Class Details
HSC Chemistry Preparation Course (Part 2) (April)
Course summary
This course provides consolidation of the key content and skills from Module 6: Acid/base Reactions. There is a focus on those cognitive skills needed to access and apply chemical knowledge in an HSC assessment context. The workshops are activity based whereby students explore and apply chemical knowledge and skills using a combination of lectures, tutorials and problem-solving sessions with immediate feedback from teachers. In short, this course is designed to review key concepts and skills with a view to maximising results in a variety of chemistry assessment tasks.
This course is part of a three-part series covering key areas from within this subject’s syllabus. Other courses include HSC Chemistry Preparation (Part 1) and HSC Chemistry Preparation (Part 3). Students do not need to attend all three parts in order to benefit. The series is supplemented by the HSC Chemistry Exam Preparation Course to prepare for end of year exams.
Learning outcomes
By the end of this course, you should be able to:
- answer a range of questions covering the content, concepts and skills in the module
- critically evaluate your own and others’ answers to improve the quality of responses to assessment tasks
- identify the relationships between key concepts in the module
- apply strategies for problem solving to improve the quality and accuracy of responses to assessment tasks
- analyse experimental methods and comment meaningfully on validity, reliability and accuracy
- analyse, process and apply quantitative chemical data to solve problems.
Content
All three subtopics within Module 6: Acid/Base Reactions will be covered:
- Properties of Acids and Bases
- Using Brønsted–Lowry Theory
- Quantitative Analysis
Relevant Skills will also be covered.
Who this course is for
Suitable for Year 12 students wishing to undertake additional study for Module 6 of the new HSC Chemistry Syllabus (2017), and accelerated Year 11 students who have already completed Modules 1-4.
Delivery style
Delivered as a two-day activity-based workshop where you will explore and apply chemistry knowledge and skills in a combination of lectures, tutorials and problem-solving sessions while receiving immediate feedback.
Materials
You will receive electronic copies using Dropbox of the following:
- course notes including theory and worked examples from the relevant topics
- solutions to all questions in the course notes
- relevant HSC questions from recent years with sample answers provided.
Bring your own device
You are required to bring your own device. Please ensure it is fully charged as access to power is limited. Please note that the University does not carry any responsibility for your lost, stolen, or damaged devices whilst on the University premises.
Getting Through Your HSC: A Practical Guide
While you progress through this journey and also the conclusion of your schooling life, we know you’ll have a lot on your mind – exams, future study, careers – but remember, while keeping focused on these bigger goals and aspirations, it’s also important not to forget your own health and well-being.
For tips on staying motivated and keeping focused, dealing with anxiety, keeping healthy, relaxation, pre-study exercise and more, read our article Getting Through Your HSC: A Practical Guide.
Sessions
Location
Face-to-face (Venue TBA, Sydney)
Other information
If your upcoming class is Face-to-face (Venue TBA, Sydney), the class is located at the Camperdown/Darlington campus but the exact classroom and building has not been assigned.
The exact location on campus is confirmed approximately five business days from a class start date and you will then receive a course preparation email with this information.
Meet the facilitators
Alexander Durie
Alex Durie has been teaching chemistry since 1990 at both University level both in Australia and overseas. The organisations that he has worked for include, amongst others, the University of New South Wales in Sydney, the University of the South Pacific in Fiji and the University of Twente in Netherlands.
For many years he was involved in the development and teaching of a number of senior level chemistry and physics revision programs delivered by the Foundation Studies Program at UNSW that targeted better understanding of the scientific principles underpinning our modern understanding of the physical sciences.
Alex holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Chemistry), A Masters of Science (Chemistry), a Graduate Diploma in Education and a Certificate IV in Assessment and Workplace Training. Alex is currently accredited by NESA as a proficient teacher.
An ongoing interest in both research chemistry and in teaching of science lies at the heart of Alex’s teaching.
