on-line pre-lab and data entry instructions

[robert zellmer]

I know some of you have already done the Gatekeeper pre-lab
but some have not and I'm getting questions about problems with
the web site.  You may have received, or may receive, some of the
information from the lab supervisor.

Pre-labs and the data entry can be reached via Carmen.  It takes you
to an external link.  If Carmen is unreachable the link to the site is in
the syllabus and on my class web page (at the "Laboratory" link).

Pre-labs are due before lab.  Reports, post-labs and data-entry are
due 1 week after completing the exp unless you're told otherwise.
*You get only ONE attempt for the pre-labs and data-entry.*
Read the following beforehand.

When you get to the external site and click on the link for the
Pre-labs it takes you to a page with some general instructions
on how to use the programs.  READ it.  There's also another
link right above the table with the links for the pre-labs,
data entry and feedback.  This is "Terms and conditions of use".
You need to read this.  It gives some technical information (such
as the best browsers to use, how to enter data, etc.).  When you
click on "Prelab" or "Data Entry" there will be an "Instructions"
button at the upper left.  Click on it and read the instructions.
These are specific to the pre-lab or data-entry.

When doing either here's a few other pointers:

1)  It's best to use *FIREFOX*. The versions we've tried of this
      browser don't seem to have any problems.  Chrome seems to
      work but has it's quirks (if you leave a field blank it accepts it
      as a zero).  Students seem to have the most problems with Safari,
Edge and IE.

      While I have had it work using Firefox on my Android phone,
      we suggest you do *NOT *use your phone.  Some browsers
      on phones are not the full fledged browser.

*Your browser must be html5 compliant.*

2)  Do *NOT *reload the page or get out of the browser thinking you'll
      finish later.  It starts over from the beginning, including the 
video.

3)  Do it in ONE sitting, plan on not getting up to finish it later.
      It will time out and when you come back to it the page will refresh
      with new numbers and you have to start over from the beginning.
      If reached via Carmen it has a time-out limit imposed by Carmen,
      which seems to be 30 minutes.  If reached by the direct link to the
      external web site, I believe it times out in 1 hour.  However, it
      shouldn't take more than 20 minutes.

4)  It's best to use a direct ethernet connection.  If using WiFi make
      sure you have a strong reliable connection and do NOT change
      places (moving the laptop may cause it to lose connection).  If
      you lose internet connection the program starts over (it clears
      everything and you start from the beginning).

5)  You have to watch the video all the way through or you lose points.
      This means you need to let it finish through the credits. Don't stop
      it or proceed with the rest of it until it stops playing.  If for some
      reason you've had to *start over* (it refreshed or wasn't accepted)
      you have to *re-watch the video in its entirety*.

6)  Read the whole write-up for the exp and write the procedure before
      attempting the pre-lab.  Click on the "Instructions" button in the 
pre-lab.
      Watch the video(s) in the pre-lab (don't just play it).   If you 
do this you
      should be able to answer all the questions for the pre-lab.

7)  Numbers less than 1, such as 0.11, *MUST* be entered with the "0" 
before
      the decimal point.  It will not accept ".11".  Do *NOT* use sci. 
notation
      unless it specifically instructs you to do so.

8)  Make sure there's no space (blanks) at the beginning or end.  It 
will not
       accept "0.11 " (note the space after the "1").

9)  Sometimes if there's a problem with something you entered in a box
      (particularly for numeric values) the box will be outlined (in 
red, the
      color could vary depending on your browser).  Firefox definitely
      does this, I'm not sure about other Browsers.  If you position the
      mouse button over the box it will give an error message such as
      "Please match the requested format." or "Only a number, no units"
      (this one will occur even if there's no unit but you didn't enter the
      number correctly, see #7 and #8 above).  This is especially true for
      Firefox and that's one reason we suggest you use it.

10)  Make sure you're satisfied with your answers.  Once you hit submit
        there's *NO REDO*.

      The program will send you a confirmation e-mail if things were 
submitted
      properly (from gc.labs at chemistry.ohio-state.edu). If you don't get one
      pretty quickly check your spam or junk folder.  If not there, it 
probably
      didn't submit properly and you should redo it.  Also, if submitted 
correctly
      the screen should refresh with your answers.  The data entry part 
includes
      the correct values to the right of yours in parentheses. There's 
also a list at
      the bottom of what you missed.  Again, if you do *NOT* see this 
something
      went wrong.  Do it AGAIN.  It's a good idea to print this, take a 
screen
      shot or generate a PDF for your records in case you have a problem or
      wish to discuss something with me or the lab supervisors.

11)  If you have a problem please send the following:

         a screen shot
         5-digit section number for your lab
         day/time of lab
         TA name
         computer you're using (PC, Mac, iPad, Android, phone, etc.)
         operating system (e.g. Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10, etc.)
         browser and version (Firefox, Chrome, Safari, Opera, etc.)

12)  If you do have problems please send e-mail to the chemlabsupervisor
        e-mail address chemlabsupervisor at osu.edu 
<mailto:chemlabsupervisor at osu.edu> .

Dr. Zellmer
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