Course Guidelines



GO HOME!

Course Syllabus
Course Guidelines
Instructors and Staff
Lecture Summaries
Solutions
Late Breaking News
Lecture Notes 2008
3rd Edition Typos
Frequently Asked Questions










Advice from the Winter 2000 and 2001 Classes

(number in parenthesis refers to number of students who gave this advice)

Preparation for Class:

  1. Keep up with reading! Lectures make more sense when you have read beforehand. Classwork, and test material comes from the book. (21)

  2. Really try to understand the concept, not the equations/examples.

  3. Try to work together as a group, help one another out for class preparation.

  4. Keep up with the beginning concepts of class, everything builds off of the 1st months material.

  5. Do the study problems given on the web, they tend to appear later on (in exams). (4)

  6. Go over the notes on the web and take the self tests - make sure you understand everything. (3)

  7. Pay close attention to example problems (2)

  8. Make sure you use the CD-ROM. It is a very resourceful tool. It provides more examples and also gives the benefit of seeing how reaction engineering applies to real world things (the beetle & dung, for example) (2)

  9. Use all of the available media to learn the information. These modules help the visualization process, which is very important in understanding the material. (2)

  10. Repetition is the key to this class. Do as many problems as you can to become familiar with the problem types. (2)

  11. Be an active learner - ask yourself questions during lectures, as you read, and as you attempt problems
  12. Do the living and learning problems along with the web modules for extra practice. Do self tests.

Lecture and Class Problems:
  1. Attendance is critical, even though class is at 8:30 in the morning, the material you learn is invaluable, aside from the class problems, which count for a grade, attendance is key. Also, lecture is very similar to the book material, reinforcing material in course. (8)

  2. Always come to class on time. In class problems mirror the class lecture, so missing class just makes the class problems harder.

  3. Pay attention in lecture. Professor Fogler is a GREAT teacher! (3)

  4. Pay attention in lecture. You might get called on, so do the crossword later. Plus, the notes come in handy!

  5. Take good notes in lecture. Many problems you encounter are talked about in lecture.

  6. Don't be afraid to ask for help during the class problems! The people that do get a lot better grades. (3)

  7. Don't waste any time at all if you expect to finish the class problems on time

Group Work and Group Dynamics:
  1. When working in your group, make sure there are no sacred cows. Everyone's input is equally useful, worthy, & important

  2. Set aside group meetings at a specified weekly time at the beginning of the semester. Make no exceptions for the time you set. There are so many group meetings that it's hard to manage them all separately as they occur. Do this!!! Make sure you choose your group wisely because you will spend a lot of time with them, and make sure you can work with them. (2)

  3. Maintain healthy group relationship. You have a lot more fun when you get along and you have to spend a lot of time together. (2)

  4. Do the homework before coming to group meeting, so that to make sure you know how to do each problem.

  5. Do brainstorming sessions to improve your critical thinking skills.

  6. Identify patterns in methodology

  7. Think beyond the questions asked. In other words, use critical thinking. Critical thinking allows the information to be utilized to solve real problems.

  8. Prepare well for group meetings.

Exams:
  1. Go through ICMs before exams to reinforce important concepts (2)

  2. Don't wait until right before the exam to review all the problems because you may find yourself not understanding problems before the exam, which is not a good thing.

  3. Study in advance and go to office hours. Don't wait until the day before the exam to get clarification on material

Homework, Study Problems, ICMs, OEP and Extra Credit:
  1. Do the work!! (2)

  2. Keep up on homework assignments in order not to get backed up and make sure you understand solutions completely.

  3. If you get answers marked wrong, be sure to determine why. (2)

  4. When doing group work, actually do the problems and if you don't know how, seek help i.e. office hours. Your group will appreciate this and you'll learn more. (3)

  5. Don't take ICM work and study problems lightly. You learn a lot of key concepts through this. Go over the ICM's a few times, even if you get it right the first time. They are a very useful tool that strengthens your understanding of the concepts. (4)

  6. Start homework early, don't wait until the day before even if you need to spend time on 360. (4)

  7. Start early on the OEP.

  8. Make sure your OEP car is as garish as possible. Bubble domes and tail fins are a plus

  9. Do the extra credit packets, they will give you more points and are fun! (2)

Office Hours and Teaching Staff:
  1. ATTEND OFFICE HOURS, and ask questions. The GSI's are more than willing to help. Take advantage of their skills (9)

  2. Make good use of GSIs office hours by looking at the problems early. (2)

  3. Get to know your professor and your GSI's by going to office hours.

  4. Use your resources. Know your GSIs and teaching assistants! Also know Prof. Fogler! If you have questions ask.

  5. There are many people here to help you succeed. (2)

Polymath:
  1. Learn to love POLYMATH, don't neglect Excel.

  2. Learn to use POLYMATH to its full extent. (2)

  3. Don't get frustrated when it doesn't print until the 10th time!

  4. Know details & limits of program & be comfortable with it. SAVE ALL CODES OFTEN!

Other Advice for 344 Success:
  1. Have some group members that are not cocurrently taking ChemE 360. You will have a lot more time for working on the homework and the OEP.

  2. Don't take 360 at the same time if at all possible! (2)

  3. Don't let 360 take over your life!

  4. Petition to have the class start at a later time :) or get coffee to stay awake

  5. Relax!

  6. Embrace all aspects of the course no matter how cheesy. Everything you do in 344 is intended to teach you.

Return To Syllabus