AP WORKSHOPS AND AP COURSES

AP Chemistry Online Winter Workshops

Each December I offer a one-day, AP Chemistry Teacher Winter Workshop, and I'd love to have you join me. Sign up using this form at the bottom of this page.

Below you will find details of the workshops, but if after reading this post (and some of the anticipated FAQs), you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thanks for taking the time to check this out, I hope to serve you in December.

Where? Online.

When? On a date to be decided upon (I'll be surveying participants), but sometime between Tuesday 26th and Friday 29th of December 2023. The course will open at 7 AM on the day of the workshop, and be designed for you to be able to complete it in a SINGLE day (3-4 hours in the AM, 3-4 in the PM). However, the course will remain open for your ongoing access after the conclusion of the single day workshop.

What? A one day, AP Chemistry workshop focusing on improving scores on the AP exam for your students. 3-4 hrs in the morning, 3-4 hours in the afternoon, and a one hour of a ZOOM, in-person meeting (maybe more), for questions and discussions.

How? The course will be delivered via the Canvas LMS. Most of the modules involve some reading of documents and web based items, followed by reporting back via discussion groups. Canvas is free, and requires no special software or additional subscriptions, the course is web based.

Who? I will moderate and create all of the content, discussions and assignments that make up the course.

How much? The cost of the course is $125.00 which is non-refundable (see below for an exception if the course does not 'make'). As is normal with my workshops that will include a $10 Amazon gift card, and additionally the $125 will serve as a CREDIT toward joining the FULL, Summer Workshop in 2024, over 7 days, that will be *also* be discounted for Winter Workshop participants. Effectively, if you sign up for the Winter Workshop you'll get it, AND a discounted full Summer Workshop, AND your $125 will act as credit for the summer. I think that's HUGE value.

How do I sign up? Simple. Sign up using this form at the bottom of this page.

A few points to note

• Success in the online environment is somewhat dependent on the willingness of participants to contribute, so please bear that in mind before signing up. The course can only be as good as your involvement, so I am looking for willing souls and enthusiasm!

• Before a course can run, I need a certain minimum number of paid participants so tell your friends! This means that I must have your payment, in my possession, in the first week of December. At that point I will assess if the course can run, I will then do one of two things;

either cancel the course (because too few people have signed up) and process a full refund of the cost (highly unlikely) or,

confirm that the course will run, and begin the process of giving out access details prior to the course starting.

FAQs for AP Chemistry Online Winter Workshops 2023

Can I get a heads-up on the type of things that will be covered in the workshop?

Yes. The workshop will have two modules. One will address essential questions around the delivery of the course, and one will address essential questions around the chemistry of the course. The former will address questions such as, "What should I practically do with labs and labwork?", and "What does a daily schedule look like?", and "What about sequence and timing?" The latter will address LOs that often confuse and cause stress to inexperienced AP teachers. BOTH modules are designed purely to improve scores. No other goal!

Will you accept a school/district check or PO? Yes, as long as I get payment in my hands one week prior to the course beginning. I can also issue invoices very easily.

I already have your AP Crash Course book so do not need to purchase it. Do I still get the $10 gift card? Yes, congratulations, you just made $10 for use on Amazon!

Do I have to use the Amazon gift card to buy the AP Crash Course book? No but parts of the online course will refer to it so you will 'need' it.

Are there assignments that I need to complete during the course? Tasks will certainly be asked of you but they are completed at your discretion. However, all of your fellow participants will be most grateful if you do complete the tasks, since they add to the value and the richness of the course. Without your willingness to contribute to discussions and post your thoughts, comments and ideas, the course could be very dry - please be enthusiastic and contribute!

Can I get ongoing, professional development credit (PLU's) for the course and will you issue certificates of completion? The short answer is 'yes'.

There is no reason to think that it should not attract such credit going forward - however, that is a question that must be resolved between the individual teacher and the individual school/district/system on a case by case basis.

What if I can't make the synchronous meeting? In the event that is impossible, you can always arrange a time to speak with me individually. None of the course is actually delivered during the meeting, so you will miss no content per se, rather you will simply be missing out on the live discussion. The meeting will be recorded as well, so you can go back and view it at your convenience.

Does the course come with access to all of your AP materials? No, but some materials will be used such as specific worksheets and excerpts from the notes. In addition I will be offering discounted rates on subscriptions for workshop participants.

Will I know who else is taking the course with me? Yes, I will provide all participants with the contact details of all the other participants, so we can improve collaboration and collegiality.

What special hardware and software do I need? None. Canvas is web based, so a computer and internet access is all that you need.

Please feel free to contact me with any other questions about the AP Chemistry Online Winter Workshops in 2023.

Sign up using the form below

AP Chemistry Online Summer Workshops

Once again this coming summer I plan to offer two, AP Chemistry Teacher Workshops, and I'd love to have you join me. These courses will be the 21st and 22nd respectively that I have offered online.

Below you will find details of the workshops, but if after reading this post (and some of the anticipated FAQs), you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thanks for taking the time to check this out, I hope to serve you this summer.

Where? Online

When? Each AP Chemistry Online Summer Workshop 2023 lasts for one week. The first is in early July 2023, and there is another one week workshop in early August 2023. The dates are Sunday, July 7th - Saturday, July 13th 2024, and Sunday, July 28th - Saturday, August 3rd 2024.

What? The content will be similar to that which I have delivered in my regular, in-person, 3 day, AP workshops over many years, but obviously without the hands-on lab component*. However, there ARE synchronous meetings. There will be a number of modules that you can work through at your own pace (see below) including a discussion of the 2024 AP exam questions, a deconstruction of the practice exams, discussion of common misconceptions, new & newly emphasized content (Mass Spec, PES, biological references, particulate diagrams) and other topics.

*labs and lab components will still be discussed, but obviously without doing them.

How? The course will be delivered via the Canvas LMS. Most of the modules involve some reading of documents and web based items, followed by reporting back via discussion groups. You will also be asked to contribute by creating material (questions/activities) that can be shared with the group. Canvas is free, and requires on special software or additional subscriptions, the course is web based.

Who? I will moderate and create all of the content, discussions and assignments that make up the course, BUT the success of the course certainly relies upon the input from the delegates.

How much? The cost of the course remains at $295.00 which is non-refundable (see below for an exception if the course does not 'make'). The cost of the course includes a $10 Amazon credit for you to purchase my Crash Course AP Chemistry book that we will reference during the workshop. If you are a previous Winter Workshop attendee the fee for the summer workshop is $149.00 but does not include another $10 Amazon Gift Card.

How do I sign up? Simple. Fill out the form at the bottom of this page

A few points to note

• Success in the online environment is somewhat dependent on the willingness of participants to contribute, so please bear that in mind before signing up. The course can only be as good as your involvement, so I am looking for willing souls and enthusiasm!

• Before a course can run, I need a certain minimum number of paid participants. This means that I must have your payment, in my possession, one week prior to a course starting. At that point I will assess if the course can run, I will then do one of two things;

either cancel the course (because too few people have signed up) and process a full refund of the cost (highly unlikely) or,

confirm that the course will run, and begin the process of giving out access details prior to the course starting.

FAQ's for AP Chemistry Online Summer Workshops 2023

Can I get a heads-up on the type of things that will be covered in the workshop?

Yes, here is a brief summary of the content from the online workshop in past years.

MODULE 1 – Welcome & Introduction

Say 'Hi!'. Where are you? Nuts & Bolts of the Online course

MODULE 2 – Course Planning & Delivery

What’s In? What's Out? Misconceptions, order of topics, LOs, SPs, EK, BI, EU & SWOT

MODULE 3 – Newer Topics & Newer Emphasis in the Post-2013 (and 2020 forward) Curriculum

PES, Mass Spec, Particulates, Bio, explanations etc.

MODULE 4 – Lab Work

Overview, College Board lab manual, my inquiry labs.

MODULE 5 – New Exam Questions

Practice exams, the 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 released exams discussed and deconstructed.

MODULE 6 – Share-a-thon

Your contributions.

MODULE 7 – Review

My Review Timetable.

Will you accept a school/district check or PO? Yes, as long as I get payment in my hands one week prior to the course beginning. I can also issue invoices very easily.

I already have your AP Crash Course book so do not need to purchase it. Do I still get the $10 gift card? Yes, congratulations, you just made $10 for use on Amazon!

Do I have to use the Amazon gift card to buy the AP Crash Course book? No but parts of the online course will refer to it so you will 'need' it.

Are there assignments that I need to complete during the course? Tasks will certainly be asked of you but they are completed at your discretion. However, all of your fellow participants will be most grateful if you do complete the tasks, since they add to the value and the richness of the course. Without your willingness to contribute to discussions and post your thoughts, comments and ideas, the course could be very dry - please be enthusiastic and contribute! There will be a specific part of the course that asks you to post a 'classroom ready' activity.

Can I get ongoing, professional development credit (PLU's) for the course? The short answer is 'yes'.

The training program entitled 'AP Chemistry Workshop' (this workshop), was approved for 2 PLUs (20 hours) on 06/03/2014 and was listed on the GADOE Professional Learning website. However, the PLU system in Georgia has since been completely dismantled and discontinued, in favor of a system where schools and districts become responsible for their own teacher training/professional development without the need for any state interference. This means that vendors of professional development in GA (me, via this course), can no longer get any kind of state accreditation going forward since no such thing exists! The new system will require teachers to ask their school/district/system, if they will grant professional development credit for this course. Since the state of GA used to give PLU's/credit for this course, there is no reason to think that it should not attract such credit going forward - however, that is a question that must be resolved between the individual teacher and the individual school/district/system on a case by case basis.

What if I can't make the synchronous meetings? I will offer more than one time for each synchronous meeting, hopefully meaning that you will be able to make one of the slots. In the event that is impossible, you can always arrange a time to speak with me individually. None of the course is actually delivered during these meetings, so you will miss no content per se, rather you will simply be missing out on the live discussions. The meetings are recorded as well, so you can go back and view them at your convenience.

I am really busy this summer, and I worry about the time that I can commit to the course, do you have any advice? Yes! The course comes with a certificate of participation that lists formal attendance of 20 hours, but it’s a little more nuanced than simply that! Here's some more detail. The course opens on a Sunday morning and runs through the following Saturday afternoon. All of the resources and discussions groups are open during that seven day period for 24 hours, and you can take part in any part of the course that you choose over that time at your convenience. During the seven days, I monitor the discussion groups carefully, and respond to any questions as do the other people in the course. Over the seven days, the delegates are contributing and are taking part in the discussions and the exercises. The course will remain “open”, even after the seven day period, BUT the richness of discussion in the groups inevitably drops off, as people get back to their normal, daily routines. You can always contact me with questions at any time, including long after the course has finished. I usually leave the course open for several months after it formally ends. During that seven-day period, I offer synchronous, 1-hour meetings. These occur at two different times (usually one AM and one PM), on separate days during the course. These meetings do NOT deliver any of the content per se, so if you cannot make it to the meetings you actually miss nothing, other than the discussion that happens within them amongst the attendees. The meetings are recorded. In short, the course is whatever you want it to be. You could spend a HUGE amount of time going through the exercises and resources if you want to, and many people do just that, coming back to discussion and materials during the following school year(s). I will continue to support the course long after it has formally finished, so there’s a ton of value in there. Even if you can’t get fully immersed during the ‘official’ seven days, I still think that it represents a great opportunity.

Does the course come with access to all of your AP materials? No, but some materials will be used such as specific worksheets and excerpts from the notes. In addition I will be offering discounted rates on subscriptions for workshop participants.

Will I know who else is taking the course with me? Yes, I will provide all participants with the contact details of all the other participants, so we can improve collaboration and collegiality.

What special hardware and software do I need? None. Canvas is web based, so a computer and internet access is all that you need.

Please feel free to contact me with any other questions about the AP Chemistry Online Summer Workshops in 2024.

Sign up using the form below

In the Spring of 2024 I will once again be offering an Online AP Chemistry Review Course for AP Chemistry STUDENTS. The course will open on March 1st 2024.

Let's start with the basics

Where? Online

How? Via the Canvas LMS (Learning Management System). Typical screenshot shown below.

When? The course will open on March 1^st 2024.

What? A comprehensive review of the Learning Objectives from the AP Chemistry Course, with guided reading from the AP Chemistry Crash Course book, example questions, hints and tips, a full mock exam with answers, and much more. Most of the modules involve some reading, accompanied by open discussion groups where you can ask all of your questions, and example AP problems for your consideration.

The nine UNITS identified by The College Board are tackled during the course, and the course culminates with the delivery of a mock AP Chemistry exam

Who? I will create all of the content, and moderate all of the discussions

How much? $199.99 that includes a $10 Amazon credit to allow you to purchase the AP Chemistry Crash Course book

How do I sign-up? Simple. Fill out the form at the bottom of this page

On to some more detailed FAQ's

Who is the course designed for? Any AP Chemistry student who is taking the AP chemistry exam in May of 2023

What is the purpose of the course? With 100% exam focused content, the course aims to boost AP scores without the clutter of other objectives

What special hardware or software do I need? None. Canvas is a web based platform so a computer with internet access is all that you need. Canvas also has a mobile APP

I already have your AP Crash Course book so do not need to purchase it. Do I still get the $10 Amazon credit? Yes, congratulations, you just made $10 for use on Amazon

Do I have to use the Amazon credit to buy the AP Crash Course book? I suppose not, but parts of the online course will refer to it so you will ‘need’ it

Do I have to own a Kindle to access the AP Crash Course book? No. You can either purchase the book in hard copy prior to the course starting, or read the book electronically on a Mac or PC using Amazon’s free reading APP

Does the course come with access to all of your AP materials? No, but some materials will be used such as specific worksheets and excerpts from the notes

Are there assignments that I need to complete during the course? Yes, BUT these are obviously ENTIRELY at your discretion

How much time will the course take to complete? This will depend a LOT on every individual's circumstances, but the course ought to be able to be completed in approx. 2-3 hours per day over 6 days, plus it would be to your advantage to set aside 3 hours and 15 minutes to complete the mock exam, however, since the course will be open for approx. 6 weeks prior to the exam, your schedule is 100% up to you

How do I get the Amazon credit? The electronic credit will be sent to you via email

What if I cannot start on March 1st, can I join the course later? Yes, absolutely. The beauty of the online format is that you can spend as little or as much times as YOU choose on any given day. There is no compulsion to be doing any particular module at any given time, rather you can dip in and out as you see fit, and as time allows. You may go through the course as quickly or as slowly as you choose, and all course materials will be in place at the start of the course and will remain online until the day of the AP chemistry exam.

Please feel free to contact me with other questions about the Online AP Chemistry Review Course 2024, or simply sign up below.

SIGN-UP USING THE FORM BELOW