Each week we will tackle a new specific skill that is usually taught within the first month of Chemistry. My hope is that you can take this course along with your Chemistry course to provide added support and increased success! Those topics by week are:

Week 1: Scientific notation and significant figures. These two topics are best taught together, and though usually skimmed through quickly in math AND chemistry courses, it is essential for success.

Week 2: Atomic theory and isotopes. We will do a quick history of the past theories regarding atomic structure until we land on current accepted models. We will then learn what "average" atomic mass means, and how to calculate the numbers of protons, neutrons and electrons in both neutral and charged isotopes.

Week 3: Ions and ionic bonding. The students will learn how and why atoms lose and gain electrons, turning them into charged ions. They will then learn how to combine these ions to form electronically neutral ionic compounds.

Week 4: Ionic nomenclature. Students will learn how to name ionic compounds. This will include simple ionic compounds whose cations have a constant charge, as well as more complex ionic compounds where cation charge is variable and roman numerals must be used in naming.

Each week I will post a video in which I instruct a specific skill, put up practice problems, then ask the student to pause and complete the practice. Once they resume the video they will see if they are correct. I will also write down common wrong answers that I have seen over the last 15 years of teaching this material, and explain why they are incorrect. This will repeat throughout the video until we reach the end of the lesson. At the end of the video the students will be directed to an online survey "quiz" where they can test their knowledge.

Once they have completed the quiz they will be given the correct answers, and I will immediately be given their results. This will allow students to see if they can work through their own mistakes, which is an incredibly powerful learning tool. My immediately receiving their answers as well will allow me to reach out to the student and help explain any errors they made as well as answer any questions they still might have.

The students will then have to create three practice problems, and solutions, to post to the class discussion, with two of the answers being correct and one being purposefully incorrect. Students will then be required to respond to one other students' examples and answers, and post which answer is incorrect, why it is incorrect, and what the correct answer is. I will moderate all communications for accuracy, but I hope that the students having to generate their own questions, generate their own answers, and sharing with their peers will greatly increase the depth of their understanding.

If the student wants to, they are more than welcome to retake any online quiz as much as they like to continue to test themselves. I will also include extra practice problems, with solutions, for even more practice. This will give the students much more support and practice than they would be able to receive in their standard chemistry course.