Pilot, demonstrators and safety

Once practical work has been developed it needs to be piloted. If something can go wrong, students will find the way. There is much merit in piloting the work, perhaps over the summer with graduate students.

The effort needed to update the work annually or periodically should not be underestimated. Work using computers should always be checked and updated before it is reused, because changes to computer hardware or software can affect whether the material still functions, at one extreme, or still has the same 'look and feel', at the other.

Demonstrators, who are typically postgraduate students, often undertake a major part of the supervision of undergraduate laboratories. Their support needs have to be developed.

How will they be trained to perform the role effectively? Will they need a wider understanding to be able to field students' questions? Will they mark any of the work? If so what guidance and training will be given on marking? What processes of moderation will be used? How will the performance of demonstrators be evaluated?

For most laboratory work, health and safety requirements need to be considered. Will those be discharged by the permanent presence of an academic or of a technician? What ratio of such people to students is needed? What training needs to be provided for these people? Are there any special health and safety issues in respect of disabled students?