Welcome to the Science Skills Lab!

Science Skills Lab (SSL)

Spring 2017 Orientation

Employees and Location

Personnel:

Cheryl Burrell, Ph.D., SSL Coordinator

Tatjana Jovanovic Grove, M.Sc., SSL Instructor

Silvia Gutierrez, Ph.D., SSL instructor

Robin Thomas, B.Sc., SSL instructor

Danilo Boada, Ph.D., SSL instructor

Melissa Nielsen, A.A.S., SSL Lab Technician

Location:

OGC 2539, Main Campus

Forsyth Technical Community College

Welcome to the Science Skills Lab!

Please follow the link for the introductory video:

http://tinyurl.com/SSL-Introduction

*hours of operation are changed since the video was made. These are the current ones:

SSL hours of operation:

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday:

9 am – 8 pm

Saturday (use back entrance only):

9 am – 4 pm

What’s the difference between the SSL andTraditional Labs?

Traditional Labs: SSL:

Flexibility: Labs have to be done at a set

time each week.

Students can schedule labs at various times during the week

depending on their availability.

Lab Material: Copyrighted materials from

established publishers –

costly.

Depending on the course, open source labs – lower cost to

students

Uniqueness: Implemented in most

institutions

First facility of its kind to offer flexible labs over various

disciplines. In addition, students are developing soft skills

such are accountability and familiarity with a proper and

independent lab equipment use, both valuable for workforce.

Learning is made easier and more accessible to students while at the same time keeping them at a high standard of academic performance.

Who do we cater to?

A wide cross-section of students, for instance:

Working students

Displaced workers

Stay at home parents

Early College students

Different Learning Styles and Pace

Self Motivated Students

Before beginning the assignment

Did you sign in the TutorTrac?

This must be done as soon as you arrive to get credit for your time in lab.

Sign out when you leave or you will be signed out automatically and get credit for only 1 hour!

Please follow the link for the scheduling video: http://tinyurl.com/SSL-TutorTracSchedule

Username & Password is the

same as your Techlink

account!!

Before Lab: Scheduling Lab Appointments using Tutor Trac

Select the dates you are interested in and click on the

search button.

Use same username as other accounts

Easy scheduling: course info & availability

Reminder via e-mail

During Lab: Tutor Trac Sign in

Easy kiosk login: ensures credit

REQUIRED 2 steps!

Pick lab section and activity (all lab activities preloaded, please scroll down to find the current one!)

Make sure to click SUBMIT before you go to the bench, otherwise it will expire and your presence will not be recorded!!!

Sign out requires that you only enter your information (1 step), it will have your name and “Thank you for the visit”

Room 2531 hosts Anatomy and Physiology open labs for all A&P students, BIO 168 and BIO 169 labs.

Room 2539 hosts BIO 111, BIO 112, CHM 131A, and CHM 132 labs.

Courses facilitated in the SSL to date

Do you have a proper attire?

Please follow the link for the video regarding rules in the lab: http://tinyurl.com/SSL-Rules-Guidelines

Before beginning the assignment

Before Attending the Lab

Go over lab and corresponding Course materials on Blackboard

Class/Lecture materials

Written materials

Worked Examples

Mini-lecture videos

Animations

Laboratory materials

Laboratory documents print, read and bring to lab

Videos and animations to demonstrate the use of equipment or specific techniques

Pre-lab quiz, if applicable

During the Lab

The Lab Space is organized to promote independent work (self sufficiency & developing soft skills).

Students may finish labs during one or multiple appointments

Example of arrangement of equipment on a typical lab desk (BTC181-900)

All materials needed for labs are provided at your lab bench.

Ask instructor for materials that need to be kept cold / frozen, or if you cannot locate the item you need.

The Lab Equipment Manual helps students to identify and locate the equipment needed for each lab:

These are the binders you can find on the bench.

The original pdf document containing the same information is uploaded on your BlackBoard page, please take time to get familiar with the equipment.

Even though students are encouraged to be independent, they receive guidance from instructors

Try to work things our yourself but don’t be afraid to get help!

There will always be an instructor in the SSL to help and guide you.

Before you leave:

Please follow the link for the video regarding lab supplies: http://tinyurl.com/SSL-LabSuppliesSolutions

Golden rule is your best guidance: leave the lab space you have used the way you want it to welcome you!

The lab documents are graded complete or incomplete before the student leaves:

Complete

A complete means the student has answered all questions associated with the lab experiment. Student’s lab will be stamped as complete and checked off on roster.

Incomplete

The student is given the opportunity to correct any errors or to finish the assignment. Students can come later to finish lab and get checked off. It is a student’s responsibility to get paperwork initialed and dated, and that lab assignment number is recorded in roster book.

When you complete the assignment:

Study and complete all assignments

Go over assigned videos, reading materials.

Study labs to make sure everything makes sense

Study labs and all associated content before each test

If applicable, be current on your Blogs, Study cases, Homework, and Lab reports

Tests:

Some tests may be taken at home (typically lecture tests alternate between being taken at home and testing center)

At home tests can also be taken on campus

Some tests must be taken on campus (proctored lecture tests, all lab tests)

Consult your syllabus: proper time management is the key for success in any hybrid course!

Please follow the link for the video regarding your success in the SSL: http://tinyurl.com/SSL-TipsForSuccess

After lab and at home:

Asking questions

During lab the on duty instructor is your best resource

Questions regarding content and grades should be directed to your course instructor

Instructors of record for each course will be in the SSL certain times of the week

E-mail your instructor of record

Most questions can be addressed through e-mail

Formal meetings can be arranged when needed

Saturdays:

Attending SSL on the weekends:

The building is locked except for the lab entrance door as labeled on the photo (on the catwalk next to the stairway).

It is recommended to park in labeled area during weekend for the safety reasons (this parking space can be easily seen from the lab).

Attendance

Students who miss 2 labs may be automatically dropped from the course

Students who don’t complete entry assignment will be dropped

Communicate with your instructor if you have any issues so we can work with you

To wrap up:

Complete assignments on time: know your due dates for course assignments

Get your labs checked off: this may count towards your final grade

Be safe and courteous, step outside to eat or take a phone call

Wear proper lab attire: lab coat, goggles, closed to shoes, no eating and drinking in the lab

Clean up after yourself

Read the SSL information and guidelines document for additional information

Orientation check list

Read the SSL guidelines and lab safety documents

Complete the BlackBoard entry assignment before you begin your lab assignment

Sign all orientation documents

Thank you for choosing our lab for your academic endeavors, we are looking forward working with you toward achieving your goals!

Science Skills Lab staff