How DOES a student earn a top grade? Several strategies can lead to success. The first is that general chemistry courses require a considerable amount of effort evenly spread across the entire semester. Work on assignments over several days and not just before the deadline. Most college instructors (especially those in challenging courses) recommend 2 to 3 hours per hour of class time per week. A second strategy is to understand the ideas that the homework or quizzes are based on. Organize all of the questions from the clicker questions in class, the homework, and the solved problems in the lecture videos and text. They are all related to the 5 to 8 big ideas in each chapter. Recognize the idea, what the questions ask, and how they are all related. Memorizing the approach to a question is rarely useful; doing a prescribed set of steps (i.e., algorithm) every time you see certain words or a concept does not help when the next question is even slightly different. Practice the skills of recognizing the ideas with a new set of problems; the end of chapter problems are ideal for this activity. Remember that this process takes time but develops your problem-solving skills that will be useful beyond these courses. If I understand the solved problems in class and in the video, why aren’t my exam scores better? Watching an instructor solve a problem in class or video certainly means that you understand the basic ideas. That’s great, but it represents the lowest level of understanding according to cognitive models. These courses require problem solving and applying knowledge at much higher levels of learning. As a student, YOU have to be able to solve the problems. The electronic homework questions give the students several attempts, often with intervening hints or tutorials. Simply remembering the question and answer is typically not very useful because almost any variation can’t be solved by this strategy. Why am I doing these steps? What simple changes will I recognize and what adjustments need to be made in my process? The general chemistry program uses a form of homework or self-assessment called “progress checks”. These give students alternative questions but only one attempt to test their skills. In addition, the textbook has substantial numbers of end-of-chapter problems with which to practice. Recognizing the material in a variety of forms and devising a plan of action are the skills to achieve. I made a “D” in my Chemistry lecture course. Can I still move on and take the next course in the sequence? Yes. Technically a “D” is a passing grade, so you can take other courses. However, a “D” may not satisfy your major requirements so you should check with your advisor about the best course of action. What should I take as a review before taking CHEM 1211? It has been awhile since I took chemistry and I don’t remember anything. Taking CHEM 1110 is possible but not helpful. The course coverage is different so it does not work as a preface for CHEM 1211. Additionally, taking both courses decreases financial aid hours without completing additional core requirements. If you feel like you need a preparatory course prior to taking CHEM 1211 and CHEM 1211L, the Chemistry Department now offers CHEM 1210. Find out more about CHEM 1210 here. Where can I get help? Every instructor has office hours, and some offer additional help sessions. Graduate teaching assistants can provide help with content from lecture and lab courses. The course syllabus or the news and announcements on the eLC site will tell you where and when you can access your instructor and the TAs. The Office of Academic Enhancement offers free tutoring in their facility in Memorial Hall and at the Miller Learning Center. Paid tutors are available on and off campus. Finding someone who just gives out sets of questions and answers is not likely to be of much help. (The textbook has hundreds of free questions.) Many students find these courses challenging; therefore, it should be obvious that there is no trivial answer. On the other hand, figuring it out is both satisfying and productive. Why do many students feel that these courses are especially difficult? Many students have career aspirations that require a serious academic program. No one says that you also can’t have a good time while being academically successful. Every student accepted into UGA has the requisite skills to succeed in these introductory courses. In the same way, each student is also expected to develop study habits and a work ethic that will be successful at the collegiate level.
