Please prepare for this topic by reading the following document:
Announcements: Truman has programs to help you stop smoking
The Courage to Quit group will be meet from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. today, Feb. 15 in Lecture Hall C, room 3641, facilitated by JP Jael of Asian Human Services and Karen Caldwell-Littleton, the Truman Wellness Center manager.
The Wellness Center will continue to partner with Asian Human Services to provide ongoing support to individuals and groups. The grant funding the Courage to Quit program for Asian Human Services will expire by March, but they have offered to continue working with Truman to provide some support, including ongoing smoking cessation support groups and distribution of the current supply of materials.
If you cannot attend today’s session you may call Karen Caldwell-Littleton (773) 907 4045. The wellness center is in room 177 in our new building.
Physical Science 107: Jeopardy
Please visit this page to find a link to the jeopardy game on unit one:
http://justonly.com/physci/ps107/lessons/jeopardy/index.php
Let me know if this file format is ok. This is a powerpoint file.
Chemistry 201: Small Group Sessions on Thursday
Two small group problem solving sessions are scheduled for Thursday. One will be at 9:30 am. The other will be at 1:00 pm.
Small group sessions are an excellent way to go over the techniques for problem solving at your own pace.
Small group sessions meet in my office – Room 3826.
Chem 201: Website for practicing equation balancing
http://chemistry.csudh.edu/lechelpcs/rxnbalancingcsn7.html
Let me know if you like it.
Physical Science 107: Ozone Lesson
Notes, take away points and a very short powerpoint have all been added to the ozone lesson. This lesson is now complete. Please go over the contents of this lesson to be sure you have learned the main facts and concepts.
Physical Science 107: The Ozone Hole
From the background information listed in the lesson the most important piece is the video that is the second link. Everyone should watch this video.
Scholarship: Hispanic Students Scholarship Opportunity
I was given this link for a scholarship. It is specifically for Hispanic students going into STEM. It is a one time $2,000 scholarship. The deadline is on March 15th.
http://www.alliancescholars.org/applications/
P.S. STEM means Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.
Chemistry 201: First Small Group Study Session
The first small group study session will be held in my office (Room 3826) on Thursday February 9th at 4PM.
Physical Science 107: Funny Video About Climate Change
I think you will enjoy watching this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gtnu9b701RE
and we can discuss what this is saying about the pubic understanding of climate change.
Chem 201: Pink Slime
I will be discussing the chemistry of this article in class on Monday. You might find it interesting…
Physical Science 107: Please check the schedule after each class
The schedule of the course: http://justonly.com/physci/ps107/schedule.php is being filled out as we go along so it is always changing as new information is added. Because I’m teaching this course for the first time I am learning how long each lesson takes. I’ve put up the date of the first unit test. The test will cover lessons 1,2,3 and4. Here are some tips to be ready:
1. Be sure you can answer the questions in each unit. If you don’t understand something ask about it in class!
2. Read at least two newspaper stories, more if you can, and write summaries in your journal. The goal of this class is to improve your understanding of CURRENT PUBLIC issues in Physical Science – and so I want to help you understand these news articles better.
3. Develop your glossary. Nobody knows all the words in the English language – but we are always learning new words. As you are reading pick out some words whose meanings you don’t know well – and look them up in a dictionary (book or online). Write the definitions in the glossary section of your journal.
4. On your own – follow the background links – as many as you can. Look around at these websites. Watch any videos that are posted. All this exposure to information will help you develop good questions to ask in class!
5. COME to class. Missing class is the worst thing you can do in this course. If you are there and you are participating you will do well. Be there or be square:-)
See you next class!
Chemistry 201: Prep for Quiz One
Here is a check list to help you prepare for the first quiz on Monday:
1. Be able to state the difference between a hypothesis and a theory and a law.
2. Be able to determine if a change is a physical change or a chemical change (hint: chemical changes involve the making and/or breaking of chemical bonds).
3. Know the following metric prefices: Giga, Mega, Kilo, milli, micro, nano, pico (and you should also know centi- for centimeters).
4. Be able to do density problems. There is a drill sheet on density in the review section of the handouts.
5. Review the rules about significant figures but I will not be taking points off for errors with sig. figs. in this first quiz.
6. Be able to describe electrons, protons and neutrons (charge, location, relative mass) and also be able to describe the three main types of radioactive decay products (alpha particles, beta particles and gamma rays)
7. Review isotopic notation. Pay special attention to the equation 2.2 on page 45 and Example 2-3.
8. Be able to convert grams to moles and moles to grams.
9. Be able to determine how many particles are present given the mass of a compound.
10. Be able to calculate percent by mass of an element in a compound e.g. what percentage by mass is oxygen in water.
Physical Science 107: Lesson One
Students in this course have amazing energy. You are asking great questions! You are all coming to class and participating with wonderful enthusiam. This makes teaching lots of fun! Thank you.
This week we finished lesson one. On Monday and Tuesday both sections will begin lesson two: Ground Level Air Pollution. Follow this checklist to ensure that you are ready for lesson two.
1. Visit lesson one on the website. I’ve added some more information. I put up the powerpoint with large slides (student request). Go through each slide on the powerpoint to make sure you understand the main ideas that are presented in the diagrams. We did not cover the last four slides.
2. Read the Take Away (Main) Points I’ve added at the bottom of the page. This will help you organize all the information in lesson one.
3. Go over the questions and answer them in your journal.
This completes lesson one. The last four slides at the end of the powerpoint were not covered. One was about wind. One was about world climate. Do not be concerned with these slides at this time - we will discuss them in other lessons.
1. Visit lesson two on the website.
2. Read the posted NEWS articles.
3. Write down any questions you have about these articles.
4. Visit some of the background links and take a look at them. We will discuss this material in class.
Happy Learning!!
P.S. Remember, you can send me email anytime (jwalker@ccc.edu). I will answer it.
Phy Sci 107: How to Prepare for Class
In order to gain the most from the lectures it is so important to come to class prepared. I am still hearing from students that they cannot find information on the website. So here are some quick links:
Our course website:
http://justonly.com/physci/ps107/index.php
Lesson One: Earth’s Atmosphere
http://justonly.com/physci/ps107/lessons/atmosphere.php
What should you do to prepare for class?
Read the Lecture notes.
Look over the powerpoint slides.
Read the questions and think about them.
Read the news articles or other media.
Visit the background websites – see what they are about.
Learn everything you can about Earth’s Atmosphere.
What do we know so far??
Both classes have learned that the atmosphere is composed of two main ingredients – two gases – Nitrogen (78%) and Oxygen(21%) and that Oxygen is the reactive gas and Nitrogen is non-reactive.
Monday’s class has begun to learn about the layers of the atmosphere.
Chemistry 201: Rusty Squirrels
Here is a photo taken in Duluth, MN. This is an area full of iron ores – so much so that the land is the color of rust.
You can see evidence of iron by the color of the river and rocks.
Here are the rusty squirrels I mentioned in class. The squirrels have figured out how to blend in with their lovely coats that are a perfect match for iron oxide.
Rusty Squirrels Blend in with Iron Rich Terraine
Taconite is the most common ore in this area.
Chemistry 201: A new semester begins…
Because of the holiday Chemistry 201 met only once and spent a fair amount of that first class taking a test. Why? Because in order to be successful in Chemistry 201 it is critical to have a good foundation in Basic Chemistry – names of the elements, basic structure of matter, simple chemical equations, nomenclature of inorganic compounds, the metric system and it is also critical to have a good foundation is basic algebra – rearrange equations of solve for an unknown, carry out conversions, use proportional reasoning. Any student who is not very comfortable with these skills should immediately seek out support and hit the books! (and the Internet – there are so many useful videos, worksheets, explanations)
On Monday we will have our first lab so be sure to download and print it! We’ll be analyzing an unknown white powder – one of several common household white powders: sugar, baking soda, etc.
Having a laboratory notebook is very, very important! Please bring it to every class.
Gardening: January Sights
This morning I noticed my lavender and thyme are still growing. This is pretty amazing for January. I also enjoyed seeing some beautiful ice crystals on the greenhouse.
Lavender and Thyme in January
Crystals are so interesting with a display of tremendous order and yet each crystal formation is unique.
Ice Crystals
CSI:Truman – Course in Instrumental Analysis
Introduction to Instrumental Analysis offered at Truman College
65576 Chemistry 217 LM 8:30 – 2:30 PM Friday (Prof. Abrams) 4 credits
Prerequisite: one semester of Organic Chemistry
Going into Pharmacy? Nutrition? Physical Therapy? practical experience with instrumentation is a great addition for your resume. This course is also part of an A.A.S. degree in Chemical Technology.
Learn to use state-of-the-art scientific instrumentation in a brand new lab/studio. Create a portfolio of real-world laboratory reports suitable for job interviews. Use IR, GC-MS, 2D-NMR. Email Professor Charlie Abrams, cabrams@ccc.edu, for more information.
New Semester Begins in 26 days…
It seems a long way off but now is the time to being to prepare for your new classes. Early preparation can consist of light review, reading and media viewing that is more fun than work, browsing around the Internet following your interests. The idea is to keep your mind active and develop your curiosity. Once the semester begins you will not be able to control the pace of the learning you are expected to achieve – but you can now!