTHER STUDENT'S WORK.
No questions regarding the content of the test or quiz will be answered once you begin. If there is an obvious mistake or an unfair question on the test, a ruling will be made after the test is over. The questions mean exactly what they say, so please do not ask for 'clarifications' or read anything else into the question. If you finish early, turn the test and answer sheet face down and read from your books, etc., but do not talk.
Homework. When homework is assigned, it is expected that you will have it done by the time you get to class on the next day. Homework may not be collected every time it is assigned, but we will go over it the same day that it is collected. Late homework papers will not be accepted!
Outside Help. If you need extra help, you can come in after school from 2:30 - 2:40, or after 2:40 by appointment. If you come in for help, try to ask specific questions, rather than just saying that you don't understand anything that we have done. Bring any notes and problem work that you have done up to that point in time. While it is generally not necessary to make an appointment, please let me know your intentions if you plan to come in for outside help, as I may have conflicting obligations, such as detention, faculty or department meetings, committee meetings, etc.
Organization. You are expected to organize yourself to succeed in the study of chemistry. This includes setting up daily priorities in your schedule. Make sure that you schedule your time in such a way that chemistry is studied (in a quiet place, free of distractions) at least one hour a day, every day. This course is planned to include new material, topics and/or assessments every class day. DO NOT ALLOW YOURSELF TO GET BEHIND!!!!!
Laboratory Guidelines. Once you have passed the safety exam (required of all students before they can begin participation in laboratory exercises) you will need to do some advanced study of the lab exercises prior to the day they are assigned. Laboratory exercises will be announced at least one day in advance. To be eligible to participate, each student must:
1. Have the data chart(s) for the lab neatly drawn (with a ruler). This is to be turned in upon arrival to class. This will be returned to the student and must be a part of the lab report write-up. Points will not be given if the original data table is not included in the write-up.
2. Pass the pre-lab quiz given prior to each lab.
The lab report write-up due date will be announced. No late work will be accepted. As in the case of quizzes, both the lab quiz and the lab are considered a part of your classroom participation in the course, and as such, cannot be made up in the event of absence(s). The purpose of requiring data tables and giving lab quizzes in advance is to insure that you are aware of and understand the safety requirements for each exercise (in addition to helping you organize your time more prudently by anticipating things). If, however, you behave in such a manner so as (in the opinion of the teacher) to pose a health or safety threat to yourself or others, you will jeopardize your future in the class.
When a lab is missed by an absence, it can be made up (maximum of two) only if the absence is approved by the administration of the school. The original lab will not be done. In its place a dry lab or exercise will be substituted and graded. The due date will be assigned at the time the make-up is given. We expect to do from 5-9 labs a quarter. They are necessary experiences without which chemistry cannot be understood. All labs missed beyond two cannot be made up and will be assigned a grade of zero.
When you have difficulties, discuss them with your teacher. Explanations and alternatives can arise during the discussion.
Classroom Rules Observed.
1. Please be on time and ready for class when the bell rings.
2. Always sit in your assigned seat unless given permission to move.
3. There will be NO FOOD, DRINKS, OR GUM in any science class. (Class management)
4. Please raise your hand to speak.
5. Do not annoy or interfere with other students in any way.
6. Use an appropriate voice (tone, volume, proper language).
7. Be attentive to the teacher (eye contact, participation).
8. Respect each other's differences.
9. Class will be dismissed by the teacher and not strictly by the bell.
Class Responsibilities.
1. Books are to be covered at all times. Automatic detention if not.
2. Always bring to class every day:
a. your notebook.
b. a binder with lined paper and dividers (8).
c. a functional writing instrument.
d. your completed homework assignment.
3. Clean up after yourself (especially in lab) by putting all materials back where you found them.
Discipline Plan. Violations of these rules and policies will result in disciplinary action, which may include any of the following depending on the severity of the violation.
Verbal warning; 15 or 30 minute detention either that day or the next day; parents notified of 1 hour detention that day or the next day; students will be sent directly to the principal's office for further consequences.
(NOTE: This same plan will be in effect if there is a substitute teacher.)
Student Responsibilities.
1. Read each chapter at least twice before taking a test.
2. Listen carefully to classroom discussions.
3. Take notes in class and from the textbook as you read it.
4. Review daily your class notes and textbook notes.
5. Outline your chapters for an easy organized review.
6. Develop vocabulary lists and use the words.
7. Find a good place to study. Avoid interruptions.
8. Develop a study schedule for yourself and stick to it.
9. Please feel free to ask for extra help. I am available most days after school.
Availability. I will be available to you from 7:15 - 7:50 in the morning for extra help. Please see me at least a day in advance for morning help. I will also be available after school on most days from 2:30 - 3:15. Please let me know ahead of time if you will be stopping by. Should you, or your parents need to call me, I can be reached at 798-5500 ext 233. The best time to call is immediately after school. You may also e-mail me at DKonieczko@brunswick.k12.me.us.
Mr. Konieczko