Second IVS TOW Evaluation Form Results compiled by N. Vandenberg October 22, 2003 Multiple "x"s indicate the number of people making the same comment. 1. Classes Best: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Mk5 overview (Whitney) xxxxxxxxxxxxxx Mk5 testing xxxxxxxxxxxxx Mk5 disks xxxxxxxxxxxx Mk5 software xxxxxxxxxx Mk5 ops xxxx pre/ops xxx FS future (Himwich) xxx e-VLBI oberview xxx science overview xxx rack maintenance xx maser xx LxA x coding x pointing x Ampcal x all of Brian Corey's classes (very intereseting and detailed) x RFI xxxxxxxx all of the classes I took Least: xx pre/ops (English speaker put in class with foreigners) (too simple) xx phase cal (talked too fast) x eVLBI (hard to understand) xxx decoder (hard to understand) (too much info for the unfamiliar) x Mk5 testing (hard to understand) x Mk5 disks (just screwdriver work) xx Mk5 sw (hard to understand) (hard to see what was on the screen) x maser (no practical use) xx FS code (no clear concept or explanation of difficult topic) x gnplt (focus should be on getting good data, not on software) x Mk5 ops (room was too small) x FS future, timing, FFT, IVS (too much detail for non-experts) Why was feedback useful: xxxx good session to bounce problems off peers xxxx good to know that some problems are the same all over the IVS world chance to speak your mind in a friendly atmosphere advance warning of what problems to look out for, how to solve them not useful because didn't understand the speakers (language problems) 2. Arrangements Web registration Excellent xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx VG xxxxxxx OK xx Poor x Hotel Excellent xxxxxxxxxxxxxx VG xxxxxxxxxxxxx OK xxxxx Poor x Food Excellent xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx VG xxxxxxxxxxxxx OK xxxxx Poor Transportation Excellent xxxxxxxxxxxx VG xxxxxxxxxxx OK xxxxxxx Poor Class content Excellent xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx VG xxxxxxxxxxxxx OK xxxxx Poor Notebooks Excellent xxxxxxxxxxxxxx VG xxxxxxxxxxxxxx OK xxxxx Poor Class assignment Excellent xxxxxxxxxxxxx VG xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx OK xxxxxx Poor Other Excellent local support 3. Overall Liked best: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx meeting people, having discussions xxxxxx knowing the people who can help solve my problems xxxx learning about Mk5 xxx learning news xx arrangements and classes good explanations in the lab and hands on well prepared lectures, interesting Liked least: xx not much time between classes xx small classes in a large room, large classes in small room some classes too full, some too small classes too large for seeing PC screens poorly presented classes teachers talking too fast not enough time to attend all desired classes food costs at hotel and poor customer service meeting was too short transportation needed coffee all day long technical lectures were too detailed for the audience notebook is huge to schlep around for a week -- make it smaller? Wanted but was not offered in a class: IVS role in IGGOS overview receivers more focus on troubleshooting techniques rack setup, cabling, and troubleshooting formatter and sampling errors fsvue information (previously was hidden) more about what happens to the data after correlation xx technical explanation about Mk5 architecture xx block diagram of data flow, what each step does, how it interacts Improvements for next time: want a diploma for "certified IVS specialist" table of contents in notebook 5 days, smaller classes, more chance for practicing have course material available in advance for study desks in classrooms more central location, like MIT, for lectures specific discussion of each station's problems make sure the projected images fill the screens use projectors instead of having to peer at screen more hands on split classes clearly between advanced and intro tabs or thicker dividers in notebook teach more overviews, aim to reach a lower technical level more hands on more room in classes make the TOW earlier in the fiscal year 4. Other comments - We need a more agressive policy to extend VLBI technology to applications in global timing and space timing infrastructure. - Thanks for Heidi's help. - Inform participants on web site that transportation from hotel to Haystack needs to be arranged. - Classes were well-organized, transitions were smooth, everyone was friendly and professional. - Very well done, excellent organization. - Need a rental car to be able to get to restaurants and shops. - The value of the meeting is worth 10 times the registration cost.