Preparing for 305 labs

In the 305 lab there is very little time for prelabs as we need the majority of our weekly 3 hours to complete protocols. Thus, you must be fully prepared for the lab before you lab session begins each week. Please give yourself one hour per week for preparation. This might seem like a lot, but remember, you really only have 7 - 8 actual hands-on lab sessions.

We have provided weekly guides to help with your preparation. Each week there is background material to read and protocols to go over ahead of time. If you do not understand something in this material you need to get clarification before you start the lab – preferably before the lab time begins.

There are several ways to get clarification on the material.

  • look it up – Google is very handy for simple explanations (for example – if the protocol says “decant the supernatant” and you don’t know what decant or supernatant mean – look them up).
  • ask a question in the comment section of the weekly guide
  • post a question on the UR Courses forum
  • contact your lab instructor directly for clarification
  • ask in the lab during the pre-lab time

All labs should be completed in the allotted time. If you need to stay late or come back outside the lab time, your lab mark for the week could be reduced.

Please do not depend on electronic devices in lab, print and bring what you will need with you. You should print and bring the weekly "to do in lab" section to lab.

Tentative Lab Schedule (pdf) 2015.

Bring to lab every week

  • the weekly guide for that week
  • the weekly guide for the next week
  • the protocol manual
  • protocols you accessed yourself
  • notebook
  • calculator
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