FOR CHEM14AE SPRING 2020: From the pandemic to the recent tension affecting our lives and communities, this quarter has been particularly challenging for all of us. While many professors have adjusted their courses and attitudes to fit the obstacles many students are currently facing, few have been as kind and accommodating as Dr. Casey. There is no other class that students are taking in which the instructional team rejoices in class memes, offers office hours on the weekend, struggles with balloons for our education’s sake and understands, uplifts and encourages all of us to succeed. When I look back on how much we’ve learned over the past quarter, we have done an exceptional amount of learning thanks to the dedication of the instructional team. It is sometimes easy to forget, but at the bare core, professors and TAs do not have a specific obligation to care deeply about student wellbeing or pay an extraordinary amount of detail in creating intentional and meaningful coursework, especially for an online pilot class during a turbulent time in our society! However, Dr. Casey and the TAs/LAs have gone above and beyond in purposefully and passionately fulfilling those additional duties this quarter, all while cultivating a positive environment during class. Dr. Casey mentioned some time during the quarter that in the best case scenario, she hoped that all of us would end the class thinking chemistry is fun. Well, after Chem14AE with her, I’m glad to say that chemistry is fun (most of the time)! Although I personally really like the quarter system, this is one of the few times I actually wish we were on the semester system. This class has been my favorite class I have taken at UCLA so far, and I’m actually sad that it is coming to an end so soon. I’ll miss reading everyone’s responses to the opening question, writing sassy responses on the lab worksheets with my team and feeling just a little more happiness in the world when Dr. Casey’s face lights up in fascination from chiweenies, carrots and random chemistry facts. It even gave me the final push to switch my major to something chem-related. What happens in this course truly is the best of UCLA, and why I love going to this school so much. I recommend everyone take this class with her.

During a normal quarter, the grade breakdown may be as follows (could change in the future):
Surveys 5 points (1%)
Homework 50 points (10%)
Clicker Questions 40 points (8%) <--you have more than enough opportunities to earn these 40 points
Pre-Discussion Quizlet 45 points (9%) <--lowest one is dropped
Learn Before Lecture 45 points (9%) <--lowest one is dropped
Discussion Worksheets 90 points (18%) <--was made out of 80 points this quarter, there were nine worksheets worth 90 points, you can miss up to 10 points to still get full credit, collaborative with lab group+LA, includes reflections
Calibrated Peer Review 30 points (6%) <--was replaced with a group essay this quarter, not too bad, 500-600 words!
Quizzes 45 points (9%) <--solitary, timed, closed book/note, lowest quiz is dropped
Midterm 50 points (10%) <--collaborative with lab group, open book/note, timed
Final Exam 100 points (20%) <--was replaced with a cumulative discussion worksheet this quarter due to academic senate, collaborative with the lab group and class, open book/note, not timed
Total 500 points (There are extra credit opportunities provided as well.)

This class heavily relies on group work. You'll come to love it and your team. During discussion sections, LAs are placed with teams of four to guide you through the worksheets. This class can be challenging at times if you do not have a strong chemistry foundation, but there is a huge support system and is extremely rewarding. This class covers way more material than the regular Chem14 series but will prepare you for later courses in the series. However, you won't be spending endless hours on weekly assignments, all of which are extremely useful for coming to lecture prepared and doing well in the class. There are less weekly homework assignments than a typical science class because there is an additional hour added to discussions, which might seem terrible on the surface, but you'd rather suffer through the material with help from peers, LAs, TAs and the professor than by yourself late at night. Everything is very intentional and meaningful in this class. You MUST attend lecture. Classes are not recorded. However, you will enjoy coming to class. It's actually fun (even though we were online)! The instructional team does EVERYTHING in its power to try to help you succeed. Don't cut yourself short by not taking advantage of the resources (office hours, study lounges, LA workshops, videos, piazza discussion forum, etc.) they provide. I wish I would have known how amazing this class was going to be (I had zero clue going in), so I could have savored every moment. Good luck!

HI OH MY GOODNESS TAKE PROFESSOR CASEY IF YOU WANT TO ENJOY CHEMISTRY BECAUSE WOWOWOW SHE IS THE BEST PROFESSOR YOU CAN HAVE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO COLLEGE CHEM! I TOOK CHEM 17 AND THAT WAS A WASTE OF TIME BECAUSE I LEARNED ZEROOOOO, BUT WITH CASEY I LEARNED SOOOO MUCH AND I LOVE CHEMISTRY NOW! She is a great lecturer and she makes lecture so fun and entertaining. She cares so much about her students and offers several office hours. Go to her office hours if you're confused about anything because she will help you!!! Jay and Natalie were also great TAs and always willing to help us understand anything, so go to their office hours too!!! The midterm and final were taken in groups, but ultimately you can disagree with your group and provide your own answers for any questions. The quizzes were a bit challenging in terms of the time limits, but they are very doable! I do not regret switching from Scerri to Casey at all! My friends who took Scerri said they didn't really learn that well in his class, so if you are someone who would like to actually learn during lecture and not self-teach yourself please take Casey!! I hope I can take the chem labs with her because she is so great <3 !!!

I'm not religious, but I still prayed to Casey.

DR. CASEY IS AN ABSOLUTE QUEEN. So helpful, understanding, and caring. The TA's and LA's are super helpful too. Would definitely take any classes with her again!

Dr. Casey is one of the best professors I've ever encountered in UCLA. My foundations for chemistry were pretty bad, and I was scared that I couldn't catch up. Thank GOD Dr. Casey is just sooooo good at teaching everything that I didn't need to self-study like I did for other classes. She's is extremely sweet and nice; her lectures had such nice atmospheres that they really encouraged me to interact or ask questions. Her tests and exams were fair; you'd nail them if you study everything properly. Pick her as your professor; you won't regret it.

Dr. Casey is an angel take her for everything in the chem series.
Also, selling chemical principles the quest for insight 6th edition + workbook,
the workbook was never used, basically new. Atkins jones laverman (text book) + Hoeger and Lavelle (workbook)
text me at **********

Dr. Casey is hands down the best professor in the chemistry department. She cares about her students like no other. I sadly did not get to meet her in person due to the virtual learning, however, she still managed to make the class engaging. She emulates so much passion for the topic. She made balloons to teach mo theory, she spent countless nights creating lbl's and pdq's so we can have a better understanding of the topic, and she even stays up late to create jokes/memes for us. If you have the opportunity, TAKE HER. You will not regret it and you'll leave the class feeling much more intelligent.