Sunday, November 23, 2008

First week in the Thunderdome is over

Remember, no class tomorrow night. Hope you're using the time off wisely and/or well. 

And since tomorrow is Monday that means there's only one more week for the Digital Scavenger Hunt. I'm no expert but it seems to me that the best time to get the group photos would be before Thanksgiving break, not after. Your mileage may vary...

Since each Flickr group is private, all discussions can be made therein. I can also keep score while we go along so I don't have to do it all next Monday. Before our last class period I hope to make a PowerPoint presentation of the results [in the 3 hour turnaround] so having early photos would help with that also.

http://chemweb.calpoly.edu/rschoono/101/101.html

Have a good break!!!

Monday, November 17, 2008

The Digital Scavenger Hunt

Eight Teams Enter, One Team Leaves!
  1. Each item must be documented by digital camera/cellphone with at least one team member in view. Everyone knows about Photoshop so none of that nonsense. Pictures of computer screens or other digital images are equally lame.
  2. For an entry to count, it must uploaded to your Flickr group account by Monday December 01 at 3:00 pm. Flickr group invitations will be sent out Monday evening (already sent!).
  3. All submissions must be tagged with the appropriate description. Each photo can only be used once.
  4. Dr Schoonover is the final judge on all items and retains the right to award special points for especially awesome entries. Bribery, although unlikely to work, is nonetheless not disallowed.
  5. There is no I in teamwork.
  6. Please don't bring teh lazy. Dr. Schoonover no like teh lazy.
  7. No whining.
The teams have been assigned, Tina Turner has arrived in ridiculous leather getup, and the door to the Thunderdome has been welded shut behind you. 

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Week 9: November 17, 2008

Well, last week's Lab After Dark had tons of chaos, as expected, for the first time anyone has tried anything like this. I had lots of fun although I was running around so much I didn't get to monitor how well individual groups were doing. There are some amazing crystals in the display case in the D-wing, btw, if you'd like to peek at them before class tomorrow. Many of the sparklers, however, look rather sad. Though smelly, the floam syntheses turned out pretty awesome, I think.

This week, we will be having back-to-back minilectures by two of the department's most engaging professors: Dr. Gragson, who had to postpone from a couple of weeks ago, and Dr. Kantorowski. Afterwards the three of us will talk briefly about research opportunities for students and answer any questions you might have on that topic.

The following Monday we will not have class as my proposed field trip did not quite gel. The timing isn't quite right anyways as I'm pretty certain many of you have exams the following day.

Following Thanksgiving break, Week 11, we will have our final meeting and view the results of our Digital Scavenger Hunt. I will be handing out information on that exercise, and assigning teams, during tomorrow night's meeting. Note: You must attend tomorrow's class to participate in the Hunt.

This week's questions:
  1. What country/countries [that you've never been to] would you most like to visit? Reasons?
  2. Have you learned anything in chem 101 this quarter? Other than making beer? :)
  3. What classes are you most looking forward to, and most dreading, in your future?
  4. Ask your own question of yourself: and then answer it! (In other words, tell us something about yourself we don't already know).

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Week 8: November 10, 2008 -- Lab After Dark!

Don't forget to go straight to the D-Wing tomorrow evening [don't be late!] for Lab After Dark! If you can get there at least a few minutes early that would be ideal.

This week's questions:

1)  What are your hardest and easiest classes so far?
2)  Are there any movies you're anxiously waiting for to come out?
3)  Which is better, fluther.com or fark.com? If you've never heard of them, inform yourself now.
4)  Two of my pet peeves are (a) when people misspell you're as your and (b) sitting in front of someone at the movies who loudly chomps popcorn for 20 min straight. Do you have any pet peeves? 

Sunday, November 2, 2008

week 7: November 03

Not only is Monday night Election Day Eve, but we will be visited by Dr. Derek Gragson who will be giving a mini-lecture on topic X [unknown to the instructor at press time!] Following this Dr. Schoonover [me]  will give a brief presentation titled "What Do Chemists Do?: Traditional and Nontraditional Careers". Any questions along the way are, as always, welcome and appreciated.

Also, your two weeks are up, so don't forget that the advising assignment is due tomorrow!

This week's questions:
a) Tuesday is Election Day and most, if not all, of you are eligible to vote for president for the first time. On a scale of 1 to 10, how much attention have you paid the election in the past half-year or so? Explain further if you'd like.
b) What did you dress up as for Halloween (if you did so)?
c) Do you know what you want to do when you [eventually] graduate?
d) Are there any general questions you'd like to ask your chemistry professor(s)? (this could include your 101 instructor if necessary)