Instructor Insights

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Instructor Insights

Every time we teach, we can take what we're teaching and try to give it some sort of context.

— Prof. Jeffrey Grossman

Below, Professor Jeffrey Grossman describes various aspects of how he teaches 3.091 Introduction to Solid-State Chemistry.



Learn More! In the following video from MIT’s Festival of Learning in 2018, Professor Grossman discusses his use of goodie bags and real-life applications in teaching:

Hands-on Chemistry Learning in 3.091 from the 2018 Festival of Learning

 

Watch the video excerpt of Professor Grossman's introductory speech to the students:

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> Download from Internet Archive (MP4 - 12MB)

> Download English-US transcript (PDF)

> Download English-US caption (SRT)

 

Video excerpt of Professor Grossman's giving his closing remarks to the students in the final lecture:

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> Download from Internet Archive (MP4 - 19MB)

> Download English-US transcript (PDF)

> Download English-US caption (SRT)

 

Curriculum Information

Prerequisites

None

Requirements Satisfied

Offered

Every semester

The Classroom

  • A large lecture hall, looking down toward the lectern and blackboards.

    Click for previous classroom. Room 1 of 3 Click for next classroom.

    Lecture

    Classes were held in a large lecture hall with tiered seats for 425, furnished with sliding chalkboards and an A/V system.

  • A lecture hall, looking from the rear of the room toward the lectern and blackboards.

    Click for previous classroom. Room 2 of 3 Click for next classroom.

    Overflow Lecture Hall

    Overflow seating was available in a lecture hall with gently tiered seating for 100, furnished with chalkboards and an A/V system.

  • A view of a classroom, looking toward the chalkboards in the front of the room.

    Click for previous classroom. Room 3 of 3 Click for next classroom.

    Recitation

    A small classroom with shared tables and seating for 32, equipped with sliding chalkboards.

 

Assessment

The students' grades were based on the following activities:

The color used on the preceding chart which represents the percentage of the total grade contributed by quizzes. 25% Quizzes
The color used on the preceding chart which represents the percentage of the total grade contributed by exam 1. 15% Exam 1
The color used on the preceding chart which represents the percentage of the total grade contributed by exam 2. 15% Exam 2
The color used on the preceding chart which represents the percentage of the total grade contributed by exam 3. 15% Exam 3
The color used on the preceding chart which represents the percentage of the total grade contributed by final exam. 30% Final exam

Student Information

455 students took this course when it was offered in Fall 2018.

Enrollment

455 (enrollment increasing in recent years)

Breakdown by Year

Primarily first-year students

Breakdown by Major

Various majors, particularly in engineering, science, and health-related fields

Typical Student Background

Most first-year students at MIT will have had one year of high-school-level chemistry.

 

How Student Time Was Spent

During an average week, students were expected to spend 12 hours on the course, divided as follows:

Lecture

3 hours per week

Met 3 times per week for 1 hour per session; 39 sessions total; mandatory attendance.

 

Recitation

2 hours per week

Recitations, led by graduate or advanced undergraduate teaching assistants, met 2 times per week for 1 hour per session; in these sessions, students reviewed concepts from the lectures and took regular quizzes.

 

Out of Class

7 hours per week

Outside of class, students completed hands-on homework activities (ungraded) and prepared for quizzes and exams.

 

Semester Breakdown

WEEK M T W Th F
1 No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. Lecture session scheduled. Recitation scheduled. Lecture session scheduled.
2 Lecture session scheduled. Recitation scheduled. Lecture session scheduled. Recitation and quiz scheduled. Lecture session scheduled.
3 Lecture session scheduled. Recitation scheduled. Lecture session scheduled. Recitation and quiz scheduled. No classes throughout MIT.
4 Lecture session scheduled. Recitation scheduled. Lecture session scheduled. Recitation and quiz scheduled. Lecture session scheduled.
5 Lecture session and exam scheduled. Recitation scheduled. Lecture session scheduled. Recitation scheduled. Lecture session scheduled.
6 No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. Lecture session scheduled. Recitation and quiz scheduled. Lecture session scheduled.
7 Lecture session scheduled. Recitation scheduled. Lecture session scheduled. Recitation and quiz scheduled. Lecture session scheduled.
8 Lecture session scheduled. Recitation scheduled. Lecture session scheduled. Recitation and quiz scheduled. Lecture session scheduled.
9 Lecture session and exam scheduled. Recitation scheduled. Lecture session scheduled. Recitation scheduled. Lecture session scheduled.
10 Lecture session scheduled. Recitation scheduled. Lecture session scheduled. Recitation and quiz scheduled. Lecture session scheduled.
11 No classes throughout MIT. Recitation scheduled. Lecture session scheduled. Recitation scheduled. Lecture session scheduled.
12 Lecture session scheduled. Recitation and quiz scheduled. Lecture session scheduled. No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT.
13 Lecture session scheduled. Recitation scheduled. Lecture session scheduled. Recitation scheduled. Lecture session and exam scheduled.
14 Lecture session scheduled. Recitation scheduled. Lecture session scheduled. Recitation and quiz scheduled. Lecture session scheduled.
15 Lecture session scheduled. Recitation and quiz scheduled. Lecture session scheduled. No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT.
16 No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT. No classes throughout MIT.
Displays the color and pattern used on the preceding table to indicate dates when classes are not held at MIT. No classes throughout MIT
Displays the color used on the preceding table to indicate dates when lecture sessions are held. Lecture
Displays the symbol used on the preceding table to indicate dates when quiz is held. Quiz
Displays the color used on the preceding table to indicate dates when recitations are held. Recitation
Displays the symbol used on the preceding table to indicate dates when exam is held. Exam