Aaaaahhh! I mean: Hello. :)

Skoll

Skoll

he/him
Hi all,

I'm a new Science Technician (also ICT Technician, but that's another story...), at a high school up in the north of Scotland. My background is Biology (specifically Zoology), and mostly based out running around in muddy fields more than lab/classroom based.

So yeah, I've not done anything like this before, and I'm the only Tech here - and they haven't had someone full time in post for quite a while (there was some job share, and then several "I'll just fill in for a while"s), with a lot of change-over in between. As such, I've inherited a bit of a mess of disjointed paperwork (both hard and digital), and a prep room where the teachers have been gathering their own materials together for their practicals for a while.... so yes, a little bit chaotic everywhere. "Thrown in at the deep end" doesn't quite cover it, I feel!

If anyone has any tips, or resources, that they're happy to share, I'd be extremely grateful. Specifically if there are examples of equipment booking forms or maintenance schedules, or any helpful little tools for making up common chemical/equipment sets, I'd been keen to see those. Or just a general "Idiot's Guide". :P

Cheers,
Vince. o_O
 
:welcome:
VLogan said:
Specifically if there are examples of equipment booking forms
Click to expand...

You'll find a whole host of options on here that work well for different schools.

There is LabLogger for online digital requisitions if you can pay the £99 per year (free for year 1)
Bunsen.education is similar to LabLogger but free - speak with @Alex@Bunsen
Just a paper form that a technician writes up in to a book
Outlook calendar that staff add to
You could use Microsoft forms / Google forms that populates a spreadsheet, you then sort this based on period / time etc.
Online excel / Google sheets that staff fill out etc.

The options are limitless really.
 
Hi, also in Scotland, we use the requisition system associated with

https://www.evans2chemweb.co.uk/

Think you ( or CL) have to sign up then take it from there. Ive only been using it for 6 months or so but works fine & you can create templates for specific practicals.

Previously used a spreadsheet based system but the above is more flexible.

FAQ http://www.sciencerequisitions.co.uk/ ( click on “find out more”)

Speyside is lovely ☺️
 
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I have a shelf with new exercise books, glue sticks, paper, pens, pencils etc. where the teachers can help themselves. Saves being interrupted. But you have to trust them....!
Also, I inherited a lot of chemicals with their name but no strength. I got rid of all these. If you're not sure, bin it. I work with the motto " if in doubt - ask!"
Also on here there are lots of pictures of equipment and their uses, practicals, info. library. Just look along the top on the home page
 
Well, this looks like the end of the road... Off to take up a new job away from McTechnicianing after the summer (moving away from Science completely actually - going to work for the Civil Service). I almost made it to 5 years, but with the lack of chance for progression, I've just grown restless with the whole thing.

So if anyone's interested in whisky and mountains and much better pay than south of the border... then keep an eye out on myjobscotland for the posting!
 
Skoll said:
Well, this looks like the end of the road... Off to take up a new job away from McTechnicianing after the summer (moving away from Science completely actually - going to work for the Civil Service). I almost made it to 5 years, but with the lack of chance for progression, I've just grown restless with the whole thing.

So if anyone's interested in whisky and mountains and much better pay than south of the border... then keep an eye out on myjobscotland for the posting!
Click to expand...
All the best Vince
 
Skoll said:
Hi all,

I'm a new Science Technician (also ICT Technician, but that's another story...), at a high school up in the north of Scotland. My background is Biology (specifically Zoology), and mostly based out running around in muddy fields more than lab/classroom based.

So yeah, I've not done anything like this before, and I'm the only Tech here - and they haven't had someone full time in post for quite a while (there was some job share, and then several "I'll just fill in for a while"s), with a lot of change-over in between. As such, I've inherited a bit of a mess of disjointed paperwork (both hard and digital), and a prep room where the teachers have been gathering their own materials together for their practicals for a while.... so yes, a little bit chaotic everywhere. "Thrown in at the deep end" doesn't quite cover it, I feel!

If anyone has any tips, or resources, that they're happy to share, I'd be extremely grateful. Specifically if there are examples of equipment booking forms or maintenance schedules, or any helpful little tools for making up common chemical/equipment sets, I'd been keen to see those. Or just a general "Idiot's Guide". :P

Cheers,
Vince. o_O
Click to expand...
You poor thing, but you have a chance to make it your own, over time. If they have had no technician, I should think they will be grateful to have you. Take it a day at a time and try not to stress. This forum is great for finding information and help. Zoology is great, did you have a speciality or anything you particularly like?
 
Mad hatter said:
You poor thing, but you have a chance to make it your own, over time. If they have had no technician, I should think they will be grateful to have you. Take it a day at a time and try not to stress. This forum is great for finding information and help. Zoology is great, did you have a speciality or anything you particularly like?
Click to expand...
Skoll posted this back in 2022 and has now just moved on from teching
 
Not quite escaped yet - start date has been pushed a little to the October holidays... so y'all stuck with me a little longer. :P

Mad hatter said:
Zoology is great, did you have a speciality or anything you particularly like?
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My dissertations were on animal behaviour - one on red deer rutting patterns and using computer models to predict how they made their decisions into which fights to engage with, and another on cortisol levels and behaviour during extraordinary events on collection animals in a zoo (things such as fireworks displays on a nearby river, or after hours events on the zoo's lawn, etc)...

So fully useless for teching (not many ELIZAs getting run, or programs coded in R...)
 
Skoll said:
Not quite escaped yet - start date has been pushed a little to the October holidays... so y'all stuck with me a little longer. :P


My dissertations were on animal behaviour - one on red deer rutting patterns and using computer models to predict how they made their decisions into which fights to engage with, and another on cortisol levels and behaviour during extraordinary events on collection animals in a zoo (things such as fireworks displays on a nearby river, or after hours events on the zoo's lawn, etc)...

So fully useless for teching (not many ELIZAs getting run, or programs coded in R...)
Click to expand...
Interesting stuff, were you out deer watching for hours on end? I like deer, we have large herds on Cannock chase about 10 miles from where I live. My son did zoology with herpetology at Bangor and his girlfriend did animal biology. Always talk on animals in my house!
 
Mad hatter said:
Interesting stuff, were you out deer watching for hours on end? I like deer, we have large herds on Cannock chase about 10 miles from where I live. My son did zoology with herpetology at Bangor and his girlfriend did animal biology. Always talk on animals in my house!
Click to expand...
Unfortunately not, I just got the data to process and write the model for - it was old data, 1983 I think, from the Isle of Rum.
 
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