Phys 132, Reminders from 1/30/2015 Training (Lab 6, Part 1), for the week of 2/2/2015

(Note that all LAs have been CC'd on this email. Some work for Recitation, some for Lab, and some for BOTH, but all LAs might want to know this information--especially the Useful Links (3f) at the end of the email.)

0) Email notice to students:

I have sent a notice to 132 students reminding them to bring their laptops to lab, to bring a flashdrive/have a dropbox for file-saving between weeks, to print out their own copies of the lab, and to READ the lab documents before coming to class. I have also encouraged them to re-read the Intro to Scientific Community Labs document they used last semester in Physics 131. I have informed them that their recitation/lab room is 3310 until further notice.

1) Recitation:How a Kinesin Walks

Link: http://umdberg.pbworks.com/w/page/53985671/How%20a%20Kinesin%20Walks%20-%20Revision

Students should NOT write on the "room copies" of the recitation paper. Please collect the room copies between recitation and lab. If supplies are running low, email your Head TA, Matt Harrington, ASAP.

Please track the student attendance at the recitations (and labs). (Matt will let you know more about how to score/reward this participation or punish the absences.)

TAs and LAs: Please remember that the general goals of recitation are group discussion, communication of ideas/logic, and reconciliation of individual perspectives. We'd love for the students to get the "right" answer, but that is less important than the exchange of ideas and negotiation of meaning among group members. Please encourage the students to think deeply about what they are doing, rather than rushing through the worksheet and stressing about how "correct" their answers are.

TAs: Don't forget the wrap-up/summary at the end of recitation!

(10 minute Break)

2) Lab 6, Part 1: Fluid Flow

Link to Student & TA documents: http://umdberg.pbworks.com/w/page/68933700/NEXUS%20Physics%20Labs%2C%202013-2014

a) For TAs/LAs new to these labs (or for former students who'd like a reminder), I have attached the .pdf files for the Technical Documents to this email. Spare copies of these documents, for student use, are by the printer in the back of 3310. Please replace them neatly when the lab is done.

b) Please start the lab by recapping the Scientific Community Lab (SCL) structure, especially the absence policy.

c) Please show/demo the microfluidic devices (in the TA box in the front of the room). Pass out these cells for students to handle. Recollect these devices to the TA box at the end of the lab.

d) Have a brief class discussion after the Qualitative Analysis portion of the lab for students to share their reasoning and conclusions about the relative speeds in the wide and narrow channels for each device.

e) The video files for quantitative analysis are on the lab computers in the "Documents" folder.

f) You can expect students to finish ALL of the qualitative analysis and ALL of the ImageJ data harvesting. They should make significant progress through the Excel analysis, but may not finish completely. They can finish this analysis in week 2.

g) Remind students to save ALL of their lab files (via email, dropbox, or flashdrive).

h) If you are using lab "roles"/"jobs," please remember to record who is doing what.

i) All lab papers are "do not write on/do not remove." Please collect and neatly stack the lab papers at the end of lab.

3) Other Logistics:

*** Course Center (room 0208) starts this week!! Matt will send you a googledoc on which you can sign up for your slot. Full TAs work 2 hours each week. Half TAs work 1 hour each week. If room 0208 is locked and you need access, come by the PERG office (room 1322)--this is Kim's office, too.

a) Please let Matt/me know if recitation/lab papers are running low in quantity. (There are 48 copies--which should be sufficient for a classroom set of 24 students, provided papers are not written on or taken away.)

b) Please straighten up the room between recitation and lab and following lab. Collect, sort, and stack student documents. Make sure each table has the appropriate equipment (whiteboard markers, etc.). Check that all microscopes are turned OFF.

c) Do not erase the blackboard at the front of the room. Feel free to add to it, if you think important information is missing, but don't erase it! If you need space to write, there are two "TA" whiteboards leaning underneath the blackboard--write on these!

d) All files/videos/reminders that you need should be in the "Documents" folder of the TA computer.

e) If a student "logs out" of the Lab computers, you will need to RE-BOOT the computer (and it will automatically "log in"). We do not have the passwords for these computers.

f) Here are some useful links for TAs and LAs: (Please DO NOT share these links with the students!!)

Physics 132 TA and LA Information page on the UMD-BERG wiki:http://umdberg.pbworks.com/w/page/68630246/Physics%20131-132%20TA%20and%20LA%20Information

(Here you will find a host of useful links, including:

What am I doing in lecture?

What am I doing in recitation?

What am I doing in lab?

What happens at the weekly meetings?

What am I doing in the Course Center?

All reminder emails will be stored here, too. TAs can also find grading information, ImageJ download instructions, and other useful information.)

Physics 132 LA Teaching Assignments: Spring 2015 Phys132 LA Teaching Assignments

Physics 132 TA/Student Lab Documents: http://umdberg.pbworks.com/w/page/68933700/NEXUS%20Physics%20Labs%2C%202013-2014

(Including a TA Guide to Guiding labs, How to grade Lab Reports, and the Introduction to the Scientific Community-style Labs (SCL).)

Physics 132 Course Web-page: ON ELMS/CANVAS, but archived at http://www.physics.umd.edu/courses/Phys132/spring2015/index.html

(You can find HW problems, schedule of readings, and list of labs/recitations here. Try solving the HW before you go to the course center. Read the "What am I doing in the Course Center?" if you are unsure how this learning space works.)

ELMS/CANVAS: http://www.elms.umd.edu/

(For grade-entry, emailing students, finding HW solutions, etc.)

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

(For printing rosters and setting up a course email reflector.)

WebAssign: https://www.webassign.net/login.html

(For grading online homework.)

Good luck!