1. BEING A LABORATORY DEMONSTRATOR Prof Martin Wills you are there to: Know what is going on and where things are (so prepare beforehand!) Guide and encourage the undergraduates Know and understand the experiments in detail Cope with problems Mark the write-ups Keep records of attendance, marks and results Ensure safety and good order

2. YOU SHOULD GAIN: teaching experience (useful for c.v.) motivation skills wider practical knowledge and safety awareness assessment skills payment!

3. HOW THE LABS ARE ORGANISED The laboratory course tutor (academic in charge) plans the course writes the course is ultimately (and legally) responsible. ‘moderates’ your marking fixes the local rota and checks your timekeeping The departmental teaching administrator distributes the total Departmental demonstrating work The senior undergraduate technician ensures that the equipment is working directs the other technicians The technicians provide technical support; equipment and chemicals (but not necessarily scientific)

4. SAFETY Make sure that you are familiar with the Departmental safety handbook, and know what Risk and Safety phrases mean (R18/S24?). consider what will you do if: 1. someone spills a litre of water on the floor 2. someone gets a splash of dilute acid in their eye 3. someone cuts their hand badly on some broken glass 4. someone collapses? all accidents MUST be reported

5. HOW WILL YOU COPE WITH: 1. A student who obviously hasn’t bothered to read the introductory parts of the manual 2. a student who is consistently skiving and sponging on his/her partner’s results? 3. A student who is reasonable but lacks self-confidence 4. A student who is experimentally able but arithmetically erratic?