1 Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology TA Orientation Presented by: The Chemistry and...

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Department of Chemistry & Chemical BiologyTA Orientation

Presented by:

The Chemistry and Chemical Biology TA Network

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Chemistry Personnel

Faculty: www.chemistry.mcmaster.ca/faculty

Dr. Jeff Landry

1st Year Coordinator

ABB 121 x 22485

landryjc@mcmaster.ca

Greg Bahun

2nd Year Coordinator

ABB 301 x 23548

bahungj@mcmaster.ca

Course CoordinatorsChemistry TA Coordinator

Dr. Peter Kruse

ABB 263 x 23480

pkruse@mcmaster.ca

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B108 Wentworth HousePhone ext. 24003

cupe3906@mcmaster.cawww.cupe3906.org

Dental Care Vision Care

Childcare UHIP Rebate Hardship Fund

(working 130 hours or more)$1000/calendar year

Policy #: 97528 (Class A)Division #: Division #1

Certificate #: your student ID #

$250/24 monthsCovers exams, prescription glasses,

safety glasses and sunglasses

$100/yearJust need to bring

a receipt(s)

$100/yearJust need to bring

Pay stub

Max. $500/yearEvaluated on a

case by case basis

Unit 1 members: TAs

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Chemistry Personnel

Heather Pettit Angela VanderlaanPatricia Martin

Undergraduate Technicians

Nicki Robinson

Karen Newmann Leah Allen

Upper Year Coordinators

Paul Chindemi

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Undergraduate Chemistry Courses

• First Year • 1AO3/1AA3 – Introductory Chemistry I/II• 1EO3 – General Chemistry of Engineers I• 1RO3 – General Chemistry (for students without high school chemistry)• iSci – Integrated Science

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Undergraduate Chemistry Courses

• Second Year • 2AA3 - Quantitative Chemical Analysis• 2E03 - Introductory Organic Chemistry• 2II3 - Introductory Inorganic Chemistry: Structure and Bonding• 2LA3/2LAB3 - Tools for Chemical Discovery I/II• 2OA3/2OB3 & CB2OA3/CB2OB3 - Organic Chemistry I/II• 2OC3 - Structure and Reactivity of Organic Molecules• 2OD3 - Synthesis and Function of Organic Molecules• 2PC3 - Mathematical Tools for Chemical Problems• 2PD3 - Equilibria and Kinetics • 2Q03 - Inquiry in Chemistry • 2WW2 - Inorganic Chemistry for Materials Engineers• CB2A03/CB2AA3 - Introduction to Bio-analytical Chemistry• CB2L03 - Chemical Biology Laboratory I• CB2P03 - Bio-Physical Chemistry • CB2Q03 - Inquiry for Chemical Biology

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• Third Year• 3AA3 Instrumental Analysis• 3II3 – Introduction to Transition Metal Chemistry• 3IO3 – Industrial Chemistry• 3LA3 – Strategies for Chemical Discovery• 3LB3 – Applications of Chemical Inquiry• 3OA3 – Organic Synthesis• 3PA3 – Quantum Mechanics and Spectroscopy• 3PB3 – Physical Chemistry of Advanced Materials• CB3OA3 – Bio-organic Chemistry• CB3PO3 – Biomolecular Interactions• CB3LO3 – Chemical Biology Laboratory II

Undergraduate Chemistry Courses

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Possible TA Duties

Lab Demonstrator • Responsible for overseeing students in lab, demonstrating

techniques, safety, marking labs, etc.

Tutorial Leader• Responsible for leading tutorials for students, answering student

questions, help centre

Marker• Responsible for marking assignments, tests, exams, etc.

Invigilator• Responsible for monitoring students writing tests or exams,

watching for and reporting cheating

Others??

Note: Your assigned TA unit (1 unit = 65 hours) may be a combination of one or more of the above duties (ie. Tutorial Leader and Invigilator)

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Preparation is Key• Read Lab Manual Prior to Lab

• Available On-line – Be sure and print out a copy!• Don’t forget to read over instructions for any specific

techniques!• Questions? Ask Lab Coordinator for that course

• Proper Attire – Set a Good Example• No shorts/sandals• Hair tied back• Safety goggles• Lab coat

Lab Demonstrator – The Basics

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Timeline (1AO3/1EO3, 2OA3)

• Prelab Meeting (15 min.)• Extra information for TAs for the lab that week

• Video introductions for each lab (1st, 2nd Year)• Remember to turn the TV on!

• Take attendance• Experiment Time• Students will complete reports in lab and hand them in

immediately• TA marks student reports with given a marking scheme

in ~ 1 week time• TA records marks and enters them on-line or gives them

to the Lab Coordinator

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Lab Demonstrator – First Lab

• Introduce yourself • Write your name on the board how you would like it spelled! • Your contact info (optional)

• Your Time• Outline expectations/standards

• Penalties for not meeting these standards

• Encouragement/Reassurances• Lab Tips & Tricks for Success

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Lab Demonstrator – Tips & Advice

Pre-lab• Read over entire experiment (including the questions)• Go see the coordinator to get clarification on any part of the

procedure

15-min Meeting• Take notes• Ask questions

Experiment time• Circulate & observe• Ask Questions, don’t just give answers• Time management – Keep students moving!• Safety

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Tutorial Leader – The Basics

• Preparation is Key• Read over tutorial/answers• Work out problems yourself, ask questions• Awareness (Deadlines, quizzes, lectures, etc.)

• What to Expect• Tutorial = Open Format

• Lecture style – helpful for clarification of a difficult concept• Question & Answer – be careful not to answer assignment

questions!• Student directed – i.e. “What tutorial problems were the

hardest? Let’s go over them.”• Small group discussion – Circulate and monitor group

problem solving• Help Centre = Chaos

• Students will ask anything and everything• Be well prepared!• Be aware of tutorial, assignments, labs and lecture material

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Marker – The Basics

• Lab marking• Assignments• Midterm and exam marking• Consistency

• Follow the marking scheme• Report errors in marking scheme• Communication – to course coordinator and professor

• Efficiency• Mark all the same question at the same time

• Be aware of cheating!

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Invigilator – The Basics

• Know your surroundings• Washroom locations, etc.

• Bring a watch (not all rooms have clocks)

• Cheating = Large problem• Circulate and observe• Report suspicious behavior to co-invigilators/ faculty

• Clarify questions but don’t give answers or hints

Departmental TA Awards

• Recognizes the many exceptional TAs in our department each semester

• Acknowledgement based on nominations of TAs that have:

• Made a difference to their students • Gone above and beyond their expected duties• Demonstrated qualities that deserves special recognition

• Nomination forms are available at www.chemistry.mcmaster.ca• TA can be nominated by undergrad. students, peers, course

supervisors and staff

• Awards announced at a TA Appreciation Reception at the end of the term

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Resources: Centre for Leadership in Learning

• A resource centre for everyone (including faculty) who teaches at McMaster

• Helpful resource for supplementary materials, courses, workshops, seminars

• Check out their website for useful information and eventshttp://cll.mcmaster.ca/ (Mills Library, L504)

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Resources: TA Network – Mac Chem TA

• Our Mission• Helping you be a happy, effective TA in the Chemistry &

Chemical Biology Department

• How to Accomplish This?• Workshops (i.e. marking), discussion groups, etc. offered

throughout the year• Development of TA resources for chemistry• Ask us your questions, tell us your problems/

FRUSTRATIONS!!!

• Contact us at: macchemta@yahoo.ca

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Chem & Chem Bio TA Network

Patricia Edem(2OA3)edempe@mcmaster.ca

Janice Cheung(1AA3/1A03)cheungyy@mcmaster.ca

Laura Dodge(2OA3/2OB3)dodgelc@mcmaster.ca

Fan Fei(1AA3)feif@mcmaster.ca

Karen Lam (1AA3/1A03)lamkp3@mcmaster.ca

Lukas Sadowski(2OB3)sadowski@mcmaster.ca

Meera Shanmuganathan(2OB3)shanmm2@mcmaster.ca

Carlos Zepeda(2OD3)zepedaca@mcmaster.ca

Departmental Orientation

Thursday September 8th, 201110:30 am – 4:00 pm

ABB A404

Meet ‘n Greet Welcome BBQ4:30 pm

The Phoenix (Wentworth Lounge)