I checked my notes: I have sent 7 e-mail inquiries about SLO implementation but only heard back from 3 of them. It may be that they are waiting till they are less busy (I did say to take their time). I might send another set of e-mail, perhaps after finals week and during winter break.
Monday, November 10, 2014
Lab Manual Update
I have posted all of the final drafts (both annotated and clean) in pdf to the aflores LPC google drive. I will be sending a link and the following note to the instructors being requested to review them:
Hello,
All of you have taught Chemistry 30A some time in the past. As some of you may know, the 30A lab manual was originally authored by LPC's very own Jim Adams who did a tremendous amount of work developing these labs and writing up a very thorough lab manual.
These labs have not gone through revisions in the last several years and have only been available through a hard-copy of the lab manual itself and no editable electronic copy. I have been working on converting these files into editable electronic files and some revisions. Below are a summary and a request for review.
What changes have been made?
My main focus was to get the lab manual converted to an MS Word file and make revisions on some of the content, primarily changes in safety policy and equipment use. Some of these changes include:
1) Converting scanned hard copies of the labs to an editable MS Word file. As part of this, I scanned the lab manual to create pdf files of relatively good resolution for optical character recognition. I then used these to create the MS Word files and have to do some extensive clean-up of text, formatting, figures, tables, chemical formulas and equations, mathematical equations and calculation steps, molecular structure drawing, etc.
2) I then went to work on some content revisions:
a) Obvious typos
b) Incorporation of the most obvious changes to safety policy: no waste down the drain, use of limited fume hoods in 1807 where the 30A labs are now held, removal of mercury, replacement of some chemical reagents, etc.
c) Changes in amounts of chemicals used
d) Changes in chemical reagents used
e) Rewriting equipment instructions for newer equipment (e.g. pH meters)
f) Some procedural changes
g) Changes in procedure (e.g. using excel for collecting class data, creating plots, etc.)
3) I looked at some course lab schedules to determine which labs have not been done in the past several years. Those will be archived.
4) Removal of the copper-sulfur compound formation lab and other labs which cannot be done with the limited number of fume hoods in 1807
How did I come up with these changes?
I based many of these changes on my own class notes collected when I taught these labs. Some instructors and Gerry have also been sending me some comments that I have incorporated (more are welcome, see below). I also used Gerry’s prep sheets for reference.
What exactly are these changes?
I have attached a file listing all of the changes, comments I have received, and questions I have posed regarding other potential changes.
The annotated files which you can view contain:
1) line numbering for easy reference
2) Comments on changes and other questions
4) blue highlighted sections indicating changes (if the change is not obvious, it is usually accompanied by a comment)
5) yellow highlighted sections referring to page or part numbers (I did this to make it easier to change them later just in case pagination changes for the entire file).
How do I access these annotated files?
Click on the link:
https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B68k_dSaNrzmemEtRmR4dkYxVFk&usp=sharing
You can download the individual files from this site. Please let me know if you can't access these files.
What kind of feedback?
1) Anything I may have missed that are obvious typos, safety issue, etc. as I listed above
2) If I labeled a lab "archive" that you would like to keep, let me know.
3) I am not looking into making any other substantial changes (in wording, length, content, etc.) at this point but anything you think needs to be reworded for clarity, let me know.
How to send me comments:
1) After reviewing, you can send me an e-mail (please put lab number in the subject).
2) You can download the annotated files and if your pdf program has the capability, you can write your comments directly on the pdf document.
3) Any other way you think is easy for you.
Am I stuck with these changes?
These changes are by no means final, I want to emphasize. I welcome any suggestions and comments so that we have labs that work well for our students’ learning.
Thanks for your help,
Adeliza
All of you have taught Chemistry 30A some time in the past. As some of you may know, the 30A lab manual was originally authored by LPC's very own Jim Adams who did a tremendous amount of work developing these labs and writing up a very thorough lab manual.
These labs have not gone through revisions in the last several years and have only been available through a hard-copy of the lab manual itself and no editable electronic copy. I have been working on converting these files into editable electronic files and some revisions. Below are a summary and a request for review.
What changes have been made?
My main focus was to get the lab manual converted to an MS Word file and make revisions on some of the content, primarily changes in safety policy and equipment use. Some of these changes include:
1) Converting scanned hard copies of the labs to an editable MS Word file. As part of this, I scanned the lab manual to create pdf files of relatively good resolution for optical character recognition. I then used these to create the MS Word files and have to do some extensive clean-up of text, formatting, figures, tables, chemical formulas and equations, mathematical equations and calculation steps, molecular structure drawing, etc.
2) I then went to work on some content revisions:
a) Obvious typos
b) Incorporation of the most obvious changes to safety policy: no waste down the drain, use of limited fume hoods in 1807 where the 30A labs are now held, removal of mercury, replacement of some chemical reagents, etc.
c) Changes in amounts of chemicals used
d) Changes in chemical reagents used
e) Rewriting equipment instructions for newer equipment (e.g. pH meters)
f) Some procedural changes
g) Changes in procedure (e.g. using excel for collecting class data, creating plots, etc.)
3) I looked at some course lab schedules to determine which labs have not been done in the past several years. Those will be archived.
4) Removal of the copper-sulfur compound formation lab and other labs which cannot be done with the limited number of fume hoods in 1807
How did I come up with these changes?
I based many of these changes on my own class notes collected when I taught these labs. Some instructors and Gerry have also been sending me some comments that I have incorporated (more are welcome, see below). I also used Gerry’s prep sheets for reference.
What exactly are these changes?
I have attached a file listing all of the changes, comments I have received, and questions I have posed regarding other potential changes.
The annotated files which you can view contain:
1) line numbering for easy reference
2) Comments on changes and other questions
4) blue highlighted sections indicating changes (if the change is not obvious, it is usually accompanied by a comment)
5) yellow highlighted sections referring to page or part numbers (I did this to make it easier to change them later just in case pagination changes for the entire file).
How do I access these annotated files?
Click on the link:
https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B68k_dSaNrzmemEtRmR4dkYxVFk&usp=sharing
You can download the individual files from this site. Please let me know if you can't access these files.
What kind of feedback?
1) Anything I may have missed that are obvious typos, safety issue, etc. as I listed above
2) If I labeled a lab "archive" that you would like to keep, let me know.
3) I am not looking into making any other substantial changes (in wording, length, content, etc.) at this point but anything you think needs to be reworded for clarity, let me know.
How to send me comments:
1) After reviewing, you can send me an e-mail (please put lab number in the subject).
2) You can download the annotated files and if your pdf program has the capability, you can write your comments directly on the pdf document.
3) Any other way you think is easy for you.
Am I stuck with these changes?
These changes are by no means final, I want to emphasize. I welcome any suggestions and comments so that we have labs that work well for our students’ learning.
Thanks for your help,
Adeliza
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Micro-Physio Questions Update
I finished Chapter 20 on fluid balance. I like reading this chapter - it is very quantitative and relates to a lot of chemical principles.
There are three chapters left (based on Jill's and Barbara's coverage schedules): 21, 24, and 26. I am not sure if all of these have chemistry-relevant material.
I have created 53 questions from Silverthorn's text so far. I am up to 55 slides of notes.
There are three chapters left (based on Jill's and Barbara's coverage schedules): 21, 24, and 26. I am not sure if all of these have chemistry-relevant material.
I have created 53 questions from Silverthorn's text so far. I am up to 55 slides of notes.
Lab Manual Update
I have updated all the google drive folders to have the final drafts for review.
I also uploaded the non-annotated pdf files.
I have put away all of the glassware and reagents I have been using to run experiments.
I will try these next time, if I have time (not part of my sabbatical):
1) an Fe determination Beer's Law lab for 30A (and maybe even 1A)
2) a greener way of doing the caffeine extraction possibly for 30B
I also uploaded the non-annotated pdf files.
I have put away all of the glassware and reagents I have been using to run experiments.
I will try these next time, if I have time (not part of my sabbatical):
1) an Fe determination Beer's Law lab for 30A (and maybe even 1A)
2) a greener way of doing the caffeine extraction possibly for 30B
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Lab Manual Update
On Monday, I weighed the copper oxide compound after leaving it in the fume hood over the weekend. There was hardly any change in the mass from previous weighings.
I placed it in the oven and dried three times. I was able to get the wieght down so that the ratio is now 1.4-1 mole of O to mole of Cu. Close enough for this trial. For the actual experiment, I will recommend 30 minutes at 80 C and then 15 minutes at 80 C, until mass is constant.
Gary helped me look for the actual bottles of hydroxylamine hydrochloride and phenanthroline. It looks there are enough to make 1% solutions. I also bought from Rite Aid two kinds of iron supplements: sulfate and fumarate.
I wrote a combination of 9.1 and 9.2 AB today and sent that off to Rob for review.
Saturday, November 1, 2014
Micro-Physio Questions Update
Yesterday, I finished Chapter 19 on Kidneys. I have created up to 40 questions and added more ppt notes for addition to my 30A and 30B lectures.
Lab Manual Update
A few things I did yesterday, Friday:
1) I emailed Rob Schmidt to get his feedback on combining labs 9.1-9.2 primarily for two reasons: first, to make the lab run more efficiently and second so that students can more obviously correlate conductivity with pH and acid/base strength.
2) I checked on my copper-oxide compound left another night in the fume hood. I think it gained more water as the mass went up from the day before! I am leaving it again in the fume hood over the weekend. If this method does not work, I will have to use the oven.
3) I redrew the molecular structures in Lab 13.4 for 30B.
4) I checked the stockroom chemical inventory sheets and found that all the reagents needed to the Fe spectrometry analysis are there. I might try running this lab this week.
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