If you have ever wanted to blow bubbles in gak, create a nebula in a jar, or turn your smartphone into a digital microscope, head to Devonshire Mall on Saturday for a preview of Science Rendezvous.

Don’t worry if you don’t know what gak or a nebula is, trained presenters will be on hand to take science out of the lab and into the streets—or on this occasion, into the Chapters bookstore.

The preview event will run noon to 4 p.m. April 30.

The main event, featuring hands-on exhibits and demonstrations of scientific phenomena, is set for Saturday, May 7, in the Education Gym. Learn more on the Facebook page of Science Rendezvous Windsor.

A retreat April 22 gave students in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics a chance to discuss the results of a survey on their experiences.

Sixteen members of the Mathematics and Statistics Student Association joined department head Richard Caron and learning specialist Justin Lariviere, said president Katherine Vrantsidis. The association had circulated the survey to gauge undergraduate satisfaction and retention.

“A wide range of matters affecting the undergraduate experience were discussed, such as course offerings, textbooks, tutoring, the Mathematics and Statistics Learning Centre, and extra-curriculars,” Vrantsidis said. “We also discussed recruitment, retention, research opportunities, graduate school, and careers in mathematics.”

She called it “encouraging” to see so many students invested in helping the department improve, and expressed hope that the information will help it to better meet student needs.

Dr. Caron said it will: “the students provided excellent feedback that will definitely impact future decisions.” 

Information Technology Services has updated the Scantron software and hardware it uses for computerized test scoring and for student evaluation of teaching, and outlines several resulting changes for instructors:

1. Students must not write anything above the red bar on the red test Scantron sheets. In courses where the instructor uses multiple test versions, it has not been uncommon that they have the students write the version of the test they are writing on the top corner of the sheet. This is acceptable as long as nothing is written in the area reserved for form definition marks. Writing on the red test sheets is okay as long as it is below the red bar.
2. Users must fill out a test scoring service request form in Team Dynamix before coming to Operations. Previously, they filled out a paper form at the IT Services counter. Please click on the Scantron link under Quick Links on the IT Services homepage http://www.uwindsor.ca/its. For proper tracking, record the Team Dynamix ticket number provided to you through your request in place of the student number on the professor’s master response sheet.
3. Instructors must sign their name over the seal of any envelopes containing tests before leaving the forms with Operations. This allows Operations to be confident that the tests have not been tampered with and satisfies the concerns of academic integrity.
4. Test takers must use No. 2 pencil only and fill in circles completely. If students want to change an answer when completing a test, they must completely erase the answer they provided and not simply put an X through it. Crossing out an initial answer and filling in another response will require operator intervention, defeating the whole purpose of computerized test scoring.

The new hardware and software will be in place for Intersession, but the above changes can be implemented now.

Staff of the Office of the Registrar invites friends and colleagues of Margaret Smole to join them in celebrating her retirement after more than 41 years of service at an open house reception in her honour Friday, April 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Registrar’s Office, Chrysler Hall North.

Smole began her UWindsor career in 1974 in the campus post office, moved to the print shop in 1981, and to the Leddy Library in 1999 before transferring in 2009 to the Registrar’s Office, from which she will retire as a graduate and professional application services specialist.

The University Print Shop will close all day Friday, April 29, for year-end inventory. It will return to its usual hours of operation on Monday, May 2.