Course Checklist
See also: OrganizingFSCourse
Before announcing course:
- Set date for course - reserve Conference Room A and B for two days and Conference Room A the evening before the 1st day of the course
- Stacey block hotel rooms at Constitution Inn
- Nick or Krish create new registration database (saving prior database) and update cgi files - move people on waiting list from last course to interest list.
update CourseDescription wiki page (make it world unreadable until time of announcement is made); take out commented sections on cost, schedule, etc.
After sending out course announcement (to FreeSurfer mailing list, martinos-tech list):
- When all spots are full, send out "Hotels and Times" email
- Discuss participants' interests from registration forms, amount of beginners vs. advanced users
- Tally up interest in optional talks/demos
3 weeks before course: (Monday, January 11)
Create pairings for laptops
- order supplies needed (binders, binder clips, dividers, paper, pens, certificates, name tags, batteries [2 AA for clocks, AAA fo rlaser pointer)
email auditors with schedule
- check on payment status of all those enrolled (payment deadline was Friday, January 8) and send out emails notifying them of losing their spot unless they get payment in within the week
2 weeks before the course: (Monday, January 18)
- order breakfast and coffee - Stacey [breakfast and coffee on Day 1 at 8am, 2pm; Day 2 8:45, 2pm - premium coffee]
- email participants about "Parking"
- set up online Evaluation form
- email next person(s) on waiting list for any open spots created from payments not received
- email out information on how to prepare for course (fs installation, run your own data, etc.)
1 week before the course: (Monday, January 25)
- Print final slides and bring to Kinko's for copying and binding (Deadline for slides: Friday, January 22 so can be printed and given to Stacey before Monday.)
- Update wiki schedule with slides
Email participants and auditors with "Final Schedule" if changed and any other final announcements (start times, don't walk into unix tutorial)
- People bringing own laptops must drop it off to get tutorial data installed
Update course laptops with latest version of FreeSurfer and tutorial data
- order parking stickers - Stacey
- Stacey makes name tags and certificates (give her recycled name tags)
A few days before the course: (Tuesday, March 31)
- Print up list of participants for Registration (add who gets parking and who is going to unix tutorial; list of auditors)
Print up list of pairings with their own laptops
- pick up parking stickers and other supplies from Stacey (2 easels, fMRI signs, laser pointer, keys to downstairs cabinet for binder clips, wires, markers, and clocks)
Print up FreeSurfer signs if necessary, Registration Table Sign, Unix Tutorial sign, copies of schedule for door, podium, walls, direction signs, to do day of info
- Print 6 copies of final schedule (remember to turn on grid lines!) and make notes for staff on one for podium.
- Make sure there are nametags for all staff
Day before the course: (Sunday, January 31)
- bring down name tags, pens, shuttle schedules, and participant checklist for registration table
- Set up tables and chairs (getting additional tables from closet) for participants, auditors, staff; tables for coffee (inside and outside room) and registration
- Set up laptops, mice, power cords with binder clips, ethernet cables, hard drives
- Test laptops for internet, tkmedit, tksurfer, qdec
- patch laptops, tutorial data with final updates
make sure firefox homepage points at FsTutorial
- Test projector, laser pointer
- Set up class easel with login and password info
- Write wiki website on easel and white board
- Put binders on desks
- Put up clocks (check batteries)
- Put up signs directing people to conference room on easels near both security desks and tape signs on parking garage entrance and entrance on Constitution Inn side
Day of course:
- call Environmental Services (x6-5490) to open conference room door
- Tell security to direct people to course
- turn on laptops; bring up fstutorial wiki page
- Turn on projector (PC4) and turn up volume so it's 3/4 of the way to the right
- Tell everyone policy about damaged laptops
After:
- comment out room block info, cost info, link to schedule on Course Description wiki
- add approximate next course date to Course Description wiki
- add information about a sign-up email list for those interested in taking the course
- send out link to evaluation to all participants
- move people from wait list to interest list
E-mails
FreeSurfer Course Announcement to Wait Listed Individuals:
Registration for Upcoming Freesurfer Course, Sept. 17 & 18
Hello,
The Freesurfer group will be offering a two-day Freesurfer Tutorial and Workshop on September 17th and 18th at the Martinos Center in Charlestown, MA.
You were put on the waiting list for the April course, which means you are now being given early notice for the September course. A description of the September course and a list of the topics covered can be found here: http://surfer.nmr.mgh.harvard.edu/fswiki/CourseDescription
If you would like to take the September course, please email krish@nmr.mgh.harvard.edu *and* CC to astevens@nmr.mgh.harvard.edu with the following subject : CONFIRMING SEPTEMBER COURSE so that we could bump your status from wait-listed to confirmed. ( we already have your information )
There is room for only 28 participants and registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis. One week from today, registration will be opened to others beyond the waiting list.
Shortly after all spots are filled, information will be sent out about course times, hotels, and payment.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU REGISTER:
- The registration deadline is August 25, 2009.
- This is not an fMRI analysis course and so you will not be taught how to analyze fMRI data.
- Payment can only be done in the form of a check or if you are from within the Partners network, a fund transfer can be arranged. Credit Cards are *not* accepted.
- If payment is not arranged by August 27th, you will lose your spot in the course.
- There are no refunds if you cannot attend the course. You can put the tuition payment towards the next course or send someone else in your spot.
All questions about payment should go to Stacey Ladieu (sladieu@nmr.mgh.harvard.edu) and information about where to send payment is on the Course Description wiki mentioned above.
IMPORTANT: Please also note that for the first 30 slots, we will provide laptops for working in pairs. For the remaining 4 slots, we will need two volunteers to provide their own laptop capable of running FreeSurfer. The two volunteers should be local to Boston so that we may confirm a working installation with the tutorial data one week prior to the course. This verification will happen on-site at the Martinos Center. You will have to share this laptop with another course participant. If you would like to bring a laptop for this use, please notify us. Also, if you will be attending the course with someone you know, you can specify that person as your preferred partner to share your laptop with. Unfortunately, if we do not get two volunteers, we will have to drop 4 participants from the course.
In order to run FreeSurfer, the laptop must have: 1) a Mac or Unix/Linux operating system 2) 22GB of free disk space (of which 18GB may be on an external drive) 3) 1GB of RAM 4) A 17" screen or larger (a 15" screen may be accepted, however, it may make one of the tutorials more challenging to complete).
Regards, The FreeSurfer Team
FreeSurfer Course Announcement to All Others:
Registration for Upcoming Freesurfer Course, Sept. 17 & 18
Hello,
The Freesurfer group will be offering a two-day Freesurfer Tutorial and Workshop on September 17th and 18th at the Martinos Center in Charlestown, MA.
A description of the September course and a list of the topics covered can be found here: http://surfer.nmr.mgh.harvard.edu/fswiki/CourseDescription
If you would like to take the September course, please fill out the registration form located on this page:
http://surfer.nmr.mgh.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/fsurfer/register.cgi
There is room for only 28 participants and registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Shortly after all spots are filled, information will be sent out about course times, hotels, and payment.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU REGISTER:
- The registration deadline is August 25, 2009.
- This is not an fMRI analysis course and so you will not be taught how to analyze fMRI data.
- Payment can only be done in the form of a check or if you are from within the Partners network, a fund transfer can be arranged. Credit Cards are *not* accepted.
- If payment is not arranged by August 27th, you will lose your spot in the course.
- There are no refunds if you cannot attend the course. You can put the tuition payment towards the next course or send someone else in your spot.
All questions about payment should go to Stacey Ladieu (sladieu@nmr.mgh.harvard.edu) and information about where to send payment is on the Course Description wiki mentioned above.
IMPORTANT: Please also note that for the first 30 slots, we will provide laptops for working in pairs. For the remaining 4 slots, we will need two volunteers to provide their own laptop capable of running FreeSurfer. The two volunteers should be local to Boston so that we may confirm a working installation with the tutorial data one week prior to the course. This verification will happen on-site at the Martinos Center. You will have to share this laptop with another course participant. If you would like to bring a laptop for this use, please notify us. Also, if you will be attending the course with someone you know, you can specify that person as your preferred partner to share your laptop with. Unfortunately, if we do not get two volunteers, we will have to drop 4 participants from the course.
In order to run FreeSurfer, the laptop must have: 1) a Mac or Unix/Linux operating system 2) 22GB of free disk space (of which 18GB may be on an external drive) 3) 1GB of RAM 4) A 17" screen or larger (a 15" screen may be accepted, however, it may make one of the tutorials more challenging to complete).
Regards, The FreeSurfer Team
FreeSurfer Course Announcement - Hotel, Times, and Payment
Hello everyone, Thank you for signing up for the FreeSurfer course taking place on September 17th & 18th. On the Course Description wiki, you can find all the information about the course including the schedule, our location and local hotels: http://surfer.nmr.mgh.harvard.edu/fswiki/CourseDescription
Payment
*Important*: Your payment is due immediately. If at any point, you can no longer attend the course, please contact me as soon as possible. If you are from within the Partners network, you can pay via fund transfer (send the full fund number along with the PI name and fund title).
Computers
If you are local to Boston and can provide a laptop to have the latest version of FreeSurfer installed on it so that it can be used during the course (by you and one other participant), please contact Nick (email below). The laptop must have either a Mac or Unix/Linux operating system, have a 17" screen (or larger), 22GB of free disk space (of which 18GB could be on an external drive), and 1GB of ram. You'll need to bring the laptop to us a week before the course to have FreeSurfer and the tutorial data installed. 4 laptops are needed, otherwise we'll have to drop some participants. Volunteer and all the installation work is done for you!
We *cannot* troubleshoot issues that occur when using FreeSurfer on your personal laptop during the tutorial sessions so we ask that you only use the laptops we provide (or have verified ahead of time) for the tutorials. There is an optional session on the first day of the course where we can help you install FreeSurfer and/or run your own data on your personal laptop.
Schedule
Day 1 of the course (April 6) will have an optional Unix Tutorial starting at 8am. This tutorial is very basic and is meant for those with no Unix experience. It is by no means an in depth tutorial and it will not cover scripting. The goal is simply to get users with no Unix experience familiar enough with it to easily interact with FreeSurfer data. If you plan to attend this tutorial, you must sign up for it by emailing me.
If you do not plan to attend the tutorial, please arrive by 8:30am for registration. Coffee and a continental breakfast will be served. Day 1 ends at 5pm unless you would like help installing FreeSurfer on your personal laptop or would like help running your own data. Day 2 (April 7) will begin at 9am and end at 6pm. A more detailed schedule will be sent out at a later date.
If you have any questions about payment, please contact Stacey Ladieu at sladieu@nmr.mgh.harvard.edu
If you have any questions about FreeSurfer installation, please contact Nick Schmansky at nicks@nmr.mgh.harvard.edu
For any other questions, feel free to e-mail me. Allison
FreeSurfer Course auditors
Hello, I have you down as an auditor for the FreeSurfer course being held on April 6-7. If this is not correct, please let me know.
The course is being held in Conference Room A at Building 149, MGH-Charlestown Navy Yard. There are directions at the bottom of this page that show exactly where if you are not familiar with our campus: http://surfer.nmr.mgh.harvard.edu/fswiki/CourseDescription
Day 1 of the course (April 6) will have an optional Unix Tutorial starting at 8am. If you plan to attend this tutorial, please e-mail me to sign up. This is a very basic tutorial for individuals who have never used FreeSurfer or Unix before.
If you do not plan to attend the tutorial, then the first talk of the day starts at 9am. Day 1 ends at 5:30pm. Day 2 will begin at 9am and end at 5:30pm. At the back of the room, there will be chairs along the wall for auditors. Please make a point of saying hello to me so I know you've attended (and who you are if we've never met).
A detailed schedule of the course will be sent out closer its date. If you have any questions, please let me know. Allison
FreeSurfer Course Announcement - Parking
Parking near the Center is difficult to get and is either metered (with a 2 hour limit) or expensive ($20+/day for a garage). We can get discounted parking for a group at $5/day ($10 for the 2 days of the course).
If you plan on driving to the course and are interested in purchasing this discounted parking, please let me know for how many days by April 1st. When you arrive, you will have to pay us in cash or by check (made out to MGH) to receive the parking validation sticker(s).
This is very *important*: we cannot wait for checks to be processed by your institution, university, etc. for the price of the parking. You will have to have the check ready on the first day of the course during Registration.
HOW TO DETERMINE HOW MANY STICKERS YOU NEED Each parking sticker is good for 24 consecutive hours of parking. Once you park in the garage, you cannot take your car out without needing an additional sticker to pay for your re-entry.
For example, if you are driving on the day of the course, leaving at the end of the course that day, and returning the next day - you only need two stickers to pay for those 2 days. If you are arriving in Boston on Sunday at 6pm and leaving at 8am on Wednesday (62 hours), you will need 3 stickers.
If you are unsure of how many you might need, just tell me the maximum amount you would need so I can be sure to have enough stickers.
Thanks, Allison
FreeSurfer Course Announcement - Final Schedule
Hello everyone, The final schedule for the FreeSurfer Course can be seen here: http://surfer.nmr.mgh.harvard.edu/fswiki/FsTutorial/April2009CourseSchedule
If you have no prior experience with FreeSurfer, I suggest taking the time to preview the first set of slides before the first day of the course (click on where it says "Introduction to Freesurfer" next to 9:00-9:20).
Also on that wiki page, you'll find links to a few Unix tutorials. If you have *no* experience with Unix, I would suggest taking a look at these online tutorials, as well as attending my Unix tutorial. If you would like to attend, please email me so I can put you on the list.
Two final issues - if you want to purchase parking stickers, tomorrow is the last day to request this from me. And if you have not arranged payment with Stacey by the end of this week, you cannot attend the course - no exceptions.
See you on Monday! Allison
Future FreeSurfer Course Ideas
- If expand course, consider Larry Wald to cover MRI, Matti to cover MEG, Doug to do Functional
- wmparc movie (David)
- block diagram for edits
- aparc+aseg on talairach
- longitudinal analysis
- local gyrification index
- more info on fmri
- From Nick about the tutorial data set: the problem with using these new recons (done with v4.2.0) is that the currently used set, which was done with v4.1.0, and used in the course (ie all the group study stuff), is that that set contains all the edits that sita did. i think it would be best to make our reference buckner40 used for the course based on v4.2.0 though, but i dont know how much effort is involved in transferring edits.}