AP  Chemistry 

On-Line for 2008-2009 School Year

Teacher: Peter Moskaluk

Email: moskaluk@chemadvantage.com

Text Required: Chemistry, 9th edition by Raymond Chang, ISBN: 0073221031

Technical Requirements:

Who Should Apply: The class is open to 10th through 12th grade students who have completed a high-school level chemistry class. Students must also proficient in algebra including use of logarithms. Students should be ready to commit 10 to12 hours a week for this course.

Class Fees:

Class Description: This is a full-year college level chemistry class as dictated by the AP syllabus and will prepare students for the AP Chemistry Exam.

This is not just an exam review! It is a comprehensive first-year college chemistry class with a College Board recommended text and a dedicated instructor who will provide daily instruction and assignments, one-on-one assistance and challenging lab work While a student is working on a problem, he/she can ask questions using the on-line Help Desk. Students can interact with one another and the teacher in a safe, monitored, closed environment.

The student will use an interactive homework and test program. This customized learning environment provides a rich, unique learning experience. With this web assignment program, short answer, numeric and multiple-choice questions are immediately graded to provide instant feedback. Students know right away if they've done a problem correctly. Students are allowed multiple submissions so that they can correct any errors and learn how to do the problem correctly. While a student is working on a problem, he/she can ask questions using the on-line Help Desk. Essay exams are graded by the teacher. A student’s grades will be available from an on-line grade book to give an up-to-date view of progress for the students and their parents.

Over 250 universities, colleges and academies use this web assignment program -- including California-Berkeley, Chapel Hill, Notre Dame, Auburn, Georgetown, Rensselaer Polytechnic, Rutgers, Texas A&M, United States Air Force and United States Military and Naval Academies.

Students find the program to be a great way to learn. Testimonials to the program:

"[the assignments] get me focused on chemistry and don't allow me to slack off."

"It's nice because you get instant feedback (you know right away if you are doing the problems wrong)."

"I always know if I have done it right, and I have plenty of time to receive help without staying up really late and pulling my hair out."

Lab Description: The College Board requires a "hands-on laboratory component" for AP Chemistry. To fulfill this requirement, each student will perform College Board recommended labs and produce a comprehensive lab notebook. To carry out these labs, a lab kit will be shipped. The lab kit includes a college lab notebook, milligram electronic balance, digital thermometer, pH meter, digital multimeter, diffraction grating, organic chemistry model kit, burette, volumetric flask, Erlenmeyer flask, beakers, test tubes, wash bottle, safety goggles, lab apron, gloves, assorted lab ware and of course, chemicals. The chemicals used in the experiments require care in handling, but are no more dangerous than many common household substances. Lab safety, an essential part of any chemistry course, will be emphasized. The experiments have been designed to be safely done at home. Parents must assume responsibility for the safe storage of the chemicals and equipment and provide adequate supervision. We have found that parents enjoy helping with experiments. Except for consumables, the chemistry kit must be returned at the end of the course. Return postage is included in the fee. Also the course will require use of small amounts of household chemicals such as baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol and ammonia

The AP Chemistry course with hands-on lab brings out the excitement that is chemistry. When you have completed this course in May, you will have participated in an exciting adventure in learning.

Instructor Qualifications: I have had over 30 years experience teaching high school chemistry. I earned my BS in Science and a Master of Science Education degree at Wayne State University. As part of the Master's program, I worked with the Fairleigh Dickinson University Lab in St Croix monitoring coral reef oxygen respiration rates. Sponsored by the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation, I was a Woodrow Wilson Fellow at Princeton where I developed chemistry demonstrations for teachers. While working for the National Science Foundation's Project Seraphim, I led workshops for chemistry teachers around the country, developed applications for computers in chemistry education and hosted an international Internet Conference, CHYMNET, for chemistry educators.

I have written questions for the Michigan Educational Assessment Test, ACT Assessment and served as a chemistry reviewer for the University of North Carolina's interactive Web Question Database. I have also edited articles for the Journal of Chemical Education.

In 2003 I went to Washington, D.C. to receive the 2003 Presidential Scholars Teacher Recognition Award. The award was in recognition of being an inspiring and challenging teacher. Only 100 teachers in the entire country receive this award each year.

How to register: Assuming you meet the prerequisites of one year of high school chemistry and algebra and will be in 10th, 11th or 12th grade, simply e-mail me that you would like to participate in the class. I will ask you to fill out a brief application and will then send you an email back letting you know if you’ve been accepted into the class. If accepted, you can then register and pay for the class through the PA Homeschoolers Online Store.

Hope to see you in AP Chemistry!

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