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When you look at the syllabi from recent semesters you see that they start to take on a common look. We like to take the first 2 weeks to train students about the project as a whole to make sure that they understand our scope and they can make smart decisions about which teams to join. Make sure to pass around a sign-in sheet in every lecture for the first two weeks because we get a lot of people wandering in and out of the class, which makes it difficult to try to organize teams.
- The Monroe usually gives the Intro to AguaClara lecture, which just gives some background about the project, is available on the outreach team USB drive located in the demo plant suitcase. It is the same general presentation we give to most groups that invite us to speak. A back-up copy is also located in Documents on the clearwater computer account in the AguaClara lab
- Monroe generally gives the State of AguaClara lecture, which just summarizes our progress and challenges. He has a copy of it.
- The Intro to Teams lecture is the first chance new members get to hear about the teams. At the very beginning of the semester email the returning members from each active team (you and Monroe will decide which teams will be active before the semester starts). Ask/tell each team to send you 2 slides so they can give a 2 minutes pitch for their team. Have the returning students send you the slides AT LEAST 4 days before the lecture and feel OK harassing them! This is the best way new students learn about each team. Tell them to tentatively decide between design, outreach, and research. Have separate meetings for each of these subgroups where more specific questions can be asked. Bring students interested in research down to the lab. After this lecture the students should all be sent the planning survey so you can chose teams.
- A Trip to the CU Water Filtration Plant should be scheduled sometime during the semester so that students can learn and see first hand how conventional municipal water treatment happens. This will allow students to learn about water treatment processes, and also see the old pilot plant so they can learn a bit more about that team, too, because there isn't enough time during the lab open house to bring the whole team out to the CUWFP.Lab Open House is an informal chance for everyone to come downstairs to tour all of the experimental set ups and ask returning members questions in a one-on-one setting. After this lecture the students should all be sent the planning survey so you can chose teamstoo. This trip can be coordinated with CEE 4540. Discuss with Monroe when he thinks this trip should be scheduled. In the Fall semester, it might be wise to wait a little bit so that students have learned the basics of what they are seeing. Email Chris Bordlemay to set this up.
- The Wiki Training Lecture is described on the child page linked to should be done near the beginning of the semester so that students can start updating wikis as soon as they've made progress. It should be after students have settled into their teams a little bit though.
You will want to keep emphasizing to the new team how although they are coming to class, 95% of their time in AguaClara will be spent with their teams so it is important to make an educated decision as to where they might be able to fit in and learn well.
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