Daily Bulletin

Union calls TV report inaccurate

Engineering Science Quest campers play polymer tag, with each a molecule forming links with others. The UW summer program gives children an opportunity to explore new horizons in science and math.

A CKCO TV report aired on Monday suggested the union felt it should get more money because of the increase in enrolment and the increase in tuition, said Stewart. "That's the farthest thing from the truth," he adds, noting "we don't use that as a basis for negotiations. What was reported in the local news is incorrect. That was never said or discussed by the union."

David Imrie, a reporter for CKCO, said the information was provided by an anonymous tip the station received "from someone who was apparently a member of the union." Imrie was on campus on Monday, and spoke with union members in the shop before approaching Stewart for a comment. While negotiations are "at an impasse," Stewart admits, and a strike vote has been set for September, a conciliator has been called in to help with the process.

The two previous contracts were also reached with the help of a provincially appointed conciliator. While strike votes have been held in the past, there has never been a strike at UW. "That's why the relationship (between union and management) has been good," said Stewart. "Having a strike vote is part of the process.

"At this point we still have a good atmosphere, and we want to maintain that." As a result of the CKCO report, Stewart has embarked on damage control to clarify the union's position both with the administration and union members. "We're still hoping we can all see each other's side and come to a deal."

The last contract for some 300 plant operations and food services staff represented by the union expired April 30.

Putting technology in its place -- an excerpt from The McGill Reporter

What this means is that from the instant Jeremy Cooperstock began his class on Artificial Intelligence, a computer began to capture everything that the students saw or heard including the notes, hand-written on his digital tablet, which are projected onto a larger screen for the students to see. In a mere two to three minutes after the lecture, students were able to view or review the content on the class website.

Intellectual property forum Licensing Intellectual Property 101 is the subject of today's lunch time forum presented by Jerry Gray, director of the technology transfer and licensing office. Designed to assist UW researchers and students in understanding issues associated with intellectual property developed at Waterloo, the series covers a range of topics with each addressed in a five to 10-minute presentation, followed by a question and answer period. Today's forum will be held in Biology 2, room 350, from 12 to 12:30 p.m.

To make all of this work, the classroom contains a video camera, microphone and two computers, one of which acts as an electronic whiteboard while the other records the audio and video of the lecture. Apart from the digital tablet, the computers are invisible.

Thanks to the computers' ability to digitize the lecture contents for the web site, students gain a powerful tool with which to review class material and view the instructor in action. From the latter's point of view, no extra work is required beyond giving the lecture.

This is just step one, says Cooperstock, a professor of electrical and computer engineering, in developing a teaching-learning, computer-augmented environment. Soon, Cooperstock will hook up a second video camera so that the students' reactions, comments and discussion may be computer-recorded. He also wants to have their feedback on his teaching so that he may improve. Already, they may comment on his teaching via e-mail or in an anonymous feedback forum.

"Eventually," says the 31-year-old Cooperstock, "we would like to see an artificial intelligence system provide instantaneous feedback but, for now, we rely on students."

Positions available this week

• Computer systems specialist, civil engineering, grade USG 8.
• Alumni officer, development and alumni affairs, grade USG 7/8.
• Graduate secretary, systems design engineering, grade USG 4.
• Financial aid/customer service assistant, registrar's office, grade USG 4.
• Payroll benefits assistant, human resources, grade USG 4.
• Support services staff, psychology, grade USG 3.
• Administrative secretary, earth sciences, grade USG 5.
• Development office, development and alumni affairs, grade USG 10.

And a note from graphic services...

Barbara Elve
bmelve@uwaterloo.ca

Editor of the Daily Bulletin: Chris Redmond
Information and Public Affairs, University of Waterloo
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