This course is a non-threatening/experience building way to learn Chemistry. The highest math needed for this course is a good grasp of Algebra. I will help students learn how to use their calculators to work the more complex formulas. I use a white-board and a marker to explain the concepts. This forces me to break each concept down into its most understandable elements.
I carve the course up into 4 areas. The first area is known as the "basics". In this area we review material that may or may not have been previously learned and hit on the points that will be needed in future lessons.
In the second area we delve into Stoichiometry and while in a traditional Chemistry class these lessons would be interspersed for "stress" reasons I hit on all of them together. I want students to be able to see how the material builds. Far too many times students hear "The material builds so keep up!" and then the material obviously does not build. I fight this Boy Who Cried Wolf syndrome by purposefully putting all of the stoichiometry material together in one area. This is by far the most difficult part of the course and can be interrupted as necessary by going to future "stand alone" lessons.
In the third area I focus on the formulaic chapters of Chemistry like the Gas Laws and Water. Areas that can feel more like Physics, but where the two subjects overlap. Again, the only math needed here is a good grasp of Algebra.
In the last area I focus on "clean up". I do hit on areas that are very stand alone and do fit a standard pathway in the curricula. I also return to some content that is usually taught earlier, but I feel is easier to understand later in the Chemistry course rather than earlier.
I hope you see that I have put a lot of thought and 22-years of teaching experience into an on-line course that will help your student better understand Chemistry. This class should prepare them if they wish to continue their run through Chemistry into an AP or an undergraduate course. REALLY wish I had this when I was their age :)
The data:
- 31 Lessons complete with a Review.
- Focus is on Stoichiometry as it is the hardest piece of learning chemistry.
- Over 12 hours of video that needs to be paused so please allow 20 hours of computer time for the course.
- Several worksheets and practice problems to do on your own that will require 15-20 more hours.
- Three "tests" at the end that incorperate material from four different States' end of course exams.
- Practice Problems are incorperated into the lectures as appropriate as well in a separate video directly after the lesson. Students are notified to "pause" before the explinations are given. This is much better as students are less likely to get into bad habits because they will immediately know probelm by problem where they are going wrong.
- No matter if this is the only chemistry class you take or if you continue on (even to University) I have created a curriculum that will prepare you.
Proposed Audience:
Instruction is performed at the high school level, but this course can be used by students in their first year of College or Community College who are having trouble understanding the material. This can also be used as a prep or refresher course before AP Chemistry or the as part of the prep before the test itself.
