High marks for Glendale Community College chemistry teacher, students

Theres one thing that the students who take Sevada Chamras organic chemistry class know that his exams are considerably more difficult than the American Chemistry Societys standardized test which may explain why Glendale Community College students scored in the 85 percentile after recently taking the national exam.

What I have been told by almost all of my students is that they find the [American Chemistry Societys test] easier than my exams, Chamras said.

If theyre trained to run 50K, 26K would feel much easier to you, he said.

The two-semester class requires three hours of lecture and six hours in the lab each week, and students take the American Chemistry Societys exam at the end of their second semester.

Within the time frame Chamras has with students, hes on the search for what he calls, the click the moment when students grasp the concepts of organic chemistry.

It happens at different points in time for different people, he said, adding that some click a little bit into the second semester.

Unfortunately, just like any other [class], I do have people who never click, Chamras said, but sometimes that can be due to family commitments or work pressures.

Since 1999, when he first started teaching organic chemistry, hes come to enjoy the fresh, unbiased brains that I deal with, he said. I dont tend to ever underestimate my students intellect. The more I give, the more they want. Thats a sign of intelligence and willingness to learn.

His students are often eyeing careers in the medical field.

Michael Mushegian, 20, often spent three to four hours a day studying the material, and he scored a 99% on the standardized exam.

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High marks for Glendale Community College chemistry teacher, students