Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology
TA Orientation
Presented by:
The Chemistry and Chemical Biology TA Network
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Chemistry Personnel
Chemistry TA Coordinator
Course Coordinators
Dr. Jeff Landry
Greg Bahun
Dr. Peter Kruse
1st Year Coordinator
2nd Year Coordinator
ABB 263 x 23480
ABB 121 x 22485
ABB 301 x 23548
pkruse@mcmaster.ca
landryjc@mcmaster.ca
bahungj@mcmaster.ca
Faculty: www.chemistry.mcmaster.ca/faculty
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B108 Wentworth House
Phone ext. 24003
cupe3906@mcmaster.ca
www.cupe3906.org
Unit 1 members: TAs
Dental Care
(working 130 hours or more)
$1000/calendar year
Policy #: 97528 (Class A)
Division #: Division #1
Certificate #: your student ID #
Vision Care
$250/24 months
Covers exams, prescription glasses,
safety glasses and sunglasses
Childcare
UHIP Rebate
Hardship Fund
$100/year
Just need to bring
a receipt(s)
$100/year
Just need to bring
Pay stub
Max. $500/year
Evaluated on a
case by case basis
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Chemistry Personnel
Undergraduate Technicians
Heather Pettit
Patricia Martin
Angela Vanderlaan
Nicki Robinson
Paul Chindemi
Upper Year Coordinators
Karen Newmann
Leah Allen
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Undergraduate Chemistry Courses
• First Year
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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
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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
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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!
• Don’t forget to read over instructions for any specific
techniques!
• Questions? Ask Lab Coordinator for that course
• Proper Attire – Set a Good Example
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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
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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 13
Marker – The Basics
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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
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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@yahoo.ca
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Chem & Chem Bio TA Network
Patricia Edem
(2OA3)
edempe@mcmaster.ca
Karen Lam
(1AA3/1A03)
lamkp3@mcmaster.ca
Janice Cheung
(1AA3/1A03)
cheungyy@mcmaster.ca
Lukas Sadowski
(2OB3)
sadowski@mcmaster.ca
Laura Dodge
(2OA3/2OB3)
dodgelc@mcmaster.ca
Meera Shanmuganathan
(2OB3)
shanmm2@mcmaster.ca
Fan Fei
(1AA3)
feif@mcmaster.ca
Carlos Zepeda
(2OD3)
zepedaca@mcmaster.ca
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Departmental Orientation
Thursday September 8th, 2011
10:30 am – 4:00 pm
ABB A404
Meet ‘n Greet Welcome BBQ
4:30 pm
The Phoenix (Wentworth Lounge)