CHM 295/595: Course Syllabus - Fall 2008

General Information

            CHM 295/595 (1 or 2 units) - Laboratory Safety and Supervision

            Note: CHM 595 assumes working knowledge of organic chemistry on quizzes and final

            Time: Wednesday 6:45-9:30 pm for ~8-10 weeks

            If Registered For 2 Units: Add work with or as teaching assistant in instructional chemistry laboratory 2-6 hrs/week, TA Meetings 1 hour/week

            Instructor: John Nauman     Office #: 212   Phone: 5237051    Office Hours: Open.

            Web Site: http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~jkn/Labs.html

Course Prerequisites:  Completion of, or concurrent enrollment in CHM151 and CHM151L for CHM 295 and CHM 238 and 235L for CHM595.

Course Description:

            (1 unit) An overview of laboratory safety, including use and disposal of hazardous chemicals, emergency procedures, laboratory first aid and use of safety equipment, toxicology, and government regulations.

            (2 unit course) The additional unit offers practical experience in laboratory supervision with a focus on developing safety, supervisory, and instructional skills.

Course Objectives:

  1.       Mastery of laboratory safety concepts.

  2.       Develop familiarity with safety references and information.

  3.       To present departmental and university procedures with respect to chemical management, hazardous waste management, emergency procedures and other safety concerns.

  4.       Develop supervisory and interpersonal skills in the context of an instructional laboratory.

  5.       Meet OSHA requirements for training of laboratory employees.

Course Organization

One Unit Course (Laboratory Safety):

  1.       Minicourse format meeting every Wednesday evening for 2-3 hours the first 8-10 weeks of the semester. The final exam will be given at the latest on October 29 (perhaps earlier).

  2.       Short weekly quizzes will be given starting with the second lecture meeting over assigned reading, lecture material, and homework.

  3.       Conduct a safety evaluation of an assigned laboratory and follow up on safety concerns. A one page report covering the safety evaluation and follow up on correcting problems (when possible) is required. Departmental forms will be used as guidelines for the safety evaluation.  Alternate projects such as writing a chemical hygiene plan, presenting a talk to the class on a special safety related topic, etc. could be done with the approval of the instructor.

4. Complete a CPR course or have current CPR card if possible.

5. Attend a fire extinguisher training session if possible.

Two Unit Course (TA Training) - add the following:

  1.       Practical experience in an instructional laboratory, to manage safety aspects and interact with students in a functioning undergraduate lab meeting a minimum of 2-6 hours per week for 15 weeks.  Attendance in the assigned laboratory section selected from CHM 151L, 152L, 235L, or upper division lab is required.

  2.       Read experiments and prepare ahead of time for experiments that will be done in your assigned lab section.  Complete any prelab questions provided for the students. Complete safety assignment, MSDS tutorial (print cert), and lab performance.  CHM 151L and 152L teaching assistants are required to complete the work assigned in the TA handbook by November 21^th using a work schedule provided in the TA meetings.  Teaching assistants must outline prelab lectures and do all prelab and postlab including loncapa work and submit them before at least 1-2 weeks before students start the experiment. If prelab quizzes are given these must also be submitted with a key. All TAs will also present a prelab lecture for part of their grade. Students who are helping in a lab they've never taken at NAU are strongly encouraged to actually do each experiment or shadow an earlier lab if they are the TA of record.  Upper division lab teaching assistants will be required to submit a revised Teaching Assistant Handbook. The handbook will include notes on each experiment (prelab lecture outlines), copies of the experiments used, a list of chemicals used and solution preparation (include amounts needed for a section and storage location), equipment needed and special instructions for use, and copies and answers to all prelab questions and quizzes.  Use Word for the handbook and all prelab lectures and quizzes written.  A hard copy of lab lecture outlines and prelab quizzes with key is due the week they are given and a computer disk with all the information with printouts is due before reading week.

  3.       Work with the instructor, lab coordinator, and other teaching assistants to provide safe and positive learning experience for the students in your lab section.  Interact with students “one-on-one in every lab period you help with.

  4.       Attend teaching assistant meetings for the lab you’re assigned:

            CHM151L – Mondays at 3:30 pm in 212, 220, or 221.

            CHM152L – Mondays at 1:40 pm in 212 or 228.

            CHM235L – Mondays at 2:45 pm in 212, 207, or 209.

Textbook and required materials:

  1.       The NAU Chemistry Department's Safety Program/Manual provided by instructor.

  2.       "Safety in the Academic Chemistry Laboratories" by the ACS provided by instructor or call the ACS at 800-227-5558 to get a free book.

  3.       Safety Reading Packet provided by instructor.

  4.       Recommended Optional Materials/References

              a.  "Safety in Working with Chemicals", Grocen and Turk

              b.  "Dangerous Properties of Industrial Materials", Sax

              c.  "CRC Handbook of Chemical Safety"

Evaluation Methods and Deadlines:

First Unit:

Assignments: Safety Audit worth 100 points.  Extra points (25) for the completion of or helping with a CPR course given by the university or local fire department (must earn or have current CPR card) and for completion of fire extinguisher training.

Quizzes: 300 points.  A quiz will be given at the end of every lecture except for the first and last lecture.  These quizzes will be cumulative and will cover any material covered previously in the course or assigned reading.  The lowest quiz score will be dropped.

Homework: 300 points

Final Examination: Will be worth 300 points and is given on the last day of class.

 Additional for Second Unit:

Participation In Instructional Laboratory: 150 points.  Required to attend all class meetings.  Will assist teaching assistant and instructor in the laboratory with a focus on safety, communication skills, and becoming a useful teaching assistant.  20 points will be lost for every lab meeting missed, 5 points off for being late.  Sign in and out in log book in 212.

TA Assignments: 700 points.  20 points off for each assignment not completed on time.  Previous assignments must be complete before submitting current ones.

Involvement In Staff Meetings: 150 points.  20 points off for each TA meeting missed, 5 points off for being late.

 Letter Grade Assignment:         Grade               Percent

                                                  A                   90-100 

                                                  B                    80-89   

                                                  C                    70-79   

                                                  D                   60-69   

                                                  F                    <60

For Students Taking CHM 295/595 for second time.

Safety Training:

1. Complete Chemical Hygiene Training with ORC or provide copy of certificate of completion in the last two years.

2. Conduct detailed Safety Audit and Inventory of laboratory assigned by instructor.

3. Participate in Mock Emergency Training as Victim or Observer.

4. Take Final Exam.

5. Other review assignments as assigned.

TA Training (2 units):

            Complete TA training for different lab or do special project as assigned by instructor.