Events
- Annual Convention
- Great Teaching Round-up
- Leading from the middle
- fall conference for faculty leaders
- The Texas Network
"I think there is something more important than believing: Action! The world is full of dreamers, there aren't enough who will move ahead and begin to take concrete steps to actualize their vision."
Events: 2011 Chemistry Schedule
Chemistry Summary
Friday, 9:30 - 11:00 a.m.
"New Instruments, Student Research, and a New Lab Manual at Houston Community College"
Speakers: Yiyan Bai, Chemistry, Physics, and Engineering Instructor, Houston Community College; and Shamsuddin Shaikh, Chemistry Instructor, Houston Community College
Friday, 2:30 - 3:45 p.m.
"QuickPrep COULD have Changed my Life: On Line Web Learning (OWL) QuickPrep"
Speaker: Jason Appelbaum, Digital Solutions Manager, Cengage Learning
Saturday, 10:30 - 11:45 a.m.
"Science Service Learning"
Speakers: Ann Cartwright, Chair of the Science Department, San Jacinto College-Central; and Ruben Ramirez, Laboratory Supervisor, San Jacinto College-Central
Friday, January 28th, 9:30 - 11:00 a.m.
"New Instruments, Student Research, and a New Lab Manual at Houston Community College"
Speakers: Yiyan Bai, Chemistry, Physics, and Engineering Instructor, Houston Community College; and Shamsuddin Shaikh, Chemistry Instructor, Houston Community College
In October, 2008, Houston Community College received the good news from Dr. Thomas Malloy of the University of St. Thomas, PI, that the cooperative proposal for a Department of Education CCRAA-HSI grant, with UST as the lead institution, was successful. Of the $2.4 million grant funds, over one-half million dollars was allocated for HCC.
The grant funded instruments for HCC that were twins of those at the University of St. Thomas. Houston Community College, with no formal history of research, has just had two summers of successful research programs with the University of St. Thomas in Houston, also funded by the grant. Throughout the two years, members of both institutions meet monthly for training, planning, and collaboration, forming a bond between the institutions.
The grant allowed HCC to purchase and install many important instruments: FTIR, UV-Visible, Microwave Reactor, GC-MS, NMR, HPLC, and fluorescence microscope. These instruments now play a pivotal role in our curriculum improvement and student learning. Separate from the grant, research was also conducted at HCC to include international students so that the benefits were felt throughout our student body. To make a greater impact of the grant on student learning, several new experiments have been developed. A new General Chemistry lab manual was written and is being used in our newly equipped lab.
Biographies:
Dr. Yiyan Bai teaches chemistry, physics, and engineering and Houston Community College. He was recently awarded the Tony Chee Teaching Excellence Award by HCC-Central. He has served as Chair of Physical Science and since 2008, he has been Chair of Biological and Physical Science at HCC-Central.
Carolyn Sweeney Judd has been teaching chemistry at HCCS for over 20 years. She has served as one of the special features editors for the Journal of Chemical Education and was on the CCCE (Committee on Computers in Chemical Education) sponsored by the CHED division of the American Chemical Society.
Friday, January 28th, 2:30 - 3:45 p.m.
"QuickPrep COULD have Changed my Life: On Line Web Learning (OWL) QuickPrep"
Speaker: Jason Appelbaum, Digital Solutions Manager, Cengage Learning
OWL QuickPrep is a self guided homework system that allows students to polish the skills that usually prevent them from completing their first college chemistry course. Knowing just a little about the structure of matter, names of chemical compounds, measurements, calculations as well as algebra, temperature, density, graphs and logs before they are formally presented or utilized in the general chemistry course, can make an enormous difference in grades and course evaluations. “This book agnostic program could have changed my life!” says Jason. “Let me show you the potential.”
Biography:
While Jason Appelbaum is a successful Digital Solutions Manager for Cengage Learning, one of the largest academic publishers in the country -- having been lured away from a successful career at Sun Microsystems -- his life might have been far greater had he survived his general chemistry course at Stephen F. Austin where he completed his undergraduate work.
Saturday, January 29th, 10:30 - 11:45 a.m.
"Science Service Learning"
Speakers: Ann Cartwright, Chair of the Science Department, San Jacinto College-Central; and Ruben Ramirez, Laboratory Supervisor, San Jacinto College-Central
The presentation will provide an overview of 20 years of science service learning at San Jacinto College. Science students have served as science fair judges and have helped younger students with hands-on experiments in college labs, public schools and family science nights. A series of hands-on activities will be available and demonstrated after the formal presentation.
Biographies:
Dr. Ann Cartwright is Chair of the Science Department at San Jacinto College Central Campus. She has been recognized for excellence in teaching numerous times, including the 2010 NISOD Award, the 1998 National Catalyst Award, the 1990 Regional Catalyst Award and being named the 1987 Piper Professor.
Ruben Ramirez is Laboratory Supervisor at San Jacinto College Central Campus. He was the recipient of the 2010 NISOD Staff Excellence Award and is a two time winner of the San Jacinto College Staff Excellence Award.
Chemistry Section Chair:
Dolores Aquino, San Jacinto College