99.37 Fast Feedback Facility

Dr Parks reported that the capability to email messages to the SSJC had been added to the Fast Feedback Facility.

(i) Mrs Hawtrey-Woore undertook to investigate the heating in LT1 and LT2.

(ii) It was agreed that SSJC members should discuss proposals for the siting of a common room with Dr Parks, who would forward suggestions to the Space Committee.

(iii) It was agreed that the Department Improvement Group should be asked to consider the provision of drinking fountains in the Inglis building.

(iv) It was agreed that Council should be asked to reconsider relaxing the restrictions on the access of third and fourth year students to the Department after 10 pm.

(i) It was agreed that the Computing Committee should be asked to arrange an icon driven route to lyx.

(ii) It was agreed that the Computing Committee should be asked to consider providing a 'Word-style' word processing package on the Teaching System. Abiword was recommended for consideration.

(iii) It was agreed that the Computer Strategy Committee should be asked to investigate the possibility of providing some terminals dedicated to the checking of email - perhaps in the corridor leading to the library and in the Baker Building foyer.

(iv) Dr Parks reported that the task of providing Tripos paper cribs on the web as PDF files had started and was being processed as fast as possible consistent with other demands on the time of staff concerned. Mr Timms undertook to discuss with Dr Peter Long ways of expediting this process through appropriate technology.

(i) It was agreed that the student interest in the introduction of Spanish teaching should be drawn to the attention of the Language Programme Committee.

(ii) It was agreed that the continuing student demand for the provision of help in the preparation of CVs for overseas job applications should be drawn to the attention of the Language Programme Committee.

(i) It was agreed to recommend to the Coursework Committee that two student representatives (to be nominated by the SSJC) should be co-opted onto the working party reviewing coursework (chaired by Dr Pellegrino).

(ii) It was agreed that Dr Burgoyne (as the person responsible for third year coursework) and Dr Parks (as the person responsible for third year projects) should be asked to reiterate to markers the existing guidelines about providing feedback on coursework reports, and that markers should be asked to identify themselves clearly (by printing their name and providing an email address) so that students could easily make arrangements to discuss their reports further.

(iii) It was agreed that the Coursework Committee should be asked to consider introducing the teaching of experiment planning skills in Part I.

(iv) It was agreed that concerns about the consistency of marking of reports, the length of time actually required to do write-ups, and the imbalances between the effort required to do various third year laboratory experiments should be brought to the attention of the Coursework Committee. Particular problems should be reported to Dr Parks.

(v) It was agreed that the Coursework Committee should be asked to review the teaching of Drawing in Part IA with particular emphasis on the time required to complete drawing assignments, the flexibility and fairness in marking, and the balance between traditional and CAD drawing skills.

(vi) It was agreed that the Exposition Committee should be asked to review the teaching of report writing skills with particular emphasis on how to write different sorts of report (laboratory experiments, academic papers, management briefings, etc) rather than focussing on writing up the first year statics experiment alone.

(vii) It was agreed that the Computing Committee should be asked to review the teaching of programming and in particular to consider ways of streaming classes (as in the IA Maths course), of providing more demonstrator assistance, and of providing more basic self-help teaching (e.g. how to use the help system).

(viii) It was agreed that the Coursework Committee should be asked to consider the possibility of providing other voluntary sessions (like the Engine Strip and Rebuild) in some or all of machining, welding, electronic circuit construction and computer 'strip and rebuild'.

(i) Dr Williams reported that Professor Peter Guthrie had recently joined the Department as a Royal Academy of Engineering Visiting Professor in Sustainable Development, and would be reviewing environmental aspects of the course.

(ii) It was agreed that the Mechanics, Materials and Design Subject Group should be asked to consider introducing teaching on aesthetics as part of design teaching.

(iii) Dr Williams reported that that the possibility of allowing students to do courses in other departments was being investigated but that progress would be slow because University Regulations would have to be changed to permit this.

(i) The idea of providing a guide to the courses in the third and fourth year from the student perspective was approved. This guide would be written by Ms Galletly, Mr Todd, Ms James, Mr Miles, Mr Pain and Mr Timms.

(ii) The idea of providing web based information to help graduate students was agreed. Ms Galletly would progress this.

(i) It was agreed that details about the provision of interim information about examination performance in fourth year modules should be provided in the Lent Term

(ii) Mrs Hawtrey-Woore undertook to investigate the problems in attracting the attention of the invigilator which occurred in the F6 examination.

(iii) It was agreed that a Working Party of Ms Stockbridge, Mr Pain and Mr Timms should review the document 'Advice for Lecturers from the SSJC'.

(iv) It was agreed that the SSJC noticeboard should be used more imaginatively to promote the SSJC. Proposed posters etc should be approved by Dr Parks. Ms Courtney would liaise with Dr Parks on behalf of the SSJC student members.