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Employers agree that one of the most important qualities in any employee is the ability to work effectively with colleagues. In this course you will often work in small groups or with a single partner. This sometimes causes problems for a variety of reasons. Former students who have experienced problems in their groups have the following suggestions to facilitate getting laboratory work done.
- Prepare for the laboratory BEFORE coming to the laboratory. This involves reading and thinking about the assignment, making any decisions necessary, doing calculations which can be performed in advance and asking questions. Decide on what responsibilities each person in the group will have. It is best to get together with your partner(s) for a short period of time before coming to the laboratory to make the preparations needed.
- Avoid missing laboratories. When any student is absent, his/her partner(s) have problems. Also, it is difficult for you to make up laboratory time which is missed. If you must be absent, contact your laboratory partners and make arrangements so that they will have everything they need from you and they can help you make up what you have missed.
- Make sure everyone has recorded all data in his/her own laboratory notebook during each laboratory. Never rely on someone to get information to you later! Make sure everyone has a photocopy of your group's graphs, instrument print-outs and other data by the end of every class period.
- If you have questions, ask them in class or at another time. Be sure you understand what has happened. It is your responsibility to ask for help if you need it.
- If there is someone in your group who is not doing their part, think about ways to handle the situation. Can you discuss it and improve the situation? Are you at an impasse? If there is some way that I, as the instructor can help, let me know.
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