The laboratories themselves

Each laboratory session is supervised by a Laboratory Supervisor, and has a number of demonstrators allocated (the staff:student ratio will be approximately 1:10). The interface to the ARCADE system is via the Laboratory Book, a ring binder for each course unit which contains sheets printed by ARCADE giving attendance, marks and other information for students in each laboratory group.

As a demonstrator, we wish you to do three things:

1. Attend the sessions you have been allocated! Or, if you are unable to attend particular sessions (e.g. due to a clash with taught courses, other absence, illness) then please inform the Laboratory Supervisor as soon as you can, so that a replacement demonstrator can be arranged. Better still, you may help to find a replacement yourself.

   Please turn up on time to each laboratory session -- don't forget to bring any demonstrator's laboratory marking scripts with you. Get a `Generic Marking Sheet' for you to record your marks from the Laboratory Book, and fill in the details at the top (your name, session and date). At the end of the laboratory session, you will transfer the marks collected on this sheet to the main pages in the Laboratory Book, and then file the used generic sheet at the back of the book to facilitate later error tracing when this is necessary.

2. Mark students' work: a lot of your time will be spent undertaking this. You may at first be somewhat daunted by the prospect of grading work and this is understandable. However, we will provide the necessary guidance, training and support for you to do this.

3. Help students with problems: you may not be used to a teaching role. Again, we recognise that and will provide you with assistance

It is also important to be clear about what we do not require you to be involved with. Essentially this means that you will not be doing the following.

• Supervising the laboratory (that's what the Laboratory Supervisor does).
• Taking attendance.
• Dealing with any `excuses' or `irregularities' that the students have. If students ask you about Lates, Absences, etc., then refer them to the Laboratory Supervisor.
• Giving extensions at the end of each laboratory -- again students should ask the Laboratory Supervisor for extensions, not you.

Also we do not want you to take or tolerate any sort of abuse from students. If this happens (and hopefully this will remain extremely rare) then note the student's name and inform the Lab Supervisor immediately.

In return for your efforts you will firstly receive some cash! This may well be the main primary motivation for you undertaking demonstrating in the first place. However, you will also hopefully gain a lot from the experience of teaching and interacting with undergraduate students.