!!! CHEMISTRY BRIDGING COURSE SUMMER SCIENCE BRIDGING PROGRAM DECEMBER 2014 – FEBRUARY 2015 !Many students may wish to enter a particular course at Curtin University without having taken the requisite Chemistry courses at high school, or high school has been some time ago. The Chemistry Bridging Course is designed for students who lack WACE Chemistry 3A/3B as a pre-requisite subject, but otherwise meet, or are likely to meet, the entry requirements for their chosen course at Curtin University.

Bridging Chemistry assumes no prior background in Chemistry, though WACE Chemistry 2A/2B or Integrated Science 3A/3B and Mathematics 2C/2D would be advantageous. Successful completion of this unit prepares students for courses that require WACE Chemistry 3A/3B. This course is not intended to fully replace WACE or TEE Chemistry, but to provide students with sufficient background to successfully complete first year chemistry units at Curtin University.

This intensive face-to-face course is designed to bridge this gap and permit you to study your chosen course in 2015, subject to meeting all other pre-requisite requirements – including ATAR cutoffs. If you are lacking more than one prerequisite for your chosen course, then a more in-depth enabling program may be better suited to your needs, for example the Enabling Course in Science, Engineering & Health.

For more information about the one year Enabling Course in Science, Engineering and Health, please see this page: http://handbook.curtin.edu.au/courses/31/310748.html

DATES This course runs face-to-face in two 2-week intensive periods during December 2014 and January 2015, plus orientation and assessment. The demands of this course do require a full time Monday-to-Friday commitment during each intensive, and this course is not designed for flexible or partial delivery.

Orientation: Friday, 5 December 2014.

Intensive 1: 8 to 19 December 2014, inclusive.

Intensive 2: 12 to 23 January 2015, inclusive.

Final Exam: Wednesday, 28 January 2015.

Chemistry Bridging Course (2014/15)

Results released: Friday, 30 January 2015.

Round 2 TISC offers: Tuesday, 3 February 2015.

A detailed program calendar will be available in November, 2014.

RECOGNITION Bridging Chemistry is currently recognised for entry into the following courses at Curtin University only. Successful completion of this course does not guarantee entry into your chosen course. However, completion of this bridging unit will be taken into consideration with your application as evidence of fulfilment of the corresponding prerequisite. This bridging unit will be completed in time for second round TISC offers. Please nominate if you would like this bridging course to be considered with your TISC application when you register for this course.

FEES AND REGISTRATION This course is offered on a fee-paying basis as a not-for-credit course. This fee covers the cost of tuition and materials used in the laboratory. It does not cover the cost of personal protective equipment or textbook, which should be purchased separately. These fees must be paid in full before commencing the course.

• Bridging Chemistry: $1210

All fees can be paid to Curtin University via credit card at:

Payment Gateway: http://payments.curtin.edu.au Click on Faculty of Science and Engineering > Science and Mathematics Summer Bridging Course and select “Bridging Chemistry”

For other payment types, please contact Marija Predojevic (see details at the end of the form) and you will be issued an invoice to pay at the Curtin cashier.

SYLLABUS Bridging Chemistry is an introduction to the fundamental nature of matter for students who have not previously studied chemistry. A range of chemical processes that underpin a broad array of disciplines will illustrate the importance of and differences between chemical and mathematical representations of reactions and reactivity. The physical phenomena resulting from bond types

Course Area TISC code Course pre-requisite

BSc Science CUMPE WACE Chemistry 3A/3B

Nutrition CUHKS WACE Chemistry 3A/3B

Nutrition / Health Promotion CUHNS WACE Chemistry 3A/3B

Page ! of !2 6

Chemistry Bridging Course (2014/15)

and their resulting intermolecular forces will explain the properties of natural and man-made processes and materials. Using examples from nature and biology the role of the certain groups in ascribing reactivity and function of organic molecules will be highlighted. The concept of chemical equilibria in acid and base systems will be introduced.

INTRODUCTION Bridging Chemistry utilises an integrated collaborative workshop and laboratory with accompanying online resources to help students develop the following concepts in six modules:

1. Atomic Structure: the nature of matter and the structure of the atom

2. Chemical Representation: an introduction to chemical formulae and chemical equations

3. Measurement and Stoichiometry: an introduction to chemical quantities and units

4. Chemical Bonding: an introduction to electronegativity, Lewis structures, molecular shapes and intermolecular forces

5. Introduction to Organic Chemistry: an introduction to the organic molecules and their properties

6. Acids and bases: an introduction to chemical equilibria and the concepts of acids and bases

LEARNING OUTCOMES On successful completion of this course you will be able to:

1. use an atomic-scale approach to observe the main types of bonds formed in molecules, the intermolecular forces found;

2. employ the principles of chemical measurement to both quantitatively and qualitatively determine chemical species in simple samples;

3. discern between chemical and physical processes and utilise recognised mathematical and symbolic representations to quantitatively and qualitatively describe a chemical reaction;

4. illustrate the chemistry of carbon by classifying organic compounds on the basis of functional groups.

LEARNING ACTIVITIES

WORKSHOP

The workshop is our main activity that aims to develop your understanding of the key concept by using activities, clicker questions and small group work in an environment that encourages engaging debate, discourse and class presentation. Before you come to the workshop some preparation may be required, including viewing online lectures, reading sections of the textbook, and printing the activity for the week. When you come to class you will be allocated to groups

Page ! of !3 6

Chemistry Bridging Course (2014/15)

and provided information on the scope and purpose of the activity. You may wish to bring your textbook, a laptop, and your calculator. You are expected to participate in all workshops.

LABORATORY

The laboratory develops important skills in practical chemistry, good teamwork and communication. This environment allows exploration of experimental methods, which are common to and underpin many areas of science and engineering. You will be set a series of experiments that builds to culminate in the major assessment tasks. You are expected to participate in all experimental tasks.

LECTURE

The lecture will focus on reinforcing your understanding of important concepts through expert presentation of information. This includes summarising the main outcomes from the workshop, forecasting the following workshop, and giving more in-depth information of the topic. The lecture will be closely integrated with workshop and laboratory to ensure maximal benefit. You are expected to attend every lecture.

HOW DOES THIS WORK?

The three activities each week are carefully prepared and timed with you in mind.  Your success depends on how effectively you utilise each of the learning opportunities.  You are expected to attend every activity, and if you don't then you may jeopardise your performance in later activities and your assessment.

We strongly recommend that you maximise your potential for success by scheduling ample time for preparation and reflection before and after each activity.  As a rule of thumb, for every hour of face-to-face time you should allow an hour of preparation and reflection time.

LEARNING RESOURCES

TEXTBOOK

The essential textbook for this unit is:

• Blackman, Bottle, Schmid, Mocerino and Wille, Chemistry, 2nd edition, Wiley, 2012.

This textbook will be used for students who continue to study Principles and Processes in Chemistry 100 or Biological Chemistry 110 at Curtin University.

Students may prefer to purchase this textbook, if they do not plan to continue with Chemistry.

• Zumdahl and DeCoste, Introductory Chemistry: A Foundation, 8th edition, Cengage, 2013

These textbooks are available to purchase from the Co-op Bookshop at Curtin University.

Page ! of !4 6

WOWW RKSKK

HOP

LECTC URE

LALLBORAR TAA OTT RYRR

Chemistry Bridging Course (2014/15)

ONLINE RESOURCES

We will use Blackboard, a learning management system. Students will be provided with a log in to this system, which will contain all the necessary resources, including lecture notes, laboratory manual, and workshop activities. Go to: http://lms.curtin.edu.au/

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

You must have the following personal protective equipment to work in the laboratory:

• Laboratory coat of a type that fastens up the front, has long sleeves and comes to your knee.

• Safety glasses containing colourless transparent lenses. Prescription or sunglasses are not acceptable. The wearing of contact lenses is discouraged.

These items are available for purchase from the Department of Chemistry. Please see the information on Blackboard under “Laboratories”.

• Enclosed shoes should also be worn at all times, fully covering your toes, forefoot and heel. Thongs, sandals and slip-on shoes will not be permitted.

It is a legislative requirement that you must correctly wear a laboratory coat, safety glasses and fully enclosed shoes at all times in the laboratory. You will be denied access if you are not wearing these items.

ASSESSMENT

ASSESSMENT SCHEDULE

DETAILED INFORMATION ON ASSESSMENT TASKS

Prezi presentation: You will be randomly assigned a chemical topic that you must research to prepare an online presentation for a given and specific audience. These topics relate to a specific element or molecule, or a group of elements or molecules, that have some relevance to everyday life, your chosen course or your future career. The method we are asking you to use is Prezi, an online non-linear presentation tool that allows you to prepare and present information. To accompany your presentation you must prepare a 250-500 word abstract (summary) of your topic and its relevance to the audience.  

Workshop portfolio: a portfolio of work chosen to best represent development of key concepts from the workshop learning environment. The learning tasks accompanying the assessment item

Task Value (%) Unit Learning Outcome(s) assessed

Prezi presentation 10 1, 2, 3

Workshop portfolio 20 1, 3, 4

Laboratory test 20 2

Final examination 50 1, 3, 4

Page ! of !5 6

Chemistry Bridging Course (2014/15)

will be posted on a weekly basis to Blackboard. The assessment task can only be submitted during your scheduled workshop. The final portfolio and its accompanying mark will be chosen from the best 9 pieces of work.

Laboratory test: a test of key skills chosen from a series of experiments that demonstrate an understanding of one or more of the learning outcomes. This test will be open book and the information will be posted to Blackboard seven days before the class. This assessment task can only be completed during the scheduled laboratory class. Students who do not pass on their first attempt, and have a satisfactory record of participation in earlier experiments will be offered an opportunity, at the discretion of the unit coordinator, to resit the test on a date yet to be decided.

Final Examination: a final examination that illustrates a broad understanding of the key concepts associated with the learning outcomes.

PASS REQUIREMENTS

In addition to gaining at least 50% of the total marks, to gain a pass in this unit you must meet the following requirements:

1. Satisfactorily complete each part of the final examination to demonstrate competency of the three unit learning outcomes assessed, and

2. Gain at least 50% of the marks in the laboratory test.

The conditions required in the final examination to demonstrate competency of the three unit learning outcomes and meet criterion 1 will be published on Blackboard before the final examination. Students who fail to meet criterion 2 on their first attempt will be offered an opportunity to resit the laboratory test during semester to meet this requirement.  This resit will only be graded to a maximum of 50% of the mark for the laboratory test.

CONTACT Marija PredojevicDepartment of ChemistryBuilding 500 Room 2101Curtin UniversityGPO Box U1987 Perth 6845Tel: 9266 7203Fax: 9266 2300Email: firstyearchem@curtin.edu.au

Page ! of !6 6