Laboratory Policies for Physics TAs

Attendance at the TA training session at the beginning of each fall semester (and spring semester if a session is held) is mandatory.

  • If you are out of town for summer or winter break, please plan your return trip accordingly. If the training session is scheduled for a Tuesday, “My flight doesn’t get in until Wednesday” is NOT a valid excuse.

Email a copy of your lab syllabus to .

  • The exact format of your syllabus may vary, but don’t forget to include the title of the lab manual (if there is one) and the lab schedule.
  • Add a line to your syllabus that says that the students are required to bring the ENTIRE lab manual every week. The manual frequently refers to procedures and equipment used in previous labs.
  • If you’re not sure what to include, ask an experienced TA for a copy of a recent syllabus.

Friday afternoon lab meetings (meetings for a few courses may be on other days) are mandatory.

  • These meetings are important for both new and experienced TAs. While the use of these meetings to introduce the labs to new TAs is probably obvious, sometimes substantial changes have been made to labs that experienced TAs have taught in the past.
  • Additionally, these meetings are a great place to talk about problems with the previous lab. Your input is essential to making revisions to the lab manual.

Please suggest changes to the lab manual.

  • While not required, your input is essential to improving the lab manuals.
  • You can always just tell me your suggestions, but it is helpful to have them in writing (handwritten or email, either is fine).

You must do the lab and fill out the lab report.

  • They are due in the holder outside of VAN 203 on Mondays at 10:00 am. If you have done the lab yourself, you are much better prepared to teach that lab.

10 total points
2 - turned in
1 - on time
5 - complete data and acceptable results
2 - analysis questions
  • Your labs will be “graded” on a 10 point scale. The results will be turned in to the department at the end of the semester.

Lab group sizes are 2-3 students, depending on the room.

  • The 2nd floor labs can be set up for groups of 2 or groups of three. If you are in a 2nd floor lab that has 10 stations, your students should work in groups of 2. If you are in a 2nd floor lab that has 8 tables, your students should work in groups of 3. 362 VAN is set up for groups of 3, but if there are 16 students or less in your lab section, they should work in groups of 2. 353 and 361 are set up for groups of 2.

Being on time isn’t good enough. Arrive at least 5-10 minutes early.

  • The labs are locked until you open the door. If you don’t open the door until the minute the lab is scheduled to start, it is not possible to start the lab on time.
  • If it is after the time that your lab is scheduled to start and your students are still sitting in the hall waiting for you and I see or hear about it, you will be hearing from me.

Don’t read the newspaper or use a laptop computer, cell phone, MP3 player, etc. during lab.

  • Walk around the room instead. Students will ask you questions if you make yourself available.

Upload all lab grades to ICON.

  • You must upload all of your lab grades to ICON. It is recommended that you update the grades in ICON weekly. When all lab grades for the semester have been entered, notify Sheryl Lyle ().

Deal with emergencies appropriately.

  • Fire Alarm: Exit the building. Use the stairs, not the elevator.
  • Tornado Siren: Take your students to the basement hallway. Avoid windows.
  • Minor Injuries: Use the first aid kit in the room if necessary. Report the incident to me.
  • Major Injuries: Call 911, and then use the first aid kit if applicable. Tending to the injured student should take priority, but contact me as quickly as reasonably possible. If I am not in my office (335-1754), call my cell phone (319-541-2959).
  • Unruly Student: Ask the student to leave. If that doesn’t work, depending on the perceived level of threat to you or other students, contact either me (Office: 335-1754, Cell: 319-541-2959) or University of Iowa Department of Public Safety (Emergency: 911, Non-Emergency: 319-335-5022).
  • Other: You are the authority figure in the room, and if any sort of emergency occurs, you will have to make a judgment call on how to deal with it. Here are some contact numbers that may be of help:
  • Emergency: 911
  • University of Iowa Department of Public Safety ( Non-Emergency): 335-5022
  • Anthony Moeller (Laboratory Coordinator):
  • Office: 335-1754
  • Cell: 319-541-2959 (call in case of emergency, leave a voice mail if I do not pick up)
  • Professor Frederick Skiff (Physics Department Chair): 335-1689
  • Environmental Health & Safety (Chemicals, Radiation, etc.): 335-8501

University of Iowa Policies:

  • College of Liberal Arts and Sciences:
  • University of Iowa Operations Manual:
  • Office of Equal Opportunity & Diversity:

Anthony Moeller

Laboratory Coordinator

Last Updated: August 15, 2018