MIT Chemistry Course

[Embassy]

I'm attempting to find workable options for my son for this coming year.  I'm needing something he can mostly do independently, but I can spend some time setting things up into something open and go for him.  He does well with self-directed learning...watching videos or reading a textbook.  This class from MIT sounds like it might work http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/materials-science-and-engineering/3-091sc-introduction-to-solid-state-chemistry-fall-2010/  

 

But, I'm not chemistry knowledgeable.  Does that course cover what a standard chemistry course would cover?  I would want chemistry to be a lab course, correct?  We are in the middle of a move and will be moving again in the next few months, most likely.  We won't be living in a place where we will have space to do any labs right now.  Perhaps we can do a bunch later.  

 

Do you think the MIT course would be too difficult for a child who has completed CPO Physical, Space and Earth Science (integrated chemistry), Miller Levine Biology, Conceptual Physics, Tarbuck Earth Science, and the Algebra 1 portion of Art of Problem Solving Introduction to Algebra?  He is a STEM kid and will most likely go into a computer related field.  

 

Funds are limited right now so I really need to find an affordable solution too.  We are located in Ontario, Canada so getting things shipped from the USA is more difficult.

[CanadianAlison+3boys]

No advice but I'm following because I'm interested for myself. We are in Ontario Canada too :)

Edited June 30, 2016 by CanadianAlison+3boys

[hornblower]

:bigear: 

I'm listening in too as I'm making final decisions. So are you looking at the self paced version or the 15 week version through MITx starting in Sep? 

Just fyi, Thinkwell is on sale till June 30 midnight  through hs co-op. I just spoke to someone from a BC high school who said she thought that covered our Chem 11 & Chem 12 (be we'd need to add labs if we wanted to try to get credit) 

https://www.homeschoolbuyersco-op.org/thinkwell/?c=1

[EndOfOrdinary]

When we did chemistry, we did all of the book first and then did two labs a week for a few months. It worked out very nicely. It was as if the book gave my son the complete picture and then he could get a whole lot more out of the labs. It was much less bits and pieces strung together.

[Mike in SA]

 

But, I'm not chemistry knowledgeable.  Does that course cover what a standard chemistry course would cover?  I would want chemistry to be a lab course, correct?  We are in the middle of a move and will be moving again in the next few months, most likely.  We won't be living in a place where we will have space to do any labs right now.  Perhaps we can do a bunch later.  

 

No - it is solid state chemistry, not general chemistry, and is offered as a substitute course of sorts (it focuses on specific types of materials).  It will cover some common content, but I would not assume that it covers the same content in general. 

 

MIT-OCW does have an excellent freshman general chemistry course, http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/chemistry/5-111-principles-of-chemical-science-fall-2008/. I still would not consider it typical coverage - it presumes familiarity with chemistry already (equivalent to high school chemistry).  The lectures are fantastic, and the book is very deep.

 

 

Do you think the MIT course would be too difficult for a child who has completed CPO Physical, Space and Earth Science (integrated chemistry), Miller Levine Biology, Conceptual Physics, Tarbuck Earth Science, and the Algebra 1 portion of Art of Problem Solving Introduction to Algebra?  He is a STEM kid and will most likely go into a computer related field.  

 

 

Likely yes.  Both listed above will be hard.  Remember, these are courses taught at MIT, as they are taught at MIT.  Though they suggest a student only needs a desire to learn, there are assumptions regarding the minimum high school education that all MIT freshman will have.  I would recommend going through stoichiometry (at least) in another chemistry course first.

 

 

In the one I listed above, chapter 1 begins with quantum mechanics, and uses a bit of calculus.  It doesn't require a calculus or physics background, though - the book does a good job of presenting content at two depths: "normal" freshman honors, or "MIT" freshman honors.  The "normal" level is at least AP.  The "MIT" level is well beyond what you would see on an AP exam.

 

The prelude in the book covers all of a normal chemistry course in the span of about 100 pages.  If you were to take this course, I'd plan to work every single prelude section prior to watching the first video.  Then, follow the course as presented, with approximately 1-2 videos per week.  It will fill a year.

 

If you take that course, do get the book and solutions manual.  You will need them.

 

ETA: additional info for the solid state course.

Edited June 30, 2016 by Mike in SA

[cave canem]

This is 3.091 and does not cover typical freshman chem.   That would be in department 5.  I took a quick look at the ocw site and did not see any chemistry classes there that cover what you are looking for.

 

However, I think 3.091 is a great class, and the ocw version of it is with a fantastic professor.  It is worthwhile in its own right.

[foxbridgeacademy]

Would this Chem course from Coursera followed by the advanced Chem course work?  If you combine both they say 12 weeks to finish.  You could double or even triple the time to spread it over and add in additional reading/work....., maybe? 

 

This one says no prior experience is needed

Edited June 30, 2016 by foxbridgeacademy

[Embassy]

:bigear: 

 

I'm listening in too as I'm making final decisions. So are you looking at the self paced version or the 15 week version through MITx starting in Sep? 

 

Just fyi, Thinkwell is on sale till June 30 midnight  through hs co-op. I just spoke to someone from a BC high school who said she thought that covered our Chem 11 & Chem 12 (be we'd need to add labs if we wanted to try to get credit) 

 

https://www.homeschoolbuyersco-op.org/thinkwell/?c=1

 

Thanks!  He is more interested in the self-paced version.

[Embassy]

When we did chemistry, we did all of the book first and then did two labs a week for a few months. It worked out very nicely. It was as if the book gave my son the complete picture and then he could get a whole lot more out of the labs. It was much less bits and pieces strung together.

 

Good idea.  We'll be living in an old house without clean water for awhile. Hmm, I wonder if there is a chemistry project we can do related to the well water issues.  Anyone know?

[Embassy]

No - it is solid state chemistry, not general chemistry, and is offered as a substitute course of sorts (it focuses on specific types of materials).  It will cover some common content, but I would not assume that it covers the same content in general. 

 

MIT-OCW does have an excellent freshman general chemistry course, http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/chemistry/5-111-principles-of-chemical-science-fall-2008/. I still would not consider it typical coverage - it presumes familiarity with chemistry already (equivalent to high school chemistry).  The lectures are fantastic, and the book is very deep.

 

 

 

Likely yes.  Both listed above will be hard.  Remember, these are courses taught at MIT, as they are taught at MIT.  Though they suggest a student only needs a desire to learn, there are assumptions regarding the minimum high school education that all MIT freshman will have.  I would recommend going through stoichiometry (at least) in another chemistry course first.

 

 

In the one I listed above, chapter 1 begins with quantum mechanics, and uses a bit of calculus.  It doesn't require a calculus or physics background, though - the book does a good job of presenting content at two depths: "normal" freshman honors, or "MIT" freshman honors.  The "normal" level is at least AP.  The "MIT" level is well beyond what you would see on an AP exam.

 

The prelude in the book covers all of a normal chemistry course in the span of about 100 pages.  If you were to take this course, I'd plan to work every single prelude section prior to watching the first video.  Then, follow the course as presented, with approximately 1-2 videos per week.  It will fill a year.

 

If you take that course, do get the book and solutions manual.  You will need them.

 

ETA: additional info for the solid state course.

Thanks, this is quite helpful.  

[Embassy]

Would this Chem course from Coursera followed by the advanced Chem course work?  If you combine both they say 12 weeks to finish.  You could double or even triple the time to spread it over and add in additional reading/work....., maybe? 

 

This one says no prior experience is needed

Thanks, I'll check it out.

[GThomas]

We've been using Elemental Science in Middle school (we've been very happy with them with our own tweaks of less writing and mom creates study flashcards). They're now offering a high school chemistry class (coming late this summer) http://elementalscience.com/collections/high-school 

 

Oh and to add on...the middle school series used items for the experiments that can be easily found. Looks like the high school version will have hands-on experiments and virtual online labs.

Edited June 30, 2016 by GThomas

[abdesigns]

Would this Chem course from Coursera followed by the advanced Chem course work?  If you combine both they say 12 weeks to finish.  You could double or even triple the time to spread it over and add in additional reading/work....., maybe? 

 

This one says no prior experience is needed

 

This is exactly what we are planning on doing this year. I bought a used chem textbook off of Amazon to read through while working through the two classes, and a lab kit from QSL.  I'm hoping it's the right move, we'll see.

 

Edited July 1, 2016 by abdesigns

[Dicentra]

Looks like you've gotten some good suggestions, Embassy. :)  If you have any questions about how various chem curriculum or programs line up with the Ontario high school curriculum, I'd be more than happy to help. :)

 

For those in Ontario, you can always have your student do courses through the ILC or VHS or another online provider.  The ILC courses are cheap (I think they're $40 per course), they're asynchronous, and all the marking is done for you.  No hands-on labs but they provide some online lab experiences.  The courses are accredited by the Ontario government and follow the Ontario high school curriculum documents.

[Embassy]

Looks like you've gotten some good suggestions, Embassy. :)  If you have any questions about how various chem curriculum or programs line up with the Ontario high school curriculum, I'd be more than happy to help. :)

 

For those in Ontario, you can always have your student do courses through the ILC or VHS or another online provider.  The ILC courses are cheap (I think they're $40 per course), they're asynchronous, and all the marking is done for you.  No hands-on labs but they provide some online lab experiences.  The courses are accredited by the Ontario government and follow the Ontario high school curriculum documents.

 

Thanks Dicentra.  I've looked at ILC as an option.  I can't find any information about what classes are like through ILC.  Are they mostly online reading, video lectures, or something else?  Do they use a textbook?  My son's major request for his chemistry course is that it is interesting and from what I've heard ILC is pretty dry.  Is that correct?

[Dicentra]

Thanks Dicentra.  I've looked at ILC as an option.  I can't find any information about what classes are like through ILC.  Are they mostly online reading, video lectures, or something else?  Do they use a textbook?  My son's major request for his chemistry course is that it is interesting and from what I've heard ILC is pretty dry.  Is that correct?

 

This is from their website:

 

• Course content is delivered using a variety of methods including:
  • Online, through My ILC
  • Blended, combination of online through My ILC and in print
  • Printed materials
• Course materials include readings, practice exercises, assignments and (depending on the course) other resources such as books, software and web-based practice tutorials.
• Each course has a Journal used to collect your work and monitor your progress.

From tutoring students who were working through ILC courses, they were mostly set-up almost like old-school correspondence courses.  The ILC sends you booklets for each unit that the student reads through, answers questions, and then submits the assignment questions to be marked.  The courses I've seen haven't made a whole lot of use of any online materials although the students do submit their assignments electronically.  So, basically - read, answer questions, read, answer questions, etc.  It is pretty dry. :)

 

[Embassy]

This is from their website:

 

• Course content is delivered using a variety of methods including:
  • Online, through My ILC
  • Blended, combination of online through My ILC and in print
  • Printed materials
• Course materials include readings, practice exercises, assignments and (depending on the course) other resources such as books, software and web-based practice tutorials.
• Each course has a Journal used to collect your work and monitor your progress.

From tutoring students who were working through ILC courses, they were mostly set-up almost like old-school correspondence courses.  The ILC sends you booklets for each unit that the student reads through, answers questions, and then submits the assignment questions to be marked.  The courses I've seen haven't made a whole lot of use of any online materials although the students do submit their assignments electronically.  So, basically - read, answer questions, read, answer questions, etc.  It is pretty dry. :)

 

 

Thanks!  That helps.  I took a correspondence course back in the 1990s and it was sooooo dry!   It looks like I'll probably end up using an actual text, maybe Chang.  And then I'll have to put off the labs until later.