Hello, Phys 131 TAs!

Here is the email that I promised you, recapping our Friday discussions and including links to useful information.  A big thank you to Hilary, who has offered to take over all quiz grading responsibilities in exchange for Max covering her Tuesday evening section.

This week in lab/recitation:

Link to recitation for 9/9-9/13: http://umdberg.pbworks.com/w/page/42294962/How%20big%20is%20a%20worm

(Please encourage the students to work collaboratively, using the whiteboards and markers--on the front table.)

Week 0 outline for lab time:

1) Welcome to class, Discuss Scientific Community Lab format

(Between recitation and lab, there is a ten-minute break.  Students should use this time to get up and move around, use the facilities, get water/coffee, etc.)

Once students return from their brief break, please introduce them to the Scientific Community Lab format (which they should be familiar with from the pre-reading).  Please emphasize that this lab format is designed to be reflective of professional scientific practices--working in groups, learning to communicate with peers, presentation and critical evaluation of ideas, etc.  You don't need to read it to them word-for-word, but cover the major points (lab report written entirely in class and due at end of lab, all students must have copies of data/word files before leaving the lab room (flashdrives!!), review roles and discuss role rotation, briefly discuss grading and attendance policies) and ask them if they have any additional questions.  This should take you no more than half an hour.

2) Download ImageJ (w/ "Manual Tracking" and "MultiTracker" plug-ins.)

Explain to students that one of the modern tools that we will use is an image/video analysis software called ImageJ.  They will learn more about this in the pre-reading to a future lab (Lab 1b).  ImageJ software is used in lots of biomedical research labs--some of your students may already be familiar with it/have heard of it.  (Go ahead and ask them!)  This software will be used for over half of the labs and for occasional homeworks, so it is good for them to have access on their laptop/home computer. (If they don't have their laptop with them, they can take notes on the download instructions and download the program later.)

Software can be downloaded from: http://rsbweb.nih.gov/ij/download.html

Students will need to choose the correct version to match their laptop.  PC users need to choose the correct version to match their version of Java.  They can find this by accessing the Control Panel, System Properties (System and Security), System, System type.  For most newer laptops, 64-bit is the correct choice.

Once this has been downloaded (SAVE, don't OPEN) and installed (default installation recommended), two plug-ins must also be downloaded.  These plug-in files (linked below), should be SAVED (not opened) to the Stacks folder in the Plugins folder in the ImageJ folder that has been created during installation on their hard drive.  For MAC users, it is imperative that they not open/run ImageJ until these files have been saved to the appropriate location, and that these files have been SAVED, not opened. (MACs are a bit pickier, here, than PCs).  If any of your students are having way too much trouble accomplishing this, please send them to my Course Center hour this Thursday, 3-4 pm in room 0208, and I will fix it for them.

Plugins: Manual Tracking: http://rsbweb.nih.gov/ij/plugins/track/track.html

MultiTracker: http://rsbweb.nih.gov/ij/plugins/multitracker.html

If students finish downloading quickly/are not downloading, please encourage them to help their neighbors OR to read over the 'Mechanics/Grading' section of the course website.  I find most students are NOT fully aware of how the course grade will be determined, especially with regard to HW grades.

3) FMCE/THERMO Surveys w/ directions

Instructions to students:

• These surveys are not graded for accuracy.  Students will receive 1 participation point for completion of the surveys.
• These question booklets must stay in the room.  Please do not make any marks on the question booklet (put all marks and answers on the scantron sheet).
• Use a #2 pencil only.  If you do not have one, there are some in the lab room that you may borrow.  Please return the pencil when you are done.
• On your scantron sheets, please write your NAME, you rUMD ID# (in the identification box), and the appropriate code (FMCE = 01####, Thermo = 02####, where #### are the full digits of your section.  E.g., section 0203 taking the FMCE will code this as 010203, and will code the Thermo as 020203.)
• The FMCE should be completed first (approx. 45 minutes) and the Thermo completed second (approx. 15 minutes).

Other TA notes: Please place the used scantron sheets in the appropriate box (labeled FMCE or Thermo).  Re-collect pencils and question booklets when the students are finished.  If you encounter any difficulties, or if you have students who need additional time to complete the surveys, please direct them to Vashti Sawtelle.  These directions are also written out on a paper in the lab room, in case you forget.

Useful Links/Other Information:

Course center hours to begin week of 9/9.  Schedule at: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AtZ1AVfLAvOLdGxMaFRWOTV2RmhCbzkwMk85SDl3V3c#gid=0

**In the event that you can't make your hour(s): First, try to swap hours with another TA or one of the profs.  If that is not possible, place a note on the door to 0208 (in the basement of the Physics building) explaining the date and time period that the course center will be closed.

LA/TA pairings: http://umdberg.pbworks.com/w/page/68624708/Fall%202013%20Phys131%20LA%20Teaching%20Assignments

(with section numbers listed beside the recitations--in case you can't remember which section you teach when) 

TA Guidelines:

http://umdberg.pbworks.com/w/page/68630246/Physics%20131%20TA%20and%20LA%20Information

(Helpful hints for you on what recitation, lecture, etc. should be like for you as a TA.)

Scientific Community Lab student guide: http://umdberg.pbworks.com/w/page/58234096/Intro%20to%20the%20Scientific%20Community%20Lab

(This will be the pre-reading for the coming lab--students should arrive to the lab already familiar with this document.  You can always ask them to read/review it while they wait for their classmates to arrive/return from the break.)

Course Website: http://www.physics.umd.edu/courses/Phys131/fall2013/

(for grading policies, HWs, lab documents and pre-readings)

WebAssign: https://www.webassign.net/login.html?message=ended

(for grading homework, we are still waiting on access accounts for you...)

Canvas: https://myelms.umd.edu/login

(to communicate with your students, enter lab grades) 

**An announcement was sent through ELMS/CANVAS reminding your students to do the pre-reading, bring their laptops, and acquire a flashdrive (a 4 GB drive is definitely large enough).

UMEG: https://was-3.umd.edu/commonlogin/login?goto=https://www.sis.umd.edu/umeg/

(for rosters)

One final note, for grading (labs, quizzes, exams, written HW, etc.), research shows that it is best to grade in ANY color other than Red.  I suggest you try to find some other ink colors (green, purple, orange, light blue, et al.) to work with.  You might need 2 pens to cover all of the grading you will do in the first semester.

That should be everything for now.  Please send me an email if you have questions, need clarification, or have thought of something I have missed!

Good luck!