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CHEMISTRY

This course, designed for both new and experienced AP Chemistry teachers, will review the major concepts in a general college chemistry course with the intent of exploring the proper manner to present and to evaluate them. Special emphasis will be placed on classroom strategies and planning to fill the needs of the AP curriculum. Participants will perform and evaluate several labs of various styles that include the determination of a formula, solution chemistry (titrations), illustrations of major topics, some quantitative analysis, and a separation of compounds. Significant time will be spent on developing an understanding of the actual test and methods for ensuring students' success. Participants will discuss the most recent AP Exam.

Tuesday

  • Welcome and Introductions
  • Overview of the Institute
  • AP Chemistry Curriculum, breadth and depth of coverage
  • Texts, College Board Resource materials
  • Prerequisites, Screening students, Aptitude test, The Role of Guidance
  • Audit & Redesign
  • Lab: Synthesis of Iron Oxalato salt
  • Lab: Standardization of NaOH, calculations, and Excel spreadsheet data entry.
  • Lab: Standardization of KMnO4, calculations, and Excel spreadsheet data entry.
  • Lab debriefings
  • Presentation/Discussion of a teaching activity.
  • Assignments: HW from College textbook and Presentation and Discussion of the 2012 AP Exam

Wednesday

  • Setting up a Successful Course in AP Chemistry
  • Comparability studies
  • Timeline
  • Homework Assignments 
  • Making Labs meaningful
  • Things to Memorize and Predicting Equations
  • Lab: Dehydration of Complex Iron salt, calculations of percent of water, and Excel spreadsheet data entry.
  • Lab debriefings
  • Exam Format and Makeup
  • Assignments: HW from College textbook and Presentation and Discussion of the 2012 AP Exam
  • Presentation/Discussion of a teaching activity.

Thursday

  • Preparation for and Math Logic for Multiple Choice Questions
  • Mock Grading exercise
  • Unit Testing and Grading
  • Lab: Demonstration of and performance of pH probe calibration
  • Lab: Ion exchange procedure, titration with standardized NaOH, and calculation and Excel spreadsheet data entry for percent of Fe and K
  • Lab debriefings
  • Assignments: HW from College textbook and Presentation and Discussion of the 2012 AP Exam
  • Presentation/Discussion of a teaching activity.

Friday

  • Present Useful Chemistry Web Sites 
  • Scoring the AP exam
  • Keys to Passing the exam
  • AP Report to teachers
  • What to do after the Exam
  • Lab: Ion exchange procedure, titration with standardized KMnO4, and calculation and Excel spreadsheet data entry for the percent of Fe in the complex salt.
  • Lab debriefings
  • Final Participant Sharing Session
  • Lab cleanup

Participants are asked to bring the following:

  1. A scientific calculator.
  2. 25-30 copies of your favorite Chemistry activity or experiment to share with other participants.
  3. A Chemistry web site which you have found to be useful in your classroom. (Email the address to me with a short annotation so I can compile a list prior to the start of class)

John Hnatow - John retired from public school teaching in 2008 after teaching chemistry for thirty six years at Emmaus High School in the East Penn School District in Emmaus, PA, where he was also chairperson of the science department. John is a Chemistry and Pre-AP Science Education Instructor for APSI Programs at Goucher College and the Lewes Institute. John is an experienced Advanced Placement Chemistry and Pre-AP Science consultant, a Chemistry workshop leader, an AP Exam Reader and Table and Question Leader, and has served on the Chemistry Development Committee. John is co-chair of the AP Chemistry Redesign Committee, a member and College Board Advisor of the AP Chemistry Redesign Curriculum Development and Assessment Committee, and is currently a member of the College Board's Science Academic Advisory Committee. John is a mentor teacher for New Orleans public and charter schools, and presents Saturday sessions for the REACH program in New York City. He is also a Dreyfus Master Teacher and was team leader of the WWNFF CHEM4 Chemistry team, with whom he presented over twenty-seven weeklong TORCH institutes for chemistry teachers throughout the country. John has presented numerous technology workshops throughout the country, including TI calculator and CBL, LabPro, LabQuest, Hypercard, Graphical Analysis, Concept Mapping, and Multimedia workshops for science teachers. He has presented numerous topics at ACS meetings, Chem Ed conferences, and demonstrated in the Flinn sponsored "An Incredible Evening of Chemistry" at an NSTA meeting in Boston. His several notable national awards include the 2004 Discovery Center Science Teacher Hall of Fame Inductee, 1996 CMA Catalyst Award, the 1995 Tandy Technology Scholars Award, and the 1987 Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Teaching.

"The course was excellent. Well worth the time and travel."