CH 475: INORGANIC CHEMISTRY

Structure & Bonding

Block 5, 2007-8

Keith Kester & Ted Lindeman

Course Reflections

       Completing this component of the course involves turning in a total of 2160 words of journal entries.. The entries are to be reflections on your learning experience in this course, and, I hope, on your reaction to the chapter, “Vanadium,” in Primo Levi’s The Periodic Table.  They are to be entered in the Reflective Journaling assignment in Prowl, to be found in Topic 3, the first Wednesday of the block.  I will provide information on how to do this, if needed. I will not access your reflections until all other components of the course have been evaluated.  The full credit of 6% will be awarded if there are 2160 words of reflections on your learning experience in the course. If you wish to share any of your reflections with me during the course, please e-mail a copy directly to kkester or let me know that I can access a particular entry in Prowl.  It is probably best to write out each journal entry in the word processing software of your choice, then copy it and paste it in the Reflective Journaling assignment in Prowl.  Please date each separate entry you make.  [Note: Your statement of your course objectives is considered a journal entry and should be included in your journaling.  This journal entry is required, not optional.]

     The course reflections should also include some meta-cognitive reflection on your thinking and problem-solving processes; and on what learning styles and environments are most effective for you. The course has been designed to provide you with a wide variety of learning aids: a programmed study text (Vincent), physical models, computer modeling software, group work, written and audio-visual materials, etc. At the beginning of the course you will take the Productivity Environmental Preference Survey (PEP) to get an indication of where your learning style strengths are, and what learning environments you prefer. We want you to reflect on how you most effectively learn the abstract material of the course as you work your way through the course using the various learning aids available; on the effectiveness of the texts and computer software used in the course; on the laboratory skills that you are developing; on the coherence of the course and how well you see the laboratory experience in the course fitting with the classroom experience; on how effectively your previous chemistry course experience has prepared you for this course; and on the course workload. With this last area, if you find the workload too great, please indicate what you would cut from the course to reduce the workload.