GOVERNOR'S SCHOOL CHEMISTRY

SYLLABUS

2007-2008

Instructor: M. Gwen Sibert

Office Phone: 540-853-2116
Fax: 540-853-1056
Email: gsibert@rvgs.k12.va.us

I. COURSE INFORMATION

A. Course Description:

1. Topics include:

Governor's School Chemistry explores the fundamental laws, theories, and mathematical concepts of chemistry and uses lab-based modules in materials science to complement and extend traditional topics. Topics studied include: structure and states of matter, atomic theory, types of reactions, thermodynamics, equilibrium, gas laws, and descriptive chemistry. There is an emphasis on the laboratory experience as a primary means for the development of chemical concepts.

2. Interdisciplinary relationships:

Experimental design, gathering of data, and the use of statistics to analyze the data is studied jointly with Integrated Mathematics and Fundamentals of Research. Emphasis is also placed on information retrieval and the use of computers to acquire and analyze data. Multimedia used includes CD-ROM, laser discs, the Internet, and video tapes.

B. Printed Resources/Media Resources:

C. References:

II. GRADING POLICIES

A. Grading Scale:

B. Types of Evaluations:

1. Laboratory:  the laboratory experience will be the means by which most topics will be introduced. Students will be expected to read all material pertinent to the upcoming laboratory experiment before doing the experiment. Each student will record all information pertaining to the experiment in his/her laboratory notebook. (see Keeping the Laboratory Notebook)

2. Enabling Objective Quizzes:  Quiz formats will include both traditional "paper and pencil" quizzes and "performance-based assessments". Retakes are allowed; however, the maximum grade recorded for a retake is 80%, and must be taken within one week from the date the item is returned to the student (unless prior arrangements were made with the instructor). An additional assignment may be required by the instructor in order to receive the opportunity of a retake; this assignment must be completed within the time required by the instructor. It is the student's responsibility to arrange an appointment outside of class time if additional one-on-one time is needed with the instructor to sufficiently master the relevant material.

3. Competency-based tests:  Tests will be given periodically to assess work covered over an extended length of time. Material included on a given test will have been previously assessed using other formats. Tests cannot be retaken. Generally, three or more tests, including a final, are given per trimester. Tests are most often closed book, closed note, individual assessments, but other forms including open book, cooperative work, or take home may be used on occasion.

4. Homework/Classwork:  Homework will be checked on a regular basis; however, not all assignments will be collected. It is the student's responsibility to complete all work assigned. Unless otherwise stated, homework should be completed before the beginning of the class period. Long-term problem sets may be collected and graded; opportunities will be provided for students to ask questions before the due date of the assignment.

5. Time Management/Class Participation:  This category includes an evaluation of class participation and attention to others in discussions and working cooperatively with others during experiments and group projects. A rubric will be provided to students to inform them of the expectations of the instructor.

6. Safety:  The students will be evaulated on how ell they follow laboratory safety rules and practice correct (safe) laboratory techniques.

C. Semester Grade Determination:

    Laboratory Reports
    Enabling Objective Quizzes
    Competency-based Tests
    Homework/Classwork
    Time Management/Class Participation
    Safety
25%
20%
25%
15%
5%
5%

D. Final Grade Determination:

E. Bell Curve Statement:

Grades at the Governor's School are based upon individual student performance. They are not determined by any normal distribution (bell) curve.

III. COURSE POLICIES

A. Competency Mastery:

The students will be made aware of what competencies and enabling objectives are being covered at any particular time. The assignments, quizzes, and tests will reflect the content of the competencies and enabling objectives. Students who obtain a 70% score or greater on a quiz or test will be considered to have minimally achieved the particular enabling objectives and competencies in question.

B. Class Policies and Procedures:

1. Late work - Ten percent per day will be deducted for work turned in late, up to a max of fifty percent, unless the instructor has granted an extension because of extenuating circumstances. A signed note from a parent/guardian must accompany all late work acknowledging that he/she knows it is being turned in late.

2. Assignment schedule - Information relating to the course including class schedule, assignments, due dates, etc. can be found on the GSC website (http://www.chem.vt.edu//RVGS/GSC/GSC-home.html) It is expected that students will check the calendar on a regular basis and record assignments in their daily planners

3. Flash drive - Each student is encouraged to have his/her own USB "flash" drive for use in this class. When a small group of students is doing a cooperative activity on the computer, each student should save the data and/or results on his/her flash drive and file server account immediately after the activity is concluded. Nothing should ever be saved on the hard drive of the computer being used.

4. Homework may include written work and/or reading assignments. It is just as important to do all reading assignments as it is written ones. Failure to do so is usually apparent during the progress of the class, in class discussions, lab preparation, and reports, quizzes, and tests.

5. Laboratory safety is of vital importance. Safety rules will be followed at all times. A student's failure to follow safety guidelines will result in his/her dismissal from the laboratory for the remainder of the experiment. A second dismissal will require a meeting of the student with Dr. Watson and the instructor.

6. Help needed - The instructor serves as a facilitator for student learning. Help often takes the form of an answer to a question, or a leading question, or teacher-student group brainstorming. Students are reminded that after-school appointments and workshops are available when extra help is needed. All GSC instructors are committed to helping students one-on-one when needed and are available for help before or after school with prior notice and scheduling. It is important to schedule an appointment to insure that the instructor will be free to help.

7. The Student Performance Strategy will provide the guidelines for intervention in the event that a student's classroom performance drops below a B.

8. Food and drinks are allowed only with permission of the teacher in the desk area of the classroom. The same rule goes for iPods, cell phones, etc.

9. Computer Usage: Students are expected to follow the RVGS policies related to computer usage and respect for school and individual computer files. The guidelines listed in the "Computer Technologies Policy Perspective" will be rigorously followed.

10. The policy stated in the RVGS Student Handbook on absences and tardies will be rigorously followed.

11. Work is due on the first day the student returns to class after an absence, unless illness prevents it (and the instructor has been contacted). It is expected that the student will initiate contact with the instructor, prior to the date when the work is due, to work out agreed upon deadlines for turning in late work in the case of extenuating circumstances.

12. Interim reports will be distributed to report student progress. Students will be informed of their progress informally at various points throughout each semester and grades will be posted online and updated every two to three weeks.

13. Class instructional methods will include the use of cooperative learning, small and large group projects, computer-aided-instruction (CAI), and laboratory experimentation. Some of the laboratory experimentation will be done individually, other will be in groups of two to four students.

14. Alternative assessment methods will be used to evaluate students performance approximately 50% of the time. A rubric will be provided with the assignment so that students will know exactly what is expected of them.

15. Each RVGS student receives a copy of the significant figure rules and the rounding rules that he/she will apply in Governor's School classes. This copy should be kept in the student's course notebook for future reference.

16. Cheating is not tolerated at RVGS. All students are expected to submit individual work, unless specific permission has been given by the instructor to work with others or use notes on a quiz or test. Cheating includes coppying a work from any source (another student in the class, a student who attended the class in a prior year, a text, or the internet) and representing it as your own. Any student who knowingly assisting another in cheating (I.e. letting the student copy his paper) is subject to administrative action as well.