Guidelines for Teaching Assistants
Mid-Atlantic Glass Beadmakers
(revised 3/3/05)
TA's Privileges:
If deemed necessary, each class or workshop
sponsored by the Mid-Atlantic Glass Beadmakers will have a Teaching Assistant
(TA) assigned to it. Generally, the TA’s duties are to assist the Instructor
and to be responsible for the torches and lampworking equipment. In return for
providing these services, the TA shall be entitled to audit the course at no
charge. If one is available, the TA shall have his/her own torch as well.
However, the TA's duties with regard to assisting
the instructor and attending to the equipment shall at all times take priority
over auditing the class.
TA’s Responsibilities:
| Oxygen: Order the oxygen and confirm and coordinate that date and time of delivery with the staff at the class venue. |
| Propane: Bring enough full propane containers as are necessary for the duration of the workshop or class. It may be necessary to rent these. (The TA will be reimbursed for all propane expenses by the SGB/MA.) |
| Equipment: Pick up torches and all the other equipment from the storage facility and deliver it to the class venue. |
| Set up: Prior to the beginning of class, set up and test all the equipment, including the oxygen and propane regulators and manifolds. This will require familiarity with the equipment. It will also require that the TA coordinate with the staff at the class venue, to be sure that the TA has access to the classroom early enough to have adequate time to set up and test all the equipment well before the students arrive. |
| Emergency exits: Introduce the Instructor and the students to the emergency exits, the locations and the operation of the fire extinguishers, and remind each student to report any torch or equipment malfunctions or any special needs. |
| Monitor: Monitor the operation of all the equipment throughout the workshop. This will require that the TA be present at the workshop continually. |
| Kiln temperature settings: Settings for the toolbox kilns are written on the top of the kilns. 3.5 - 4 for one; and 5.5 - 6.5 for the other. Please set the kilns accordingly and keep watch to ensure a steady temperature of 950 degrees Fahrenheit. |
| Oxygen regulators: set at 15 - 20 psi. |
| Propane regulators: set at 5 - 10 psi. |
| Oxygen Tank changes: Keep an eye on the oxygen regulator. When the oxygen regulator indicates that the oxygen is at 300 lbs., give a warning to the class that you are approaching a tank change. Permit the students to keep working until it is apparent that the oxygen has completely expired from the tank. If students are in the middle of making a bead, simply advise them to turn up their propane to keep the bead warm while you change the tank. |
| Trouble-shoot: Trouble-shoot the equipment. Report any problems to the Instructor. Turn off and disconnect any equipment that is malfunctioning. |
| Assist: Assist the Instructor as necessary and as requested. Duties may include pulling stringers, fetching glass or tools from a supply box, dipping mandrels, arranging frits or enamels, and so forth. The TA’s job is to do all the small tasks so the Instructor can concentrate on teaching. |
| Secure the equipment: Stow and secure the equipment as necessary at the end of each day of a multi-day workshop. |
| Clean up: Clean up the workshop room. The aim here is to leave it as tidy and as clean as you found it prior to the workshop. Enlist the assistance of the students in this before they leave, if necessary. |
| Break down: Break down all the equipment at the end of the workshop and return it all to the storage facility. |
| Oxygen
pick up: Arrange for the pick up of the spent oxygen containers. Coordinate this with
the staff at the class venue. |
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