Corrupt Ochem Class, NEED HELP!

[Shouvikp1]

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Hey all,

I have quite the dilemma for my O-chem I class (University of Illinois -Champaign Urbana) . My organic chemistry I class is 100% online. Online "webcasts" for lectures, online "virtual classrooms" for discussions. So the exams are online.... well at least they are supposed to be. The online exams are designed to have partial credit, "you submit one answer, if its wrong, you can submit it again for 1 point less, etc etc"
However, due to technology issues, we have taken 2 (out of 4) tests on paper with no partial credit!!!

Now the issue has been addressed, and the professor has agreed to change the scale for grading the final, but NOT for the actual class. The class's grading scale was DESIGNED from these 4 online tests (not 2 paper exams whch yielded MUCH lower scores than the online ones because of no partial credit). When approached about changing the grading scale for the class, he replied that grades are not as important as knowing the information, just start getting focused." As we all know for everyone in the pre-dental path, GRADES DO MATTER.

What should I do? Take it up with the department? I've never had to deal with anything like this before.

 

[wantVCUdental]

Hi, I can sympathize with your situation, and i was livid when something similar happened to me, however, when i took a step back and looked at the grand scheme of things, it doesn't affect my overall grades that much. You will take over 100 credits in four years of under, a difference in 5-6 credits will not significantly alter your overall performance.

If you really feel it's going to stop you from getting in to professional school, take it up with the department.

My advice is to take a chill pill and enjoy the holiday seasons 🙂

 

[beatsdre]

Hey all,

I have quite the dilemma for my O-chem I class (University of Illinois -Champaign Urbana) . My organic chemistry I class is 100% online. Online "webcasts" for lectures, online "virtual classrooms" for discussions. So the exams are online.... well at least they are supposed to be. The online exams are designed to have partial credit, "you submit one answer, if its wrong, you can submit it again for 1 point less, etc etc"
However, due to technology issues, we have taken 2 (out of 4) tests on paper with no partial credit!!!

Now the issue has been addressed, and the professor has agreed to change the scale for grading the final, but NOT for the actual class. The class's grading scale was DESIGNED from these 4 online tests (not 2 paper exams whch yielded MUCH lower scores than the online ones because of no partial credit). When approached about changing the grading scale for the class, he replied that grades are not as important as knowing the information, just start getting focused." As we all know for everyone in the pre-dental path, GRADES DO MATTER.

What should I do? Take it up with the department? I've never had to deal with anything like this before.

Since I'm assuming it's really late in the semester- just go to the head of the department and ask for a withdrawal and fight for it.

 

[capricia]

You can try, but unfortenately if the teacher is tenured or even just well established there chances are nothing will happen especially at a large public university. At my large public college after the 6th week you can't withdraw from a class for academic reassons, you have to have a really, really good reason.

I had a similar experience with a teacher before and even though my classmates continually went to the department nothing happened.

 

[DrDDSman]

Hey all,

I have quite the dilemma for my O-chem I class (University of Illinois -Champaign Urbana) . My organic chemistry I class is 100% online. Online "webcasts" for lectures, online "virtual classrooms" for discussions. So the exams are online.... well at least they are supposed to be. The online exams are designed to have partial credit, "you submit one answer, if its wrong, you can submit it again for 1 point less, etc etc"
However, due to technology issues, we have taken 2 (out of 4) tests on paper with no partial credit!!!

Now the issue has been addressed, and the professor has agreed to change the scale for grading the final, but NOT for the actual class. The class's grading scale was DESIGNED from these 4 online tests (not 2 paper exams whch yielded MUCH lower scores than the online ones because of no partial credit). When approached about changing the grading scale for the class, he replied that grades are not as important as knowing the information, just start getting focused." As we all know for everyone in the pre-dental path, GRADES DO MATTER.

What should I do? Take it up with the department? I've never had to deal with anything like this before.

Are you failing? If not, just try you best to get as high grades you can. I'm sure a lot of people in the class are in a similar position, so maybe he will curve to adjust at the end.

 

[Shouvikp1]

I'm probably headed for a C, but if the class was actually taught properly, I would have a B simply due to partial credit (very significant portion of grade)

My average of tests without partial credit is 33% with partial credit 83%
Grading scale was designed to have all tests with partial credit.

 

[spud daddy]

Is getting to change your answer and still getting credit normal? I know for my classes if you missed it, you missed it. End of story. But I think the system you are describing seems really cool.

 

[punkin85]

I know the new format of the class there sucks and I took it when it was still a classroom course. Trust me, it was just as difficult.

No offense to you-but I would have really appreciated the chance to get "partial credit" and, if it was not an online course you'd be doing much worse without those two partial credit exams. Sure, two paper exams isn't fun when you've been told otherwise, but be thankful they weren't all like that.

Either way, I would bring it up with the department. Grades do matter and you deserve a fair grade and shouldn't suffer because they had technical issues with their new online system. Best of luck! I hope they change their mind about curving the actual class and not just the final.

 

[failedmagician]

I don't understand..I thought most dental schools were strict about no online courses in your pre-reqs? Organic Chemistry online? That seems bizarre.

 

[punkin85]

I don't understand..I thought most dental schools were strict about no online courses in your pre-reqs? Organic Chemistry online? That seems bizarre.

U of I cannot handle the size of the class anymore so it has gone to all online. When I took it we had 3 different lecture times with around 600 people taking the course. I don't believe they consider it "online" though on transcripts and I'm pretty sure there isn't any other option anymore.

 

[failedmagician]

U of I cannot handle the size of the class anymore so it has gone to all online. When I took it we had 3 different lecture times with around 600 people taking the course. I don't believe they consider it "online" though on transcripts and I'm pretty sure there isn't any other option anymore.

Holy crap that's pretty crazy. There are a lot of pre-health students at my school too. 400+ people in some bio courses.

AADSAS asks you if it was taken online even though your transcripts don't show it. But, I don't know if the school you are interested in (dental school) requires pre-reqs in the class room. Not all of them do.

Good luck. The only thing I worry about is if it is online, how many people could cheat in likely the hardest class of our major? I know it's completely unethical, but unethical people will cheat. I guess it will show on their DAT. It's definitely not the students fault that they took it online because that's their only option. It just is kind of messed up that they would only offer it in that form.

 

[Shouvikp1]

I know the new format of the class there sucks and I took it when it was still a classroom course. Trust me, it was just as difficult.

No offense to you-but I would have really appreciated the chance to get "partial credit" and, if it was not an online course you'd be doing much worse without those two partial credit exams. Sure, two paper exams isn't fun when you've been told otherwise, but be thankful they weren't all like that.

Either way, I would bring it up with the department. Grades do matter and you deserve a fair grade and shouldn't suffer because they had technical issues with their new online system. Best of luck! I hope they change their mind about curving the actual class and not just the final.

The thing is tho, when they had it all on paper, the grading scale reflected paper exams with no partial credit. What I'm saying is that the current grading scale is based on partial credit (aka VERY rough grading scale because lots of partial credit can be earned) but we are getting this grading scale applied to tests that do not even have partial credit!!! So our grades are plummeting.

I don't understand..I thought most dental schools were strict about no online courses in your pre-reqs? Organic Chemistry online? That seems bizarre.

It isn't even an option at U of I to take it in person, it's all online. And were all getting screwed for it. 🙁

 

[beatsdre]

The thing is tho, when they had it all on paper, the grading scale reflected paper exams with no partial credit. What I'm saying is that the current grading scale is based on partial credit (aka VERY rough grading scale because lots of partial credit can be earned) but we are getting this grading scale applied to tests that do not even have partial credit!!! So our grades are plummeting.



It isn't even an option at U of I to take it in person, it's all online. And were all getting screwed for it. 🙁

Even though its super late, and the other poster says that dropping at big uni's are really tough- TRY to drop it. Talk to the professor and beg beg beg, or go to admissions and beg. If nothing works, ace the final and just move on.

I was in the same situation as you- but I didnt try dropping. I ended up with a D. Then I heard from my friends that several kids just begged and argued with admin. and got their class dropped for that class. I was so pissed at myself.

Just TRY- it won't hurt.

 

[MaxillofacialMN]

U of I cannot handle the size of the class anymore so it has gone to all online. When I took it we had 3 different lecture times with around 600 people taking the course. I don't believe they consider it "online" though on transcripts and I'm pretty sure there isn't any other option anymore.

That's crazy! I could never a super complex class like O chem being taught online....

I go to a small school, and this year's O chem class has 23 students in it...

 

[UIUCsmilepretty]

It may seem crazy to have organic chemistry offered online...but it's not the "online" that you typically think of. The webcasts are designed to teach a new subject in a 6-10 minute segment. For one day's worth of lecture, you would watch 5-6 of these webcasts. Instead of listening to the professor go on tangents and give you a lot of "fluff", you get right into the information that you need to know.

Also, there are supplemental instructions available on campus multiple times per day...you can go to these sessions, be given review sheets by TAs, and the TAs will answer any questions you have.

There are also online discussion sessions available. You log on to your computer at a given time, and you can videochat with the professor. You can ask any questions, and he will share his desktop with you to draw out any mechanisms/etc that might be helpful.

As for the grading of this course...I understand that it's not fair. But, the grading scale will be changed. That's how the University of Illinois works. For example -- the 2nd hour exam for Ochem 1 was ridiculously hard in Fall 2008. Out of 160 possible points, you ended up only needing 10 or more to pass the exam because of the curve. Just stay above the average grade for each exam and you'll be fine!

 

[Sarutobi231]

Well if everyone's grades are plummeting then it doesn't matter. Dr. Moore usually has 20% of the class get an A and 30% get a B, so unless only you are not performing well..then it really doesnt matter what the exam scores are.