Lecture Demonstration Facility

Policies & Guidelines

Please read through the following policies and guidelines before viewing the Lecture Demonstration Catalog.

Contact Information

The best way to contact us is to email lectdemo@phys.washington.edu (a list that goes to both Steven and Jeffrey). Our individual contact info is below:

Steven Troy
Director of Lecture Demonstrations (Research Scientist / Engineer)
sbtroy@uw.edu
(206) 543-2899

Jeffrey Jenkins
Engineering Technician
jjenk@uw.edu
(206) 543-8260

Access to the Lecture Demonstration Facility

The Lecture Demonstration Facility (PAA AM008) is a closed facility, open only to Physics/Astronomy Department staff and faculty who are teaching during the current quarter. We encourage instructors to come early to practice their demonstrations before class, and keys can be requested from the main Physics office in C121. However, keep in mind that space is tight. The lecture demo room is also our office and work space. The main door (in the stairwell by A118) MUST be pulled closed behind you to prevent the theft of personal and department property.

Making Demonstration Requests

The best way to request lecture demonstrations for your class is by emailing lectdemo@phys.washington.edu (a list that goes to both Steven and Jeffrey). Phone calls are not recommended because we can't listen to each other's voicemail. If one of us is out, the other may not get your request in time for your class, if at all. Making requests in person during the ten minute break is also discouraged because we're busy setting up for the next class.

Requests are filled in the order they are received (i.e. on a first come, first served basis). This is where email is preferable because messages are time stamped and it's clear whose request came in first. Sometimes it's possible to share a demonstration if two instructors request the same item for the same day and time. However, whoever asked for something first gets the first shot at using it.

One caveat to this is that new requests take priority over carry-over requests. If one instructor wants to repeat a demonstration (either as a repeat or because they didn't get to it), but someone else asks for the same demonstration; whoever made the new request gets the demonstration. This holds even if the new request came in after the carry-over request. The way to avoid disappointment is to get your requests in early.

Some instructors give us their demonstration requests for the ENTIRE QUARTER before classes even begin. While we greatly appreciate this level of organization, we don't always need quite so much notice. Many instructors like to give us their requests by the week and we're quite happy with that time frame.

Singular, trivial demonstrations can generally be filled on short notice. We ask for a full 24 hours (one working day) for all other requests, or multiple demonstration requests.

If your class is at 8:30 or 9:30, please give us your Monday requests by early Friday afternoon.

When making requests, we need the EXACT title as it's written in the catalog (the entire text in bold). The individual demonstrations have been given unique titles in order to avoid as much confusion and ambiguity as possible. For example, the Stirling engines are no longer specified as "New," "Newer," or "Newest." Their titles are now descriptive of their demonstration attributes (i.e. "Hot & Cold" or "Hand-Held," etc.). If you aren't sure what you'd like for your class, we'd be glad to offer advice. However, please read through the catalog and previous demo lists first.

Lecture Demonstration Equipment

We have a lot of neat "toys" and equipment. However, every item in the lecture demo room has a primary purpose as a teaching tool. If you would like to borrow something for a research lab or project, talk to us first and we'll be glad to help out if possible.

Absolutely no equipment is allowed to leave the facility without prior approval from the lecture demonstration personnel.

Removing equipment from the facility after hours or without prior approval is rude to both the lecture demonstration staff and other instructors. The students will be harmed the most because they'll miss out on a valuable part of their education. Please respect the lecture demonstration equipment, as most items are fragile and irreplaceable. If you are unsure of how to use something, please ask us. Some demonstrations are over 100 years old and we'd like to ensure that future students will get to see them.

Exams

Lecture Demonstration personnel are not available to pass out, collect or proctor exams; but TA support is provided for these tasks. Contact Nikolai Tolich if you have any questions about your TA support.

Exams and Demonstrations Don't Mix.

There is not enough floor space for exam tables and demonstration tables at the same time. It is also impossible to set up demonstrations while the front of the room is crowded with students. If you request demonstrations on the same day that you'd like to return exams, we will wait until the front of the room is empty (and exam tables are out of the way) before we even begin setting things up (even if that means waiting well past the class bell). Most of our demonstration equipment is too fragile to risk getting damaged when 100+ students rush the front of the room for their exams. Also, the tables in the Lecture Demonstration Facility are primarily reserved for demonstrations. Unused tables may occasionally be used for returning exams but this is on a case by case basis and is subject to change based on the number of demonstration requests.

Lecture Hall A/V Equipment

The PAA lecture hall audio/video equipment, including the PA system, projector, podium computer, document camera, and microphones, do NOT belong to the Physics Department. They are the property of Academic Technologies and it is their responsibility to maintain them. We can help show people how to use them and provide some minor support (however, this is a lower priority than providing demonstrations).

Most instructors bring their own laptop or tablet and we'll be glad to help you get yours connected to the projector. However, we are unable to provide in-depth technical support. Physics and Astronomy Computing Services (PACS) can help with technical support for your specific device, and Academic Technologies can help get your device connected to their projection equipment.

We strongly suggest practicing with your devices and the projection system before the quarter begins.