Course Orientation Document
My name is C Karen Fortune and I will be your instructor for this class. The best way to contact me is via the following email: [email protected]. Students can expect a response from me within 24 hours Monday through Friday. There is a 48 hour response time over the weekend and on holidays.
Below are the Student Learning Outcomes for this course.
On completion of this course you will be able to:
SLO 1. Give names and formulas of elements, ions, and ionic and molecular compounds.
SLO 3. Do chemistry calculations involving reaction stoichiometry and energy changes.
SLO 4. Relate the properties of electromagnetic radiation (frequency, wavelength, and energy) to each other and to the energy changes atoms undergo which accompany electronic transitions.
SLO 5. Identify the parts of the periodic table and the trends in periodic properties of atoms.
SLO 6. Relate the properties of gases with the gas laws and extend the application of these relationships to reaction stoichiometry, gas mixtures, and effusion/diffusion of gases.
SLO 7. Depict chemical bonding with dot structures and valence bond theory and determine the molecular shapes (geometry) of molecules based on VSEPR and valence bond theory.
SLO 8: Calculate density and relate the value to mass and volume measurements for all physical states.
SLO 9: Measurements and conversions in Metric, SI, and American systems
SLO 10: Apply thermochemical principles to evaluate work, heat, and energy relationships based on specific heat, calorimetry, and temperature changes.
To be successful in this course, I encourage you to:
- Read the textbook
- Practice, practice, practice the problems behind the book
- Ask questions if you do not understand
- Meet all deadlines and weekly assessments
By learning these concepts, you will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to enter CHEM1412. You will use what you learn!
Syllabus Information
Please download the syllabus by clicking on the following link: Syllabus
Ability Services
HCC strives to make all learning experiences as accessible as possible. If you anticipate or experience academic barriers based on your disability (including mental health, chronic or temporary medical conditions), please meet with a campus Abilities Counselor as soon as possible in order to establish reasonable accommodations. Reasonable accommodations are established through an interactive process between you, your instructor(s) and Ability Services. It is the policy and practice of HCC to create inclusive and accessible learning environments consistent with federal and state law. For more information, please go to
Test Information
There are 3 exams scheduled for this course. All exam are proctored and taken on campus.
One of your writing assignments is the Introductory Discussion which is due by census day, . The syllabus has very important information about modules, assignments, quizzes/exams, discussions, and other activities and requirements in the class. It also tells you about deadlines for each - so it's critically important that you read the syllabus. You should also print it out and keep it with you.
Also, go ahead and begin with the first several sections of the course. The modules are open and assignments are available to you as we move along. That way, you can keep a couple of weeks ahead if you choose. Feel free to email me through the Inbox contained within this online course, which is located in the lower left-hand corner of your Eagle Online page.
Participation Recommendations
One important component of successfully completing this course consists of logging into the course to get your assignments, reading announcements, and posting discussions. Accepted standards of computer etiquette will be expected in this class. For information about computer etiquette, see the Core Rules of Netiquette .
Read the assigned chapters for each module. Complete the assignments and participate in the discussions for each module. Take the tests by the due dates on the Course Schedule.
Technical Support
It is your responsibility to possess the necessary skills to manage the hardware and software systems of this course. In addition, if your normal computer becomes unavailable for any reason, you are responsible for locating and operating other adequate computer facilities to meet the course deadlines.
Recommended Browsers
Canvas supports the last two versions of the most widely used browsers. We highly recommend updating to the newest version of whatever browser you are using as well as updating to the most recent Flash plug-in.
We have learned that Canvas works better with Google Chrome and Firefox than with Internet Explorer. If Internet Explorer is currently your only browser, you may want to install Chrome (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. or Firefox (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site..
For more details, see Which Browsers Does Canvas Support?
Help Corner
You can find the answers to many of your questions about how to use Canvas by clicking the Help link in the bottom left corner of the Canvas window and then clicking Search the Canvas Guides.
If you have technical issues with Canvas, click the Help link and then click Report a Problem.
Questions about Assignments or Course Material
If you have questions about the assignments or course material, contact me through the Canvas Inbox or the Help link in the bottom left corner. Make sure you read the entire Start Here Module first.
Canvas App
Canvas by Instructure App
Canvas App.png
The Canvas by Instructure app can help you access your courses while you're away from a computer browser.
The app comes in handy for checking messages, announcements, and grades. The app is not set up for taking exams.
You can find information about how to use the Canvas app in the Canvas Guides (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. On the Canvas Guides page, under "Additional Guides," click Canvas App.
Are You Ready for an Online Course?
Try out SmarterMeasure, our distance education readiness assessment, and check to see if you are ready for a distance education course.
This tool is recommended for all prospective DE students, and is required of students wanting to enroll in EDUC 1300, LEAD 1370, and certain other developmental classes. It tests technical knowledge and competency, reading comprehension, and typing skills.
What Information Does SmarterMeasure Include?
This assessment will give you detailed information about:
Your readiness to begin an online or hybrid course.
Your learning style, or how you learn. Knowing your learning style or styles can enable you to adapt your study strategies to your learning style.
Your technical skills as they apply to taking a distance class. Don't worry if you lack some technical skills; we have tutorials to help you get your skills where they need to be.
How Do I Begin the SmarterMeasure Assessment?
To begin the assessment, click the SmarterMeasure link below, and type the user name and password exactly as shown here. Your results will be emailed to you.
User name: hccs
Password: student
The HCCS SmarterMeasure site is: http://hccs.readi.info.
Are You Ready for an Online Course?
Here's a word of caution for those of you who are taking your first online course. This course will require you to spend at least the same amount of time as a class that meets three hours a week in a classroom, and some students find that an online course takes more time.
This is not a self-paced course. You must meet the established deadlines for completing the assignments and tests. The flexibility of an online course allows you to choose the time of day or night to "enter" the virtual classroom.
How to Succeed in This Course
Log in to the course daily to read any messages or announcements.
Keep up with the Course Schedule and the due dates.
Read the assigned materials (presentations, articles, websites, or chapters).
Complete the assignments and discussions according to the instructions and submit them on time.
Contact the professor if you have any questions or problems.
Diplomas awaiting to be presented to graduates.
What Technical Skills Are Required for Most Online Classes?
For most online classes, you will need to have the following computer and internet skills before you begin the class.
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Skill Needed |
Why? |
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Send a message, and attach a file to a message. |
You will need these skills to be able to communicate effectively using Canvas. |
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Use your browser to go to a web site. |
You will need to know how to use a web browser such as Google Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Internet Explorer to browse the web. |
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Download, open, and view a file. |
You will need this skill to download and read some materials in your course. |
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Upload a file to a web site. |
You will need this skill to upload a file for an assignment. |
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Use an Internet search engine such as Google. |
You may be asked to find information on the Internet as part of a research paper or discussion group. |
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Open and save a file in a program such as Microsoft Word or One Drive.
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Much of your work will be done in programs on your HCC Office365 account, like Microsoft Word and Powerpoint, in which you create documents and save them. All HCC students have a free Office365 account associated with their email login.
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Use folders to organize the files on your computer. |
You will need to know how to create and name folders and how to save or copy files into those folders so you can keep your work organized.
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Use a word processor to create a simple document, save the document, and print the document. |
Most of your assignments must be submitted electronically through Canvas, so you will have to do your work in a word processor such as Microsoft Word. |
How to Use Canvas
You will access the information and activities in your online course through Eagle Online, HCC's learning management system for online courses.
We are working hard to make our courses as user-friendly as possible and want Canvas to help you in your education.
Check out the links below for information about how to use Canvas.
Videos for Students
Series of short videos designed to help students learn Canvas
Using the Inbox
How Do I Find My Unread Messages?
Profile and Settings
How Do I Add a Profile Picture?
How Do I Set My Notification Preferences?
How Do I Add a Text Contact Method in Canvas?
Assignments, Discussions, and Quizzes
How Do I Submit an Online Assignment?
How Do I Upload a File to My Assignment Submission?
How Do I Reply to a Discussion Topic?
More Information
You can search for information by clicking the Help link in the lower left corner of the Canvas window.
Setting Your Notification Preferences
You can select how and when you want to be notified when various events occur within a course. You will be notified whenever there is a change in a due date, an updated assignment, or a message sent from within Canvas. Canvas supports notification through email, SMS text message, and Twitter. You can choose to receive notification alerts immediately, daily, weekly, or never.
For instructions, see How Do I Set My Notification Preferences
How to Download the Free Adobe Reader
Some of the files in this course are PDF files and require Adobe Reader. If you don’t have Adobe Reader on your computer, use this link to download the free Adobe Reader: https://get.adobe.com/reader/
Assignment Information
This course includes these types of assignments:
Written responses/essays
Pearson's Mastering Chemistry assignments
Quizzes
Lab Assignments
Where to Find the Assignments
You can find the assignments in each module on the Modules page. You can also find them by clicking the Assignments link in the Course Navigation on the left. Follow the instructions for each assignment.
How to Submit the Assignments
You will submit short assignments by typing your response in the text entry box on the assignment submission page. You will submit other longer/more intensive assignments by uploading a file on the assignment submission page. The files you attach will need to be PDF files, so I can open and read them on my computer.
Even if you have technical problems, you are still responsible for submitting assignments by the due date. Computers are available on campus for your use.
For more details about the number of assignments and due dates, see the Calendar link or the Course Schedule.
For information about submitting assignments, refer to How Do I Submit an Online Assignment in the Canvas Student Guide.
If you have any problems or questions, please contact me.