Login To the AP Chemistry Site

This web site is the support site for Chemistry 599F, AP Chemistry on the Web.  Admission is limited to participants enrolled in the course.  The following sections describe the course.

Course Objectives
Course Organization
Reference Texts
Computer Requirements and Software
Communication
Tuition and Fees
Contacts
Recertification, Step Raises, and Graduate Degrees

Course Objectives:  The Department of Chemistry at Purdue University will offer CHM 599F, Concepts of AP Chemistry via Distance Learning, as a 3 credit course on the Internet this summer.  The course can help chemistry teachers (not just AP teachers) locate classroom applications on the Web and review selected concepts including thermodynamics, equilibrium, kinetics, solutions, electrochemistry,  and nuclear chemistry.  The course is scheduled for 8 weeks (June 10 - August 4, 2000). 

At the end of your participation in this course we want you to feel that 

• you have become more confident dealing with the concepts usually covered in the second half of an AP course; 
• you understand the expectations of the AP program for students in the program and for your AP course;
• you are more proficient using e-mail and the world wide web as a resource for your courses; 
• you have accumulated a set of useful WWW references including graphics and animations; 
• and that you have new ideas about using graphing as a learning aid.

Course Organization:  The course will cover the following topics:  Solutions, equilibrium, electrochemistry, thermodynamics,  kinetics, and nuclear chemistry.  For each topic you will need to refresh your understanding of relevant concepts and: 

1. Complete a problem set which will include conceptual questions and problems similar to AP examination questions.
2. Create a new AP-style essay question drawn from data available on the web and post the question and answer.
3. Create two new AP-style multiple choice questions and post the questions and answers.
4. Use a spreadsheet program to manipulate a set of data and draw conclusions.  For example, you might need to interpret a set of cell voltage vs. concentration data.
5. Discuss your ideas for questions and problems and for organizing and teaching an AP course with your colleagues in the course.

Grades will be based on a portfolio of all assignments that is to be submitted by the end of the course. Satisfactory completion of 90% of all problems from Item 1 above and 90% of all other exercises (Items 2, 3, and 4 above) will earn an A; 80% of both sets of work, a B; 70%, a C; etc.  Students taking the course for pass/fail credit must earn the equivalent of a C to pass.

Reference Texts:  Any good general chemistry text and your personal chemistry library.

Computer Requirements and Software:  E-mail and Internet access with Netscape 3.0 (or better) or Internet Explorer 3.0 (or better) and a spreadsheet program. 

Communication:  A CHM 599 web site and list server will be used for communication. The web site will provide assignments and reference materials. E-mail and the list server will be used to discuss assignments and support data and to post questions and comments from participants. Assignments will be returned by e-mail. 

Tuition and Fees:  Participants must apply for status as a nondegree graduate student at Purdue University. (There is a $30 application fee for those who have not previously applied for some other course). The fee for a distance learning course is $199 per credit hour ($597 for this course). 

Contacts:  For information about the course contact: 

Professor William R. Robinson
Department of Chemistry
Purdue University
1393 Brown Building
West Lafayette, IN 47907 
Phone: 765-494-5453
E-mail: wrrobin@purdue.edu

 Barbara Tyner, Manager, Special Classes 
Center for Lifelong Learning 
Purdue University 
1586 Stewart Center 
West Lafayette, IN 47907 
Phone: 765-494-2975 
 or 800-359-2968, ext: 89
E-mail: bgt@purdue.edu

Applicability to Recertification, Step Raises, and Graduate Degrees: This course will count towards recertification of your Indiana teacher's license, if you are a classroom teacher. In most systems, this course will be applied toward increasing steps or levels of your salary scale, although your system may require prior approval of courses that can be applied. The course is being offered for pass/fail credit or with a letter grade. Note that many institutions will not accept pass/fail credit on a transfer basis and that the course cannot be applied towards a graduate degree in Chemistry at Purdue University. If you are working towards an advanced degree at another institution and wish to apply this course towards your degree, it might be wise to have the course preapproved by the director of your program.