Practical Teaching

• The course handbook contains general information about the course, along with details practical background and protocols.
• The handbooks are updated annually, so it is important that you respond promptly to requests for any updates to your practical. Please aim to have any changes to your practical finalised by mid-August. This is essential to ensure that the new handbooks are ready for distribution before the start of term.
• When updating practical notes, please ensure you use the template provided, to avoid unnecessary transcription of the modified text.

• Where possible, Junior Demonstrators will be recruited centrally by the Teaching Office. A call will go out for Demonstrators prior to Michaelmas Term each academic year or interest can be registered via the website.
• It is essential that Junior Demonstrators are recruited well in advance of the practical session so appropriate employment checks can be made. Junior Demonstrators will be asked to complete a webform regarding the teaching to be undertaken – individuals should contact the Undergraduate Teaching Administrator to obtain the link to this form. 
• Please see below for more detail regarding employment legislation, the status and eligibility checks required of the candidates to work in the UK that must be verified in advance.
• The Senior Demonstrator must ensure that they authorise the hours worked by each candidate on the individual timesheets on the last day of the practical.

• The yellow sheets provide a summary of the practical session and are distributed to students after the practical or in the discussion session, whichever is appropriate.
• Senior Demonstrators should ensure that an electronic copy of the yellow sheets is given to the Teaching Assistant prior to the practical to facilitate distribution via Moodle or printing.

• The Health and Safety assessments are completed by the Part I Practicals Organiser and Classroom Manager. Senior Demonstrators will be sent the relevant assessments for their perusal and any comments before the practical. It is important that any adjustments are made before the practical starts.
• The Part I Practicals Organiser liaises with the Classroom Manager over general facilities, budgets etc. in the classroom.
• The Senior Demonstrator is responsible for the specifics of their practical. Senior Demonstrators should meet with the Classroom Manager in the vacation before the practical runs and go through the protocol. It is important to ensure the protocol works with the reagents and equipment available in the classroom.
• The Classroom Manager is responsible for providing all the reagents and ensuring equipment is available.
• In conjunction with the Teaching Administrator, the Classroom Manager is responsible for providing the student registers. These registers will be updated by the Teaching Administrator as required.

• The Senior Demonstrator gives an introductory talk that includes scientific background to the practical, as well as Health and Safety information. It is important to remember that the students lack experience regarding safe laboratory practice. The introductory talk will highlight key practical details.
• The Junior Demonstrators should circulate in the classroom to ensure that the practical runs smoothly. They should intervene if they spot anything going wrong, be available to advise students and answer questions. It is important to engage with students to ensure they are clear about what they’re doing and what their data mean. They should encourage the students to engage with any problems set and to write up the practical in an appropriate way.
• At the end of the practical the Demonstrators may discuss the overall results/write up of the practical and remind students of any ensuing discussion session.
• During the practical the Senior Demonstrator should help and encourage the individual Junior Demonstrators and students and discuss the practical with them.
• The Senior Demonstrator is responsible for Health and Safety during the practical, and to deal with any problems regarding the running of the practical/student behaviour. Any incidents must be reported to classroom staff.
• The Classroom Manager may ask the Senior Demonstrator to remind students about sign-up sheets for future practicals/journal clubs etc.
• The Senior Demonstrator should remind students to sign the register. It is important to note that for MIMS this is a strict requirement by the GMC.

• The Senior Demonstrator should review the practical after the final session and make any corrections or changes that need to be made for the following year. The Senior Demonstrator should liaise with the Classroom Manager to ensure the changes are possible from a practical consideration.
• Any changes to be made to the practical notes should be communicated to the Director of Teaching as soon as possible, and at the latest by mid-August. This will ensure that the changes can be introduced to the practical handbook in readiness for the next academic year.

This guidance advises you, as the Senior Demonstrator, on the information required to ensure Junior Demonstrators can be paid for their contribution to the practical. It is a legal requirement that checks on their Right to Work are completed before they complete an activity for which they are expecting payment. Staff in the Teaching Office are happy to assist or answer any questions you may have to fulfil this requirement.

Please be aware that failure to follow this guidance could lead to your demonstrators not receiving payment for the work that they have completed.

To enable pre-employment checks to be carried out and ensure that the correct documentation is raised, Junior Demonstrators will be asked to complete a web form (link may be obtained from the Undergraduate Teaching Office). This will ensure that individuals can carry out legally the duties asked of them and that contracts are in place prior to the commencement of the assignment. Without a contract, payment cannot be processed.

 Please note that Claim Forms will only be accepted for reimbursement up to the end of the term following the term in which the participation relates to. The Department will not make payment against claims made outside of this guidance.

 Submission of the appropriate from(s) by Junior Demonstrators will enable the Teaching Office to ensure that the correct paperwork is in place and keep a track of reimbursement claims so all claims are paid in a timely manner, and no claims miss the processing deadline noted above.

More detailed guidance regarding payments for demonstrating can be found by clicking the button below.