CHEMISTRY COMMUNITY

Does anyone know if the normal step-up up sessions and workshops that are held on Mondays are still being held tomorrow despite it being MLK Day???

Monday campus is closed which means all the on campus peer learning sessions are cancelled Monday.

However, I have organized the following 5 hours of Covel Peer Learning Sessions:

Covel Commons (ALL Room 210) ALL STUDENTS WELCOME!

Sunday:
• 7-9pm (Step-Up)

Monday:
• 6-8pm (Workshop)
• 8-9pm (Drop-In)

The assigned homework problems are the best preparation for all tests and exams.
See class announcements at: https://lavelle.chem.ucla.edu/class-websites/chem14b/

Test 1 covers Equilibrium and Acid & Base Equilibria which we finished Friday.
See Learning Outcomes for details:

• Outline 1: Chemical Equilibrium
• Outline 2: Acids and Bases

Friday’s class I did equilibrium examples applying them to titrations (salt/pH at the stoichiometric point) and buffers (I did weak acid and its salt example).

Continue to work through the Chemical Equilibrium Audio-Visual Focus-Topics, Assessments & Surveys on my class website (https://lavelle.chem.ucla.edu/class-websites/chem14b/).

See you Wednesday.

for anyone that's been, have you found them helpful/how is the pace of the step-up sessions

Will the current week's step up sessions be posted on here as well?

I would also like an insight to how the step up sessions are structured and how helpful they are like the posted reply above mine.

605136321 wrote:for anyone that's been, have you found them helpful/how is the pace of the step-up sessions

I go to Jonathan's sessions and I find them extremely helpful! He goes over homework and old test questions and explains the important concepts/equations from lecture and the different contexts that they can be used in! If you can fit it in your schedule, I would recommend it!

605136321 wrote:for anyone that's been, have you found them helpful/how is the pace of the step-up sessions

I've only been to Lyndon's and Melody's sessions, but I also agree that they are very useful and helpful! They both make worksheets for their sessions, but Lyndon's is a workshop, so he gives you time to work on the problems for about 30 mins before going over how to do them, while Melody's is a step-up session so you do the problems collaboratively with her and whoever also attended.

If you've got a solid sense of what's going on in class or if you've already been exposed to this material prior and just want more practice problems, then workshops will work better for you.
If you're slow at understanding new concepts (like me, lol) it's beneficial to see the thought process on how to approach problems or how to extract info you need to solve a problem you don't quite understand at first, and step-up sessions are great for that walk-through.

Highly recommend them both, they're amazing!

Does anyone know if there will be a Step-up session this Sunday at Covel? I know there's a midterm review going on but I couldn't make it :(

kennedyp wrote:Does anyone know if there will be a Step-up session this Sunday at Covel? I know there's a midterm review going on but I couldn't make it :(

I think there's a step-up session today from 8-9 pm in Covel!

Hi does anyone know if Lyndon's workshop is still happening tonight?

605136321 wrote:for anyone that's been, have you found them helpful/how is the pace of the step-up sessions

I go to the Covel Step-Up sessions and I find them very useful to answer any questions I have before tests or exams. I would recommend it, even just to go once to see if it helps you.

Hi! Will there still be UA review sessions today despite the holiday?

GFolk_1D wrote:Hi! Will there still be UA review sessions today despite the holiday?

Dr. Lavelle sent an email out yesterday saying that all peer learning sessions are cancelled Sunday and Monday, and everything will resume back to usual on Tuesday.

GFolk_1D wrote:Hi! Will there still be UA review sessions today despite the holiday?

Because of the holiday there will not be a UA session this week!

Annie Chantasirivisal_4G wrote:

605136321 wrote:for anyone that's been, have you found them helpful/how is the pace of the step-up sessions

I've only been to Lyndon's and Melody's sessions, but I also agree that they are very useful and helpful! They both make worksheets for their sessions, but Lyndon's is a workshop, so he gives you time to work on the problems for about 30 mins before going over how to do them, while Melody's is a step-up session so you do the problems collaboratively with her and whoever also attended.

If you've got a solid sense of what's going on in class or if you've already been exposed to this material prior and just want more practice problems, then workshops will work better for you.
If you're slow at understanding new concepts (like me, lol) it's beneficial to see the thought process on how to approach problems or how to extract info you need to solve a problem you don't quite understand at first, and step-up sessions are great for that walk-through.

Highly recommend them both, they're amazing!

Thank you!

due to classes now being cancelled, will step-up/review sessions presume as scheduled or are those all cancelled as well?

Jade Hinds 2B wrote:due to classes now being cancelled, will step-up/review sessions presume as scheduled or are those all cancelled as well?

I'm pretty sure all sessions will be cancelled

Hello! I am an incoming Freshman in the Chem 14A class. I took Honors Chem in 11th grade and AP Chem in 12th grade. Any recommendations on taking a step-up session? I know I'm not as rusty since I took the course recently, but I feel that having my second semester of Chem last year being very rushed due to covid may have made me miss out on something. Please give me recommendations! :)

idella 1F wrote:Hello! I am an incoming Freshman in the Chem 14A class. I took Honors Chem in 11th grade and AP Chem in 12th grade. Any recommendations on taking a step-up session? I know I'm not as rusty since I took the course recently, but I feel that having my second semester of Chem last year being very rushed due to covid may have made me miss out on something. Please give me recommendations! :)

Dosen't hurt to try one out! I think Dr. Lavelle mentioned that the step-up sessions are, quite literally, step-by-step sessions that go through every detail of the HW problems/questions in the lectures. If you feel a bit more confident about the material and just want a quick review, I think the Workshops are meant a bit more faster paced review. There are also drop-in sessions where you can drop in on Zoom to ask a question and leave. Hope this helps!

Hi, I understand that these Step-Up sessions are for counseling. Can we just join into the zoom meeting any time during the time slots or must we stay there for the entire time? Also, can we bring in questions about topics or only specific questions for specific problems? I have a feeling I'm going got need help and I am willing to ask for it I just need to know if there are do's and do not's for the sessions. Thank you in advance!

Can I just join any UA peer learning session?

Lesly Lopez 3K wrote:Hi, I understand that these Step-Up sessions are for counseling. Can we just join into the zoom meeting any time during the time slots or must we stay there for the entire time? Also, can we bring in questions about topics or only specific questions for specific problems? I have a feeling I'm going got need help and I am willing to ask for it I just need to know if there are do's and do not's for the sessions. Thank you in advance!

I think you can just say that you need to leave a specific time and they'll be understanding. Just like any other class, let them know and be undisruptive!

t_rasul3I wrote:Can I just join any UA peer learning session?

yes, from my understanding all UA peer learning sessions can be accessed by any student, regardless of your lecture or discussion.

Does anyone recommend step up sessions or UA sessions for someone who's only taken regular chemistry in high school and wants to catch up? I feel behind because I never took AP or Honors.

magalysantos_1F wrote:Does anyone recommend step up sessions or UA sessions for someone who's only taken regular chemistry in high school and wants to catch up? I feel behind because I never took AP or Honors.

Yes! I went to one today and feel a lot better already. I never took AP chem either and feel really overwhelmed too.

t_rasul3I wrote:Can I just join any UA peer learning session?

From my understanding, yes. You can just pop into any session and it's okay if you can't attend for the entire time frame.

Regarding step up sessions, do all UAs share the same worksheet or is it recommended to attend multiple sessions because they all focus on different concepts?

Are “step up sessions”, “UA peer learning”, and a “UA session” all the same resource with just different names for the resource? I just want to clarify because I see a lot of similar terms for these sessions.

Ellison Gonzales 3F wrote:Are “step up sessions”, “UA peer learning”, and a “UA session” all the same resource with just different names for the resource? I just want to clarify because I see a lot of similar terms for these sessions.

Yes I think these all reference the same thing because the document labelled "Peer Learning Sessions and Step-up Program" on Lavelle's website uses all three names to talk about the same thing.

Brianna Chen 1I wrote:Regarding step up sessions, do all UAs share the same worksheet or is it recommended to attend multiple sessions because they all focus on different concepts?

For the step-up sessions I attended, one UA gave us a worksheet to work on but then also he gave us some past midterm problems to work on at the very end and the other UA gave us just a worksheet. They definitely cover different concepts so I would recommend going to multiple sessions because they were both very helpful.

Muskaan Abdul-Sattar wrote:

magalysantos_1F wrote:Does anyone recommend step up sessions or UA sessions for someone who's only taken regular chemistry in high school and wants to catch up? I feel behind because I never took AP or Honors.

Yes! I went to one today and feel a lot better already. I never took AP chem either and feel really overwhelmed too.

Ah I see, then I think I will make time for those, thanks for letting me know! :)

Did anyone attend the 6-8pm workshop today? Can someone give an overview of what was discussed during that session. I was planning on attending but something came up.

What're the differences between the step-up sessions and Professor Lavelle's online office hours? Should I try to attend both if possible?

I've been to a step up sessions everyday. The TA's (or helpers idrk what they call themselves) begin by sending/displaying a worksheet of previous homework/midterm questions. I've come to find them helpful as a beginner in chemistry, but I do recommend to have a slight knowledge of basic chemistry because I recognized that the TA's teach in a fast manner or they assume that we know things. These step up sessions are very good for honing the first four module skills, they also benefit by offering past-exam questions.

Who are the Step up Sessions taught by? And are they helpful?

For anyone who was wondering about the step up sessions, I went to one and absolutely loved it!! I'm going to keep making time for it because it seriously helped further my understanding of fundamental topics.

What is the format of step up sessions do you work on homework, lecture questions, or questions from the textbook?

haley f wrote:Who are the Step up Sessions taught by? And are they helpful?

I think the Step Up sessions are taught by undergrads who have taken the class, but I havent been to one yet so i'm not sure if they are helpful or not.

For the step up sessions, are they done with our UAs and TAs? Would I just need to contact them personally or schedule them through the class website?

All your questions are answered at my class website: https://lavelle.chem.ucla.edu/class-websites/chem14a/

See:

All TA Office Hours https://lavelle.chem.ucla.edu/wp-conten ... OH_ALL.pdf

Peer Learning Sessions and Step-Up Program https://lavelle.chem.ucla.edu/wp-conten ... PL_ALL.pdf

idella 1F wrote:Hello! I am an incoming Freshman in the Chem 14A class. I took Honors Chem in 11th grade and AP Chem in 12th grade. Any recommendations on taking a step-up session? I know I'm not as rusty since I took the course recently, but I feel that having my second semester of Chem last year being very rushed due to covid may have made me miss out on something. Please give me recommendations! :)

I went to a step- session and they’re very useful if you have a specific question in mind that you want explained to you step by step. It was also nice to listen to other people’s questions and the explanations bc you can learn things from their topics they bring up in the session too. It was very low key and helpful!

Where can I find the schedule and the zoom links for the step up sessions?

You could find the schedule and the zoom links for step up sessions on CHEM 14A website under the section "Peer Learning Sessions and Step Up Program".

I had a question on what the difference between the workshops and set up sessions are?

Jada1J wrote:I had a question on what the difference between the workshops and set up sessions are?

My understanding is that step up sessions are for if you have a specific question or concept you want solved and explained step by step. Workshops I believe are a tad more accelerated and you do problems with the UAs from a worksheet they provide.

How do I register or join a step up session online?

How many students are in a Step Up session?

505612629 wrote:How do I register or join a step up session online?

See my class website at: https://lavelle.chem.ucla.edu/wp-conten ... PL_ALL.pdf

40 hours per week. Click on the zoom link for those you want to attend.

Organized and Easy :-)

I know there are multiple step-up sessions in a day. Are they all the same or do they go over different things in each one?

If we miss a step up session, do worksheets from the sessions get posted online? Or is the only way to get the extra practice problems to attend them live? Just wondering because sometimes my schedule makes it a little hard to attend things live :')

Chem_Mod wrote:

505612629 wrote:How do I register or join a step up session online?

See my class website at: https://lavelle.chem.ucla.edu/wp-conten ... PL_ALL.pdf

40 hours per week. Click on the zoom link for those you want to attend.

Organized and Easy :-)

Just to clarify, we don't actually have to "register" right? we just join the zoom..?

Are the step up sessions mandatory or just something that is there to help us if, we need the help

Is there typically a worksheet given at these sessions? I went week 1 and it was basically office hours, but I'm guessing this was just because it was too early in the week for a content worksheet. Does anyone know if it's gotten more structured?

305614361 wrote:Are the step up sessions mandatory or just something that is there to help us if, we need the help

All peer learning sessions are completely optional, but are highly recommended if you need help or extra practice!

Emily_Stenzler_3H wrote:Is there typically a worksheet given at these sessions? I went week 1 and it was basically office hours, but I'm guessing this was just because it was too early in the week for a content worksheet. Does anyone know if it's gotten more structured?

It depends on the session; step-up sessions and workshops will have problems to go through, and there may or may not be an actual worksheet depending on the UA. Drop-in sessions are basically extra office hours led by UAs, so there aren't worksheets for those.

Are step up sessions or workshop sessions better for understanding material that may be on exams? Can I still attend workshop sessions if I don't have a strong background in chemistry?

Students can attend any and all resources in my classes. Try them all and see which you prefer.

Jaclyn Dang 3A wrote:Are step up sessions or workshop sessions better for understanding material that may be on exams? Can I still attend workshop sessions if I don't have a strong background in chemistry?

I went to a step up session today and we did old midterm problems. I haven't been to a workshop session, but I can tell you step up sessions are good for practicing test problems!

Jaclyn Dang 3A wrote:Are step up sessions or workshop sessions better for understanding material that may be on exams? Can I still attend workshop sessions if I don't have a strong background in chemistry?

You can definitely still attend workshop sessions even if you don't have a strong background in chemistry. I did not get to take AP chem in high school so I definitely feel as though my chem background is not as strong as others, but the workshop sessions have still been very helpful. Some of the concepts are difficult but the UAs are really good at explaining and, in my experience, are very willing to thoroughly answer any questions and address any points of confusion.

Jaclyn Dang 3A wrote:Are step up sessions or workshop sessions better for understanding material that may be on exams? Can I still attend workshop sessions if I don't have a strong background in chemistry?

Step-up sessions allow you to walk through simpler problems step-by-step where as workshops allow you to engage in questions that are on a higher level of difficulty. Nevertheless, both are equally helpful and the UAs do a great job of explaining any confusions you may have!

Ellison Gonzales 3F wrote:

idella 1F wrote:Hello! I am an incoming Freshman in the Chem 14A class. I took Honors Chem in 11th grade and AP Chem in 12th grade. Any recommendations on taking a step-up session? I know I'm not as rusty since I took the course recently, but I feel that having my second semester of Chem last year being very rushed due to covid may have made me miss out on something. Please give me recommendations! :)

I went to a step- session and they’re very useful if you have a specific question in mind that you want explained to you step by step. It was also nice to listen to other people’s questions and the explanations bc you can learn things from their topics they bring up in the session too. It was very low key and helpful!

Thank you! I;ve been attending several and it's really putting me at ease :)

MIDTERM REVIEW SESSIONS - I saw on the class website that there is a tab for midterm review sessions. I was wondering if they are apart of step up sessions or if they are hosted by Dr. Lavelle at a different time/location. And, when will the review session be?

Does anyone know if the host of step up sessions post the worksheets on chem community? I can't make the sessions but would still like the extra practice on my own

Does anyone know if the host of step up sessions post the worksheets on chem community? I can't make the sessions but would still like the extra practice on my own

Samantha Lee 1A wrote:MIDTERM REVIEW SESSIONS - I saw on the class website that there is a tab for midterm review sessions. I was wondering if they are apart of step up sessions or if they are hosted by Dr. Lavelle at a different time/location. And, when will the review session be?

So Dr Lavelle and the TAs aren’t necessarily having any midterm review sessions, but I went to Justin’s UA session on Tuesday and he said he’s holding a review session ( or something similar to one) during his Saturday session tomorrow. It’s from 12-1pm if you’re interested. I totally recommend it because it’s good practice for the midterm!

Also are all UA peer-learning and TA office hours happening as usual for this week or are they cancelled because it is a midterm week?

I believe Peer Learning Sessions and office hours are happening as usual. However, Dr.Lavelle's discussion sessions on Monday and Wednesday are cancelled for this week.

Rachel Kho Disc 1I wrote:Also are all UA peer-learning and TA office hours happening as usual for this week or are they cancelled because it is a midterm week?

All are open to assist students.
I announced this in my 1am class email 6 hours ago.

Chem_Mod wrote:

Rachel Kho Disc 1I wrote:Also are all UA peer-learning and TA office hours happening as usual for this week or are they cancelled because it is a midterm week?

All are open to assist students.
I announced this in my 1am class email 6 hours ago.

Hi, I'm trying to access Melody's step-up session, but it says that it needs the host to open this meeting. Do you know if it's been cancelled or if she will be doing it later tonight?

Are the step-up sessions still going to mention "older material" such as fundamentals or will the UA's only talk about the new material that we're currently going over?

From what I heard, the UA worksheets were really helpful because they also gave out answer keys to review!

UA sessions help sooooooo much! if you had trouble with your discussions questions they help you with that as well

Agreed. I'm so glad Professor Lavelle organized these study sessions. The LAs have have been extremely helpful, and they always make great practice worksheets.