Chem 201 Archive – Alan Shusterman

Month: December 2013

  • Exam 5 results

    Two weeks ago I offered my perspectives on exam scores (Some data …, Dec 1, 2013). Since then another exam has been completed and I can provide you with the latest results:

    • Exam 1 – 44 (80-100%), 17 (60-80%), 3 (below 60%), median = 42
    • Exam 2 – 40 (80-100%), 17 (60-80%), 7 (below 60%), median = 42
    • Exam 3 – 9 (80-100%), 25 (60-80%), 30 (below 60%), median = 30
    • Exam 4 – 14 (80-100%), 20 (60-80%), 30 (below 60%), median = 31
    • Exam 5 – 32 (80-100%), 22 (60-80%), 11 (below 60%), median = 39.5

    These figures may differ a bit from data provided earlier in the semester because the current figures are based on the 65 students who are still enrolled in the class (we started with 71 in lecture).

    As you can see, exam scores have followed the historical pattern: a slight drop from #1 to #2, a large drop from #2 to #3, and increases from #3 to #4 to #5. Of course, these statements apply only to the class as a whole; individual scores may have followed a very different pattern. Nevertheless, this pattern supports two claims that I made at the start of the semester:

    • organic chemistry “catches most students by surprise” at some point, and
    • nearly everyone eventually figures out a successful strategy for learning with this material

     

  • Top 6 Reflections. Vote for your favorites

    Dec 31, 2013 Update. 20 students sent me their votes for the top Improvement and top Insight reflections.

    Here are the results for the top Improvement:

    1. familiarize ourselves with the material before class – 5 votes
    2. don’t skip the more difficult problems and study together outside of class – 3 votes
    3. set up checkpoints and rotate responsibility for bringing model kits to class – 5 votes
    4. establish friendly and strong communication in the group – 3 votes
    5. study and review together before exams – 3 votes
    6. stay on task and don’t “be talking about nonsense” – 1 vote

    Here are the results for the top Insight (many of these were prefaced by, “the greatest surprise to me is”:

    1. actively engaging with the material helps me understand, but a lecture can also clarify key connections – 1 vote
    2. learn better by explaining things to others – 8 votes
    3. group work can be difficult because sometimes I am too shy to speak up and I don’t want to slow the others down – 5 votes
    4. genuine commitment to group work makes it more effective, everyone contributes in some form or other – 2 votes
    5. the ability to memorize seems to make the difference on exam and we need to find ways (e.g. mnemonic devices) that help this – 3 votes
    6. differences between groups can be surprisingly large – 1 vote

    To read the original ground rules and the full reflections that people voted on, just keep reading.

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  • Some data (and advice) on exams…

    This will sound a bit odd, but we have barely reached the middle of the semester. Obviously, I’m not referring to the calendar — the final exam is just over two weeks away — but if you count exam points, you might see what I’m driving at. So far there have been four short exams totaling 200 points. What remains are another short exam and the final exam totaling 250 points. So slightly over half of the ‘exam’ semester is still waiting.*

    (*Actually way more than half for some students because of the Exam Rescue policy which allows the final exam score to also replace two short exam scores.)

    This post discusses two important exam-related topics. First, it provides statistics on the scores for Exams 1-4. Second, it tells you how to assess your exam scores. Unfortunately, the section on exam assessment is fairly generic — I can’t discuss the scores of any individuals — so I urge everyone who has concerns and/or questions about their work in Chem 201 to come see me in person.

    My door is open.

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