CLASSROOM WEBSITE: weekly SCHEDULE BY TOPIC
Every Monday, you will log in to the classroom website where you will see everything you need for the week including video lectures and demonstrations, textbook readings, detailed chapter summaries, and assignments (homework, tests, quizzes, and labs). Assignments are due the following Monday evening.
My course is asynchronous in that it does not have fixed class times. Since all class materials are available 24/7, you will be able to set your own study schedule during the week. I've found that students like the flexibility that my course provides in that it does not interfere with their other classes and extracurricular activities.
To see full schedule, go to "Course Documents" (bottom of this page).
WebAssign® Digital Learning Platform
You will do your assignments using Cengage's WebAssign®, an online interactive homework and testing program. Used by over 2600 educational institutions, WebAssign® is considered to be the most sophisticated instructional system in the world. WebAssign is a great learning tool. As you answer the WebAssign questions, you will get immediate feedback on whether or not your answer is correct. Many questions have video explanations, hints, and solutions to further ensure that you understand every topic before you go on to the next one. My assignments are designed for you to mindfully practice what you are learning. There is no busy work in my class!
VIDEO LECTURES AND DEmonstrations
You will watch short, highly focused, and well-delivered video lectures and demonstrations that provide clear explanations of important chemistry topics. I do many of my own videos, but also curate some from top schools including MIT. Others are done by a well-known chemistry lecturer whose quirky sense of humor keeps students engaged. I narrate and annotate the videos to point out their relevance to AP® Chemistry. In the following video, I explain a difficult multiple choice (MC) question on Bond Energy.
online discussion board
You will ALWAYS be able to get individual, personalized help in my class through my online discussion board which is available 24/7.
With its multi-media capabilities, my class forum acts as an instructional meeting place that goes beyond the simple text-message format. When students have questions, they are able to show their work, making it possible for me and my TAs to give in-depth answers through the use of diagrams, videos, and links to helpful resources. My TAs and I monitor the discussion board throughout each day making sure that student questions are answered promptly.
AP Chemistry Practice Exams
The AP® Chemistry exam has very strict protocols and learning how to take the test is as important as knowing the material. I have carefully designed practice exams for every topic in AP® Chemistry. My multiple-choice (MC) and free-response (FRQ) practice tests look just like the real AP® Chemistry exam, so you will have many opportunities to work on the questions and get used to their unique format. After every test, there is a follow-up to fill in any gaps in your knowledge and sharpen your test-taking skills. In addition to the practice exams that I have written, you will have the opportunity to take every AP® Chemistry exam that has been released by the College Board for exclusive use by teachers whose courses have passed the College Board audit.
CHAPTER SUMMARIES
For each chapter in the textbook, I write a detailed summary with explanations and sample problems. My chapter summaries will guide your reading of the text by focusing on the important topics while skipping sections that are not part of the AP® curriculum. My chapter summaries also include topics that are on the AP® Chemistry Exam, but not covered in college textbooks. By the end of the year, you will have a binder that is a complete and perfect guide for your AP® Chemistry Exam review. Former students have used my chapter summaries to study for their MCATs!
More about my dedicated teaching assistanTS
My teaching assistants (TAs) play an integral role in the course. As former students who earned an A+ in the course and a "5" on the AP® exam, they have demonstrated mastery of the AP® Chemistry content. In addition to providing academic support, my TAs provide insights about the AP® Chemistry Exam that only a former student can provide. They are a caring, supportive and enthusiastic team committed to helping students do well in the course and on the AP® exam.
Global Community
Wherever you are, we are. I have taught AP® Chemistry to students from nearly every state in the US as well as other countries including England, Canada, Italy, Germany, Brazil, the Bahamas, Malaysia, Ecuador, South Korea, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, China, Indonesia, Lebanon, Hungary, Austria, Switzerland, Albania, India, Hong Kong, Egypt, Qatar, Colombia, Turkey, Bolivia, Philippines, Portugal, Kyrgyzstan, the UAE, Romania, Kuwait, the Republic of Georgia, Uruguay, Venezuela, South Africa, and the list keeps growing.
WEBASSIGN ONLINE GRADEBOOK
Each student has a confidential online grade book that is updated daily. Parents will be able to access the student's online grade book at any time, making it easy to follow student progress. The grade book shows the grades broken down by category (homework, tests, quizzes, labs) as well as the final exam and overall course grade. I use grade weighting to determine the Semester 1, Semester 2, Final Exam, and Final Course grades.