Department of Chemistry

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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
Chemistry TA Coordinator
Course Coordinators
Greg Bahun 2nd Year Coordinator ABB 301 x
23548 bahungj_at_mcmaster.ca
Dr. Jeff Landry 1st Year Coordinator ABB 121 x
22485 landryjc_at_mcmaster.ca
Dr. Peter Kruse ABB 263 x 23480 pkruse_at_mcmaster.ca

Faculty www.chemistry.mcmaster.ca/faculty
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B108 Wentworth House Phone ext.
24003 cupe3906_at_mcmaster.ca www.cupe3906.org
Unit 1 members TAs
Dental Care
Vision Care
(working 130 hours or more) 1000/calendar
year Policy 97528 (Class A) Division
Division 1Certificate your student ID
250/24 months Covers exams, prescription
glasses, safety glasses and sunglasses
Childcare
UHIP Rebate
Hardship Fund
Max. 500/year Evaluated on a case by case basis
100/year Just need to bring a receipt(s)
100/year Just need to bring Pay stub
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Chemistry Personnel
Undergraduate Technicians
Heather Pettit
Angela Vanderlaan
Patricia Martin
Nicki Robinson
Paul Chindemi
Upper Year Coordinators
Karen Newmann
Leah Allen
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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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Undergraduate Chemistry Courses

• 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

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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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Lab Demonstrator The Basics

• Preparation is Key
• Read Lab Manual Prior to Lab
• Available On-line Be sure and print out a copy!
• Dont 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

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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, dont 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? Lets 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 dont give answers or hints

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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 events
• http//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_at_yahoo.ca

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Chem Chem Bio TA Network
Patricia Edem (2OA3) edempe_at_mcmaster.ca Janice
Cheung (1AA3/1A03) cheungyy_at_mcmaster.ca Laura
Dodge (2OA3/2OB3) dodgelc_at_mcmaster.ca Fan
Fei (1AA3) feif_at_mcmaster.ca
Karen Lam (1AA3/1A03) lamkp3_at_mcmaster.ca Lukas
Sadowski (2OB3) sadowski_at_mcmaster.ca Meera
Shanmuganathan (2OB3) shanmm2_at_mcmaster.ca
Carlos Zepeda (2OD3) zepedaca_at_mcmaster.ca
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Departmental Orientation

• Thursday September 8th, 2011
• 1030 am 400 pm
• ABB A404
• Meet n Greet Welcome BBQ
• 430 pm
• The Phoenix (Wentworth Lounge)