Chemical Foundations (11768.1)

Required texts

Required text

• Brown, Lemay, Bursten, Murphy, Woodward, Langford, Sagatys, George;  Chemistry: The Central Science. Fifteenth Global Edition in SI Units, Pearson (ISBN 9781292408767). Please note, an e-copy of this text will be accessible for free through Canvas during the semester. Hard copies are also available for temporary loan in the University of Canberra Library. If you wish to have access to the text beyond this unit, then it can be purchased at School Locker in the UC Shop (there may also be some second-hand copies obtainable). Alternatively, an e-Text option (ISBN 9781292408774) is accessible from the publisher which is significantly cheaper than the hard copy.

Required printing

• Chemical Foundations Laboratory Manual, 2024 Edition.
  This manual contains the material required for the laboratory sessions throughout the semester and must be printed in advance and brought to all laboratory classes from Week 2. You may choose to print either the full manual or the shorter weekly documents. Both forms will be available in advance on Canvas. Students are strongly discourage from using the softcopy in the lab on a device as the safety of the device cannot be guaranteed in a chemical environment. Students will also find the hardcopy useful when undertaking their Laboratory Assignment.

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

The above extension policy only applies to the following assessments in the unit: Mastering Chemistry Revision Assignments, Laboratory Assignment and Content Engagement Weekly Quizzes. These are the assignments (not including the Mid-Semester Test or End-of-Semester Examination) for which you gain marks that contribute to your final grade. The policy does not apply for participation requirements (i.e. laboratory attendance) nor for safety features (such as completing pre-lab quizzes on time to gain entry to the labs). If you miss the deadline for completion of a pre-lab quiz or for attending a lab, extensions are not possible and you will have an absence recorded.

Separately, if a student has reasonable grounds for missing the the Mid-Semester Test or End-of-Semester Exam, a deferral (rather than extension0 application can be made. More information is found on Canvas. 

Special assessment requirements

In order to pass this unit, a student needs to:

1. Attend 7/10 laboratory sessions*. This attendance requirement is upheld regardless of supporting documentation

(*Note: "laboratory session" counts as the labs run in Weeks 2 – 6, 9 – 13.)

2. Attempt all assessment items (See ‘Assessment Item Details')
3. Achieve a final aggregated unit mark of at least 50%

The unit convenor reserves the right to question students on any of their submitted work for moderation and academic integrity purposes, which may result in an adjustment to the marks awarded for a specific task..

Please note: fulfilling these requirements is the way to demonstrate students have the knowledge and skills associated with this unit. The Unit Learning Outcomes cannot be said to be met if any of these requirements aren't fulfilled. Therefore, if students encounter any exceptional circumstances that prevent them from meeting these special requirements they should contact the Unit Convener as soon as possible via ChemFoundations@canberra.edu.au to discuss alternative arrangements if deemed appropriate.

Supplementary assessment

According to policy, supplementary assessment will only be offered to students who fail this unit in the final semester of their course with a final mark between 45–49%, and have passed all other units in the teaching period.

Academic integrity

Students have a responsibility to uphold University standards on ethical scholarship. Good scholarship involves building on the work of others and use of others' work must be acknowledged with proper attribution made. Cheating, plagiarism, and falsification of data are dishonest practices that contravene academic values. Refer to the University's Student Charter for more information.

To enhance understanding of academic integrity, all students are expected to complete the Academic Integrity Module (AIM) at least once during their course of study. You can access this module within UCLearn (Canvas) through the 'Academic Integrity and Avoiding Plagiarism' link in the Study Help site.

Use of Text-Matching Software

The University of Canberra uses text-matching software to help students and staff reduce plagiarism and improve understanding of academic integrity. The software matches submitted text in student assignments against material from various sources: the internet, published books and journals, and previously submitted student texts.

Additional Laboratory Assessment Requirements

Laboratory sessions require strict adherence to safety protocols. As such, students are required to arrive at laboratory classes:

• wearing personal protective equipment (a laboratory coat and safety glasses) and enclosed shoes that completely cover the foot;
• having successfully completed the Safety Quiz on Canvas by midnight Sunday of Week 2 (see Week 2 laboratory for details);
• having successfully completed the corresponding weekly prelab quiz on Canvas by midnight Sunday (see Laboratory Assignment for details).
• on time and enter the laboratory prior to the start of the safety briefing.

Students who do not meet these requirements will be denied access to the laboratory session as a matter of safety (including if you arrive late). This will contribute to total absences resulting in difficulties meeting special assessment requirements of the unit regarding laboratory attendance. Where exceptional circumstances have occurred, supporting documentation must be supplied to the Unit Convener in a timely manner via ChemFoundations@canberra.edu.au to make alternative arrangements if possible (given constraints of timetabled classes) and only if deemed appropriate.

Learner engagement

The Chemical Foundations contact hours for each student consist of ~18 hours of recorded Concept Videos (including content explanations, worked examples and helpful study activities), 11 hours of workshops, 12 hours of tutorials and 20 hours of laboratory work, totalling 61 hours. The remaining workload should be distributed across self-directed study to prepare for and review these sessions (at least 4 hrs per week or 48 hours) and the remaining ~41 hours to be allocated for assessment items. Being diligent about weekly, self-directed study will reduce the number of hours spent on assessment items.

Participation requirements

Whilst the viewing of Concept Videos is not actively monitored and there is no attendance requirement for tutorials or workshops, students should note that lack of engagement or attendance may impact their ability to satisfactorily pass assessment items. Due to time constraints, convener availability out of teaching hours is limited and cannot always be guaranteed. Students should make full use of in-timetable support (e.g. by attending tutorials) before requesting out-of-timetable support.

Participation in laboratory sessions is a compulsory condition of this unit, and attendance will be recorded. A student must participate in a minimum of 7/10 laboratory sessions in order to pass the unit.

It is each student's responsibility to ensure their attendance is recorded electronically by ID scan on entry to the laboratory. It should also be noted that laboratory classes cannot be repeated outside of the scheduled times and students must attend the sessions they have chosen to allocate into (See Timetable of Activities). A student missing a class both records an absence and misses the opportunity to practise the skills taught in that session.

In the event that you cannot attend your assigned lab due to illness or unavoidable committments, contact the unit convener as soon as possible for consideration of an alternative lab class that week (if available). This decision is at the discretion of the convener and cannot be guaranteed. You will need to provide relevant documentation (e.g. medical certificate) for approval to attend an alternative session. These records will also aid the unit convener to apply discretion where appropriate, however, in most circumstances, the minimum participation requirement must still be met regardless of supporting documentation.

Required IT skills

It is the student's responsibility to ensure that they have basic computer keyboard skills and access to a personal computer and the internet. This is required to access online assessments, the unit Canvas site and regularly check university email accounts for important announcements relating to this unit. If a student does not have their own computer they can use the PC laboratories on the Bruce UC campus.

Students must also become familiar with the use of the provided e-resource Mastering Chemistry in order to complete assessment tasks. Students will be introduced to this and provided training in the Week 1 tutorial. (As with all tutorials, this will be recorded if students cannot attend.) 

In-unit costs

There are relatively minor costs associated with this unit in the provision of appropriate protective safety equipment (lab coat and safety glasses) and laboratory manual printing which are all mandatory for all chemical laboratory classes. Laboratory coats and safety glasses are typically available on campus (UC Shop) and/or work wear stores (such as Bunnings or Officeworks). If this cost is prohibitive, please reach out to the unit convener.

A scientific calculator is also required in this unit and should be accessible in all teaching sessions and assessments. A scientific calculator is permitted in all assessment tasks, but a graphics programmable calculator or phone calculators are prohibited.

Work placement, internships or practicums

None.

Additional information

Provision of information to the cohort
Most information relevant to the unit will be posted on the unit Canvas site. Resources will be updated frequently throughout the semester. Announcements made at timetabled tutorial and laboratory sessions and/or through the unit's Canvas site "Announcements" are deemed to be made to the whole group. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that they check for Announcements on the Unit's Canvas site and their student emails daily.

Communication between staff and students

The best form of communication is via email to the unit inbox: ChemFoundations@canberra.edu.au. If you wish to contact the Unit Convener directly please email Hilary.Coleman@canberra.edu.au. 

The University Email policy states that "students wishing to contact the University via email regarding administrative or academic matters need to send the email from the University account for identity verification purposes". Therefore, all unit enquiries should be emailed using a student university email account. Students should contact servicedesk@canberra.edu.au if they have any issues accessing their university email account. 

The Canvas Discussion forums will be checked by staff on a regular basis. Messages sent to staff through Canvas cannot be actioned. 

Student Consultation
The Unit Convener is Dr. Hilary Coleman (Room 3C43, Phone 6201 2169). The convener will be running some of the laboratory and tutorial classes and will be available for consultation during these classes. To arrange a consultation at another time, please email her. All other teaching staff will be available during their allocated laboratory and tutorial classes.

Feedback on Student Performance
Students are able to monitor their performance in this unit by their responses to the regular quiz, laboratory, tutorial and revision assessment tasks, as well as additional self assessment tools (available via the unit's Canvas site and Mastering Chemisty). Feedback will be provided with assessment marks and can be sought at any stage by contacting the convener.

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