Pre-course challenges

Please complete these challenges before our first training day on Monday 17 February. The purpose of these challenges is to become familiar with the applications we will be using during the course so you can make the most of your learning time.

You can find instructions, guidance and helpful hints and tips for the tools we will use during the course in the help sheets section of this handbook.

Challenge 1 – Slack

Please access the course Slack workspace (using your full name as the username) and click on the #social-chat channel.

• Add a hello message to this #social_chat channel, and let us know which country you will be dialling in from. Bonus points if you leave us a cool fact about your location! 

Challenge 2 – VM (virtual machine)

During this course, you will need to access our virtual machines (VMs) that contain all the necessary libraries, programmes and datasets for the analysis. Please follow these instructions to download the Nice DCV Client before the technical test.  

You can use the Slack #technical_support channel to ask for help if you need it.  You can also raise any technical issues at the pre-course technical test (see below).  

Challenge 3 – Participants Zoom and pre-course technical test

To check you can join the live stream sessions, please access this Zoom link on Wednesday 12 February from 15.00 – 16.00 GMT. Password: SingCell

• You will not need to stay online for long.
• This meeting will allow you to raise any issues you might experience with the virtual machines.
• If you are having trouble accessing the sessions however, we will be on hand to help you work through technical issues at that time.  
• Ensure you download the Zoom app and/or update your version of the app beforehand.
• Make sure your Zoom screen name is the name you used to register for the course (No nicknames please). 

Please note that the Zoom link for the course will be different, and updated on the programme page prior to the start of the course. 

Challenge 4 – Pre-recordings

You will see from the programme that a number of talks will be delivered via pre-recordings. Some of these are available now and should you wish to watch these in advance of the course, please do. You will find the links to the pre-recordings on the relevant tab under each ‘Day’ of the programme.

You can add any questions you have to the Questions and answers document. There will also be time provided during the course for you to watch these talks.

Challenge 5 – Posters

You will find links to the posters highlighting the work of your fellow delegates here. Should you wish to check these in advance of the course, please do.