Who's interested in a basic chemistry course right here on the forum?

[amy31416]

Just a basic chemistry 101/chemistry of life type of course? I've taught these courses and am interested in honing my teaching skills for my daughter. I'd be interested in learning more about teaching strategies from other people who've taught as well. I'm thinking that I'd review one chapter (using my old gen chem text/online resources) approximately 1x/every two weeks.

There's a lot of misinformation about science on the forums, and this seems like it'd be more productive than just getting annoyed/frustrated. Personally, I'd be interested in someone else offering some sort of course on their own expertise--especially economics, odds and ends like the French Revolution, various parts of the American Revolution, the Civil War, etc.

Poll will be up in a few...

[Natural Citizen]

Me. Science communication is one of my favorite things.

We're overrun by corporate "scientism" and so would certainly enjoy a lesson.

Chemestry isn't my strong point but I'm certainly no beginner either so will try to ask good questions.

[kathy88]

I'm in I sucked chem up bad in college.

[amy31416]

Me. Science communication is one of my favorite things.

We're overrun by corporate "scientism".

Chemestry isn't my strong point but I'm certainly no beginner either so will try to ask good questions.

Well I haven't been "corporate" in a while, and even when I was being paid by them, I wasn't "with" them.

I'm in I sucked chem up bad in college.

You had crap teachers, I'd bet. It was absolutely amazing how everything just clicked when I had a professor/mentor who gave a $#@! and was actually enthusiastic about his job.

If math is an issue for anyone, don't worry about it--nothing more than basic stuff. I've forgotten most of the calc stuff I learned anyways. I'll try to make things practical and useful--whether that's for actual use in life or just so we know more and can make better decisions.

[erowe1]

How would it be done?

[Tod]

I've had chemistry in high school and a couple of classes in college, but I've never used it and have forgotten most of it. One thing I never felt like I learned from those classes was any sort of practical application; how to look at household chemicals and decide if mixing them in certain ways was going to do anything or not. (for example, my chemistry classes never alerted me to the dangers of mixing bleach and ammonia, and I don't even know what those molecules are anyway)


2*H2 + 1*O2 = 2*H2O < very cute, but do you just mix them and they automatically re-arrange, or what?

I always felt the same about my electrical classes.....all theory but no practical application knowledge.

[amy31416]

How would it be done?

I'm thinking that I would announce the specific subject, scan in pages from the texts that I have, provide some links and images to illustrate various concepts. I think I'd start with the scientific method, just for a solid base, let the questions come in and answer the best I can, even if that's "I don't know." There's a couple other chemists who are on the forum, I think they'd probably chime in.

I certainly don't have expertise in everything science-related, so I do know my limitations. I spent most of the day teaching my daughter various things with language, math and some really basic science (she's 3, and she was asking me about oxygen today), so while this is inspired by a few things that keep cropping up on the forum, I'm motivated by wanting to be the best possible teacher for my daughter.

Plus, this forum can be a major downer--I'd like to see more positive things.

[green73]

I'm in I sucked chem up bad in college.

This is how college sucks. Since I $#@!ed off bigtime in high school, I really struggled in first semester chem. But I got my $#@! together and aced the second semester. Since you have to know everything from the first semester to get through the second semester, shouldn't my $#@! grade from the first semester have been erased? The same thing happened in calculus. Such bull$#@!. /rant

[amy31416]

Oh...and I'd also do some basic experimentation and post the results--just basic stuff like what cleans what, how to do basic fermentation, etc.

[Danke]

Oh...and I'd also do some basic experimentation and post the results--just basic stuff like what cleans what, how to do basic fermentation, etc.

Can you whip up a concoction for Matt?

[green73]

Amy graciously gave my a rep for what could have been a neg, pointing out that college is bull$#@! in a hell of a lot more ways than what I wrote.

[Danke]

Amy graciously gave my a rep for what could have been a neg, pointing out that college is bull$#@! in a hell of a lot more ways than what I wrote.

Amy is easy.

[amy31416]

Can you whip up a concoction for Matt?

What's the desired end result?

[Danke]

What's the desired end result?

You have to ask? How about a poll?

[Root]

Oh...and I'd also do some basic experimentation and post the results--just basic stuff like what cleans what, how to do basic fermentation, etc.

You sold me with fermentation Yes!

[amy31416]

Amy graciously gave my a rep for what could have been a neg, pointing out that college is bull$#@! in a hell of a lot more ways than what I wrote.

I also had the same experience in calculus, until I learned how to teach myself and figured out who the good teachers were. One of my greatest professors in the liberal arts portion of my degree was a fat, alcoholic Hungarian who lisped and stuttered. He hated almost all of his "students." My science professor/mentor was a rockabilly musician who also taught us how to memorize phone numbers easily so your future wife wouldn't catch you cheating on her. His classes were either ridiculously easy or they were virtually impossible. I took chem engineering from him--it still hurts my brain, but I don't regret it.

Amy is easy.

Naw. Just dumb sometimes.

[amy31416]

You have to ask? How about a poll?

I know of no substance that will make him more like a decent human being....

[Danke]

My science professor/mentor was a rockabilly musician who also taught us how to memorize phone numbers easily so your future wife wouldn't catch you cheating on her.

How much does he charge for his classes?

[green73]

I know of no substance that will make him more like a decent human being....

Formaldehyde?

[amy31416]

How much does he charge for his classes?

He's retired now, just looked him up and he's still $#@!ing with "the man."

http://chronicle.northcoastnow.com/2...ss-height-law/

[kcchiefs6465]

Ankay eway earnlay otay ookay ethmay?

[amy31416]

Ankay eway earnlay otay ookay ethmay?

I think that's already out there if you wanna do it. I can give you all the info on each step of the reaction and various safety precautions though, Heisenberg.

[kcchiefs6465]

I think that's already out there if you wanna do it. I can give you all the info on each step of the reaction and various safety precautions though, Heisenberg.

I wonder how many nanoseconds it took for the NSA to bust my ingenious spy talk.

I'm interested in your chemistry class. (don't be insulted if I don't raise my hand much and/or drop out)

[Danke]

I wonder how many nanoseconds it took for the NSA to bust my ingenious spy talk.

I suspect Amy is a contractor for the NSA.

[kcchiefs6465]

I suspect Amy is a contractor for the NSA.

Is that how she cracked that so quickly?

[amy31416]

Is that how she cracked that so quickly?

**whistles nonchalantly**

[specsaregood]

if you do this, you might see about having it contained to one of the sites private subforums, that way you limit access and can kick out retards.

[eduardo89]

and can kick out retards.

No special needs students allowed?

[specsaregood]

No special needs students allowed?

The operative word being "can" (1.be able to: to have the ability, knowledge, or opportunity to do something) Not that she would be required to do so.

[amy31416]

if you do this, you might see about having it contained to one of the sites private subforums, that way you limit access and can kick out retards.

I'll see how it goes, then see if it's too aggravating to keep it public, which I can definitely see happening.

It'd be nice to have it visible to non-members as a civil counter to a lot of the anti-science sentiment on the forum--that's another reason I wanted to do this. It's my way of broadening our image and a good foil to the Wonkettes who like to think we're all luddites and people into that Icke (sp?) character, among other nutballs.