Welcome new GSIs. Lots to do before you start teaching!
This documet was last updated on 12/2/08 .
Classes begin on Jan 7. Discussion and lab sections for most classes will begin the week of the 12th, but you should confirm that with the lecture professor(s)
You should expect to have a meeting with the lecture professor(s) before classes begin.
Below you will find a checklist for your class, followed by the details of what each item on the checklist entails.
Resourses and documentations (including this document and a schedule) are on my website, http://www-personal.umich.edu/~aquilla/
When scheduling, please send an email that has “schedule training for…” in the subject line: e.g. “schedule training for Shannon” or “schedule training for planetarium”. My email will flag any messages with that subject so I won’t miss it. In the body, be sure to say what training you want (if it isn’t in the subject), when you want to do it, and if you have a preference of where to meet.
(click class number for a printable version)
CTools is recommended. I can provide training/help, as can the TTC: http://www.umich.edu/~teachtec/
*160 is expected to observe, but the use of the planetarium and SAMS depends on the lecture prof. Please check with him/her.
Manuals for the observatory and planetarium are located in the observatory and planetarium, as well as in the Owl, and online at
http://www-personal.umich.edu/~aquilla/
The Celestron 8” telescopes mount to piers on the roof. Additionally, there is a refractor that can go out on the roof, or into the classroom. Training consists of set up, pointing at something, and putting the ‘scope away. This takes about 45 minutes with an additional 15 minutes if you want to set up the refractor. It can be set up on a tripod in the classroom in the event of inclement weather. Training must be completed before you can use the telescopes on the roof or classroom. I will take up to 3 people at a time for training, but add about 15 minutes if there is more than 1 person and we have to set up in the classroom.
The 0.4-m telescope in the dome on the “6th floor” of Angell hall is computer controlled. Training consists of start up, alignment, trouble shooting, dome use, and full shutdown and emergency procedures. Training takes about an hour. Training must be completed before taking the test. I will take up to 3 people at a time for training, but add about 15 minutes for each extra person.
Additional note for C8 and observatory training: Add 15 minutes to your first training session on the 5th floor of Angell for the tour. You will get your classroom/observatory key request form when you do your first training.
The observatory test is detailed on the second-to-last page of the Angell Hall Observatory manual. You must pass this to be a “qualified operator” and to use the telescope unsupervised. This is one person at a time (obviously), and takes somewhere between 20 minutes and 2 hours, depending on how prepared you are.
Standard training includes room use, AV computer use, and planetarium basic operation using the control board and running pre-programmed shows. It takes about 2 hours, and I will take up to 2 people at a time.
When you schedule training, please send me your full Mcard number (the long one, probably starting with 6008). If you're not comfortable sending it in email, you can come see me, or leave it on a note in my mailbox.
Review sessions can cover whatever you want, but normally cover basic operation and troubleshooting for the planetarium projector only. You must have taught at least one semester or recently completed basic training to schedule a review rather than basic training. The time on this varies considerably. I will take as many as want to come at the same time.
Programming and advanced operations includes using the keyboard for quick and accurate commands and writing your own shows. This is done on an individual basis only. Time varies. If you want to learn to write your own shows, you should come with a show idea in mind. Training is done one person at a time only, since you have to be able to sit at the computer.
The Student Access Management System is the online gradebook. It is used in large introductory classes, but not usually in the smaller classes. ISS will not support its use for 127. Information, some training, and online documentation is at http://sitemaker.umich.edu/iss_instruction/home. I will also schedule some time in the first 2 weeks of class for training.
You will get an email from SAMS when you get access to a class. Before then, you will get an error message, HOWEVER, you will also get an error message if you try to access the student portal instead of the instructor portal.
MA is an online homework tool. It is relatively easy to use, though it has some definite drawbacks. I will set up some training time as part of the pre-term meetings for this. Bring a laptop if you want to play along.