UPDATES

In the last few days, I have been working on (in addition to continuing with my book reading):

1) Finalizing the SLO research report.
2) Finalizing the Micro-Physio questions and adding a special note about how some questions may be beyond the scope of the 30A course in terms of time required to cover some of the more complex, detailed word problems.
3) Finishing revisions on the pre-labs for experiments I do in 30A.  I will upload these along with the revised lab procedures to share with other instructors.
4) Updating my sabbatical report and starting to collect in a folder the final supporting documents for my sabbatical report
5) I am almost ready to send the micro-physio questions

I also worked on the following non-sabbatical activities:
1) I cleaned up the data reports for all the SLO assessments for Chemistry
2) I identified SLO's that can be deactivated and sent it to Mike and Rich for feedback.
3) Downloaded all the EVST 5 files from blackboard for review and prep.
4) Complete drafts of my 1A and 30A classes in the fall.
5) I also worked on the nomination points.

Miro-Physio Questions Update - 30A and 30 BCourse Outline

I updated the course outline for 30A to include osmolarity in the content and measurable objective.  I also added a measurable objective on buffers.

For 30B,  I added the term functions for the different biomolecules in the measurable objectives.

Micro-Physio Questions Update

TO DATE, I have created the following for this portion of my sabbatical project

1) 84 questions with solution keys broken down by topic**.  Instead of following the number of questions prescribed in my sabbatical proposal pertaining to a small group of topics, I allowed myself the flexibility to simply let the material itself from the lab experiments and the textbook dictate what relevant questions are meaningful and useful for students (rather than trying to try to squeeze 5 stoichiometry questions from the material!).  Many of these questions are quite challenging in detail and number of steps involved in analysis so it is likely that some of them may not be used.  My plan right now is to use this compendium as a go-to source to refresh some of my lecture worksheets, lecture sample problems, and lab work problems when it is clear that it is appropriate for the topic and the class is ready to tackle them.

2) Examples of applications of chemistry in physiology and microbiology (collected in the form of powerpoint lecture slides)

3) Notes on what micro and physio examples to incorporate in class, what chemistry topics need more emphasis, a new way of solving quantitative problems, chemical terms, concepts, and quantitative skills used most frequently in micro and physio and how they are used and taught, etc.   I collected these notes in the hope that I can tie in the content and the skill they are learning in 30A to Microbiology and Physiology.  These are courses that many of our students are taking Chemistry 30A for as a prerequisite.

4) Becoming familiar with the chemical concepts used most frequently in physiology and microbiology prompted me to review our Chemistry 30A course outline.  Although I have always taught the concept of osmolarity in my 30A classes, I discovered that our outline does not even mention osmolarity in it anywhere, neither the Measurable Objectives nor the Content.  In the latest cycle of review and update, I have added this topic to ensure that it is taught in all sections.

**Here's the breakdown by topics (the Chapter numbers refer to chapters in Stoker's text):

Chapter 2 -- Measurements and conversions 21 questions
Chapter 3 -- Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table 1 question
Chapters 4 and 5 -- Chemical Bonding (Ionic and Covalent) 2 questions
Chapter 6 – Chemical Calculations (Stoichiometry) 4 questions
Chapter 7 – Gases, Liquids, and Solids 4 questions
Chapter 8 – Solutions 24 questions
Chapter 9 – Chemical Reactions 4 questions
Chapter 10 – Acids, Bases, and Salts 13 questions
Chapter 11 – Nuclear Chemistry 1 question
Chem 30B Organic and Biological Chemistry 8 questions

Micro-Physio Questions Update

 I completed the following today:

1) Reviewed Jill's files again to see if there are more helpful questions I can generate.
2) I also reviewed Barbara's ppt slides, downloaded from her website up to Chapter 20.  I was able to borrow better versions of some figures I used in my notes.
3)  I have compiled all of the questions from the 2 lab manuals and the text and have assigned them to the Stoker chapters by material.  I have also cleaned out the ones that I ended up not using.

Micro-Physio Questions Update

I finally finished writing up the solution keys for all the questions I created from the Silverthorn text, the Physio lab manual, and the micro lab manual.  I had to eliminate about 10 questions as they seemed repetitive, too had, or do not seem relevant.

Next would be to
1) review Jill's files and Barbara's ppts
2) check one more time if there are other questions that would be instructional and/or notes
3) add the questions from the physio and the micro lab manuals to the categorized file.
4) create a file that contains only the questions

Micro-Physio Questions Update

I finished typing up the solutions for the questions generated from Silverthorn's text.  I had to eliminate a few (3-4?) questions because they were either repetitive or they were not relevant.

I will work on the solution keys for the questions generated from the physio and the micro lab manuals next.

Micro-Physio Update

Completed review of the last two chapters.  I have also finished categorizing the physio text questions into Stoker chapters by topic.

I have started typing up the solutions for the physio text questions.

Micro-Physio Questions Update

I have finished reviewing the electronic version of the Silverthorn 6th Ed Human Physiology text.  I have created 54 questions and generated 58 slides of notes on material that has chemistry relevance.

Based on chapters covered by two physiology faculty, I reviewed the following chapters. The depth of review and reading varied depending on how relevant chemistry is to the material being covered in the chapter.

Chapters 1-8, 10-12, 14-21, 24, and 26.

Micro-Physio Questions Update

I finished reviewing Chap 21 for relevant material. It did not stimulate any questions or problems but I did take notes on some information useful for discussion of ions and acid-base concepts in 30A and digestion in 30B.

Micro-Physio Questions Update

As I was reviewing our 30A course outline, I noticed something related to the questions I have been creating based on micro and physio concepts.  I realized that our outline does not even mention osmolarity in it anywhere, neither the Measurable Objectives nor the Content.  I created a lot of questions using this concept as my reading of the labs and the physio text seem to indicate it is a heavily used concentration unit, especially in describing plasma and other fluid properties.
I will be adding it to the course outline during this next cycle.

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.

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.

Overall Update

Today:

SLO Project

1) I studied the CCSF Chemistry SLO website in more detail to extract information pertaining to the four questions I have about the SLO process.

2) I sent two more email inquiries to a Glendale Community College chemistry professor and division chair and to a San Jose City College chemistry faculty and member of the SLO committee.

Lab Manual

1) I received a response from Mike about looking at the revised 3102 lab as he concedes that he has the same issues with the current one.

2) I checked on my copper oxide compound left overnight drying in the fume hood.  It seemed pretty dry but the mass I got for the compound indicated a CuO2 formula which does not make sense.  I suspect  that there is still water so I left it again overnight in the fume hood for weighing tomorrow.  It might be better if students use the oven for drying and dry to constant weight.

Physio-Micro Questions

1) I finally finished reading Chapter 18.

2) I have now about 36 questions from Silverthorn's text.

3) I added more notes about O2 and CO2 transport.

Articles:

I downloaded more articles for reading.

Others:

First day of installation for the GC-MS.  I chatted with and watched the guy installing it for a while.

I looked for LLNL posters in my email for archiving.

Micro-Physio Questions Update

Continued to peruse the Silverthorn text.  I read several pages of Chapter 17 on gases.  Now starting Chapter 18.

Jill sent me a copy of her syllabus.

Added more questions and notes, on gases in particular.

Micro-Physio Questions Update

Today, I continued to peruse Silverthorn's Human Physiology text, Coursesmart ebook 6th edition.

I e-mailed Barbara and Jill to ask for a syllabus so I know what chapters they cover.  Barbara sent me a link to hers.  She does not cover all of the 25 chapters.

I just started Chap 17 and have come up with 25 questions.  I also continue to take notes useful for addition to discussion of relevant chem 30A concepts.

Micro-Physio Questions Update

I have returned to perusing Silverthorn's Human Physiology textbook, this time using the coursesmart ebook version 6th Edition.  Have perused up to the end of Chapter 6 so far and created 18 questions so far.

I have also started to revise my worksheets for dimensional analysis, conversion, and solutions calculations.

Micro Physio Questions Update

Finished reviewing the Integrated Anatomy and Physiology Lab Manual yesterday.  I was able to create at least 13 questions.

I have also created solution keys for the questions I created from the Microbiology lab manual.

The next steps are:

Completing a few more questions from the physio lab manual if appropriate.

Cleaning up the files of questions.

Creating an answer key for the physio based questions.

Reviewing particular chapters of the Human Physiology book by Silverthorn used for the course at LPC.

Micro Physio Questions Update

Started back with reviewing the Integrated Anatomy and Physiology Lab Manual.  I am working on Experiment 21 now.  Likewise, I am taking notes on what I should emphasize in 30A and 30B as well as generating relevant and meaningful questions.

Micro Physio Questions Update

I have begun reading through Barbara's Micro lab manual up to Exp. 6.  It is a bit slow-going as I have to read the entire procedure and look up certain terms.

Micro Physio Questions Update

Taking a break from the Integrated Anat and Physio Lab review for questions to tackle the Micro Lab Manual.

I have finished reviewing the experiments including parts of the appendix and so far have generated 22 questions.  More importantly, reading the labs has allowed me to determine what chemical terms, concepts, and quantitative skills are used more prominently.  I have been making a note of these so I know what to emphasize in both 30A and 30B.

Next step would be to create answer keys for these questions to make sure that they are reasonably doable.