Course Overview and Logistics for Chemistry 133

Primary Platform: Canvas
- The university utilizes Canvas as the central Learning Management System (LMS), distinguishing it from other platforms such as Moodle.
- For course $133$ , all students must use Canvas as their primary point of entry for all course-related materials.
The "Handshake" and Textbook Access
- The digital textbook is integrated directly through Canvas. There is a necessary electronic "handshake" between the registration system and the textbook provider.
- Starting anywhere other than Canvas to access the electronic book may result in authentication issues.
- Access to the textbook is not free; students are charged specific fees for this resource as part of their registration costs.

Platform Functionality
- Master Chemistry is the specific platform used for all online homework assignments.
- Access to Master Chemistry is granted by logging in through Canvas using standard SUS credentials, which then forwards the student and their information to the homework site.
Proactive Engagement Requirements
- Students are expected to log into the platform at a minimum every day or every other day.
- The system is not configured to send automated reminders or notifications regarding upcoming deadlines (e.g., it will not provide an alert on a Sunday night about work due).
- Success in the course requires students to be proactive, jumping into the system to verify current tasks and upcoming deadlines independently.

Types of Assignments
- There are three primary categories of assignments on the Master Chemistry platform:
  1. Regular homework assignments.
  2. Quizzes.
  3. Chapter assessments.
Weighting and Difficulty
- In terms of point value, all assignments across these three categories are identical for scoring purposes.
- Variations exist only in the length and time required for completion; some assignments are more extensive than others.
Skill Building and Methodology
- The purpose of the homework is practice and the building of essential skills required for the high-stakes unit exams.
- The emphasis is placed on the process of solving problems and understanding the underlying "why" of a concept, rather than simply identifying the correct "what" (the answer).
- Accessing the answer to a question without engaging in the solving process is discouraged, as it fails to prepare the student for in-room testing scenarios.

Regular Unit Exams
- The course includes regular hourly unit exams held throughout the semester.
- These exams are designed to test the skills built during the homework and practice phases.
Final Exam Policy
- The final exam is mandatory and non-negotiable for all students.
- Students must be physically present for the final exam. It is strongly advised that no travel arrangements (such as purchasing plane tickets) be made until the final exam date is officially confirmed to avoid scheduling conflicts.

Day-by-Day Calendar
- A comprehensive, day-by-day calendar will be published to detail all course activities.
- While most dates are fixed, specific exam dates may remain flexible ("squishy") until the course progresses further.
Exam Notification Guarantee
- There will never be a scenario involving surprise examinations (e.g., announcing an exam on Monday to be held that Wednesday).
- Students are guaranteed at least two full class periods of lead time before any examination is administered.

The 12-Point Scale
- The chemistry department utilizes a specific 12-point scale for determining letter grades, rather than a standard 10-point scale.
Grade Thresholds
- The following numerical ranges correspond to standard letter grades:
  - A: $88$ and above.
  - B: $76$ to $87.9$ .
  - C: $64$ to $75.9$ .
  - D: $52$ to $63.9$ .
  - F: Below $52$ .