WWYD? College Chem course

[MaryM]

Ds is signed up for dual enrollment at the branch of the university in our small town and they only allow two courses a semester. He selected US History and am A&P course that he didn't get in so then selected chemistry. Interestingly, the chem course is taught at the high school by the high school teacher(!). That sent up a red flag for me so I spent the last several weeks trying to discover the textbook used since I know a thing or two about chem books having taught him this course at the high school level already. THe teacher has returned no emails even when I got the DIrector of Instruction to contact her. SHe has been really helpful to us before though in getting AP testing at the high school.

So, the book turns out to be a one term, intro/prep book (Malone:Basic Concepts in Chem from Wiley) that is being used over two semesters! My concerns are that while I like him having an easy course to start, I worry that he will be completely bored. She has the class meet for 4 hours twice a week but that includes a lab. I can also surmise that this course will do nothing to add to his college years if he choses sciences (likely) because he'd have to take yet ANOTHER chem course down the road.

My quandary is what to do given all the factors. I don't want to alienate this woman who has helped us with AP testing yet she hasn't responded at all about this course and I wonder if I am wasting his time???

All advice is much appreciated!

Mary

[coopers5]

but, why would you have him take the chemistry (for high school credit) if he's already gotten a chemistry course and credit at home from you?
I'm just not clear on that, I guess.
For me there's that issue. I would rather have mine in a course for which we needed the high school credit as well as the possibility of college credit.

And I track with what you're saying, too, about whether this course will truly help in the longrun if he studies sciences in college. Even if he has the "credit," will he have learned what he needed to to be successful in any higher level courses once he hits a four year institution? I think about this every time one of my high schoolers has looked over the community college list of science courses to consider for dual enrollment.

I also have trouble with the communication thing. It is kind of a negative sign and could be indicative of future experiences, that you're not getting the teacher to respond.

Those would be my thoughts for now.
HTH,
Jo

[MaryM]

Jo,

Thanks for your thoughtful and helpful reply. WEll, it never really sunk in that since we did the chem for high school credit, why again! But my dh's reasoning was that this way ds would have a "solid" chem lab that was "endorsed" under his belt. We could do physics dual enrollment though and accomplish the same thing in terms of a "recognized" lab. I'm not as worried about this lab thing as he is...It does bother me more as well that the teacher isn't responding AND that this is , in my opinion, a baby chem course. I can get ds much stronger courses online and am inclined to do so!

Your comments were just what I needed to hear. Thanks again.

Mary

[In The Great White North]

Freshmen chem is not the same as high school chem, so having done chem already shouldn't dissuade you.

See if you can find this course in the high school handbook too. Is regular high school chem a prerequisite?

I've never heard of a one term chem course, even in college. That would be a bigger concern. Is this text listed at the AP site?

I had two years of chem in high school. AP Chem is definitely a second year, not just "Honors." My sister actually used the same book again in college!

I would consider this course a waste of time if:
a) The high school also lists it without a prerequisite or
b) The text is not listed on the AP site as a good preparation for the AP test.

The communication issue is a whole separate consideration.

[MaryM]

F

b) The text is not listed on the AP site as a good preparation for the AP test.



This course isn't offered to high schoolers and that book IS NOT on the AP book list since I also thought that would be a good place to check. Here's the publisher's site where it states the one-term chem course for this title:

http://he-cda.wiley.com/WileyCDA/HigherEdTitle/productCd-0471215228,courseCd-CH0100.html

If we did another chem course we would do AP at home since this college branch doesn't offer anything better...just goes to show it pays to check out the caliber and level of these dual enrollment courses!

Thanks for you input. Much appreciated!

Mary

[Lisa in TN]

The college my dd attends will not accept transfer credits for college courses taught at a high school.

[Chris in VA]

It seems odd for a CC to only offer one chem class. Is there one at the next level that he could test into? (200-level as opposed to "Chem 101")

If he's done Chem with a lab at home, I'd go for another lab course at the CC, like Physics, or Organic Chem (or other more specific chem).

And make sure your colleges of choice take the credits. Many have a transfer guide on their website--or you could call the colleges and see.

[NancyL]

Mary- Not sure if this is helpful, but my alma Mater Oregon State is expanding their elearning-went to an alumni info event. I was looking on the website and they raved about the chem teacher and the intro chem series. I was impressed because usually the best teachers were at the honors classes, this class was the big cattle call class when I went there. I was impressed with the reviews and ratings that I found for the program. This course would be the bottom of a college program, or equivalent to the CC chemistry. If he could get through this series he would really have accomplished something. The problem about a one class program is that if you need a full year then you really have to start over with a whole different series. I did a combined organic/biochem for nurses and it was too compressed and confusing. When I took the regular biochem then it made a lot more sense. I was sorry I took the other one, and considered it a more difficult course. The special little courses are usually for a particular program, so if you transfer out of the college it might be too unique to even be of value. (is this making sense?)