Mind-numbingly bored!!! Need a new challenge!

labtechytechy

labtechytechy

Hi all,

I currently work in a secondary school in a deprived area of Birmingham. The calibre of students we have are causing major issues for me and i'm really dumbing down the practical's. Im a lone tech with quite a few labs to oversee, but hardly anyone wants to do any practical work, as the behaviour of the kids is so bad.
I find myself setting up practical's and then staff not even getting round to using them as kids couldn't be trusted.

IM BORED!!! Busy.......Really Busy, but not with anything remotely related to my area of study. I find im more of a dogsbody than a science technician.
I spent years studying for a bioscience degree and i am finding myself absolutely, mind-numbingly, bored with the level of work.


anyone else in the same boat???
i feel like jumping ship but this place is handy for me at the moment with it being close to home and term time.

Do need a new challenge tho!
any suggestions as to how to implement better use of my brain?!
 
M

Med Sci

Have you thought about applying for a job at one of your local Universities. Some positions are Semester Only. I worked at a local University for 18 years and loved it.
 
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labtechytechy

labtechytechy

Med Sci said:
Have you thought about applying for a job at one of your local Universities. Some positions are Semester Only. I worked at a local University for 18 years and loved it.
Click to expand...
Ive looked, but i am currently getting paid quite well for a technicians role and its close to home for collecting kids. But i have considered other schools, just pay scales are rubbish!
 
Techitude

Techitude

COMMITTEE
labtechytechy said:
thats a great idea!
Click to expand...
What school are you at? I work in Birmingham.

I worked in a school a bit like what you describe and I started making resources for teachers to use, or devising new practical's or procedures for existing practical's that would suit the level of the student skill. I know it's not using your area of expertise but it might be something you would enjoy.
I upload my resources to TES to share with other schools, you could do similar. Mine are here - https://www.tes.com/member/wowboards

Also could you run a science club or something? I did a craft club and a chick/duckling hatching club.
 
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D

Deleted member 32000

Guest

Vacancies

We are currently recruiting for :
www.kingsheathboys.co.uk www.kingsheathboys.co.uk

Hi. this is my current vacancy as science tech, also a lone tech, also in birmingham.
They want someone to do a lab demo every now and then... have a look see.

Hope you find something less boring soon.
 
D

Deleted member 32724

Guest
Be careful what you wish for...
I have the opposite problem in my current school, where the kids' behaviour is so bad that a few teachers (some SLMT!) do more practicals than usual as a form of "behaviour management" or because they haven't bothered to plan a lesson.
It doesn't achieve anything other than waste everyone's time, including the kids. They don't learn anything from a chaotic practical and you're left with a big mess at the end/broken equipment.

Having heart palpitations does make things more exciting I guess so there is that.

Feel free to apply for my post going up soon if you want a challenge....just won't be from me as in all good concience I cannot write the usual "This is the best school ever" kind of ad :D
 
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Purple Cat

Purple Cat

It's real Science not Rocket Science
Emil Tac said:
Be careful what you wish for...
I have the opposite problem in my current school, where the kids' behaviour is so bad that a few teachers (some SLMT!) do more practicals than usual as a form of "behaviour management" or because they haven't bothered to plan a lesson.
It doesn't achieve anything other than waste everyone's time, including the kids. They don't learn anything from a chaotic practical and you're left with a big mess at the end/broken equipment.

Having heart palpitations does make things more exciting I guess so there is that.

Feel free to apply for my post going up soon if you want a challenge....just won't be from me as in all good concience I cannot write the usual "This is the best school ever" kind of ad :D
Click to expand...
It's the deliberate damaging of equipment that annoys me. As far as writing the ad, me neither
 
P

Puds

I'm bored witless ( that would assume I had any wit to begin with) But at 60 no chance of moving. Kids behaviour is awful too. It's got to the point when a kid is polite when coming to the prep room, I thank them because it's so unusual.
I'm trying to count my blessings to get me through the next few years.
  • It's close to home, no commute
  • The pay isn't good but it's liveable-ish
  • I'm in my own room with no-one peering over my shoulder
  • I can make tea any time ( believe me this is a bonus, I've worked places where you get a TIMED tea break that wasn't enough to make tea let alone drink it)
  • When I was younger, it was brilliant for fitting in around kids, I could collect them from school
  • The holidays
  • I work with- mostly- nice people, even though it gets a bit lonely sometimes
  • It's a job!
  • OK I'm struggling now for another point, although another thing I do is count up the ACTUAL time working. I take off inset days, short days for data stuff, activities week & so on. When I realise how short my working year actually is, compared to 2normal2 job, it cheers me up.
I like the idea of being a demonstrator.

Good luck, I think we all go through the bored out of our skull bit, I do regularly, If you find it's too much, then see another job that fits around your children though, go for it.
Although it's hard to find anything relating to your study. There are many people with degrees, Masters even PhD's working in supermarkets, coffee shops etc.
I think sometimes you have to swallow your pride, that's not to say give up though!
I'm 60 & sometimes berate myself for having a "Crap" job. I have to give myself a shake & get over myself! We've had MSc & PhD techs here, I think most techs are over qualified.
 
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Techno

Techno

Vee said:

Vacancies

We are currently recruiting for :
www.kingsheathboys.co.uk www.kingsheathboys.co.uk

Hi. this is my current vacancy as science tech, also a lone tech, also in birmingham.
They want someone to do a lab demo every now and then... have a look see.

Hope you find something less boring soon.
Click to expand...
Look carefully at the job description, they want you to do before, lunchtime and after school duties and exam scribing for students. I wouldn't touch it with a bargepole.
 
E

Emma R

Techno said:
Look carefully at the job description, they want you to do before, lunchtime and after school duties and exam scribing for students. I wouldn't touch it with a bargepole.
Click to expand...
Hadn't looked as far as the job description, saw the salary for a senior position and didn't read any further.
 
KateA

KateA

Puds said:
I'm bored witless ( that would assume I had any wit to begin with) But at 60 no chance of moving. Kids behaviour is awful too. It's got to the point when a kid is polite when coming to the prep room, I thank them because it's so unusual.
I'm trying to count my blessings to get me through the next few years.
  • It's close to home, no commute
  • The pay isn't good but it's liveable-ish
  • I'm in my own room with no-one peering over my shoulder
  • I can make tea any time ( believe me this is a bonus, I've worked places where you get a TIMED tea break that wasn't enough to make tea let alone drink it)
  • When I was younger, it was brilliant for fitting in around kids, I could collect them from school
  • The holidays
  • I work with- mostly- nice people, even though it gets a bit lonely sometimes
  • It's a job!
  • OK I'm struggling now for another point, although another thing I do is count up the ACTUAL time working. I take off inset days, short days for data stuff, activities week & so on. When I realise how short my working year actually is, compared to 2normal2 job, it cheers me up.
I like the idea of being a demonstrator.

Good luck, I think we all go through the bored out of our skull bit, I do regularly, If you find it's too much, then see another job that fits around your children though, go for it.
Although it's hard to find anything relating to your study. There are many people with degrees, Masters even PhD's working in supermarkets, coffee shops etc.
I think sometimes you have to swallow your pride, that's not to say give up though!
I'm 60 & sometimes berate myself for having a "Crap" job. I have to give myself a shake & get over myself! We've had MSc & PhD techs here, I think most techs are over qualified.
Click to expand...
All of this here too. It's an OK job compared to some others, I like the holidays and I'm lucky enough to be in a department where I enjoy the company of the people I work with (mostly!). Not keen on demonstrating - I've seen the behaviour of the kids getting worse and am happy to be out of the classroom. Horses for courses though, one of my techs loves it.
You have to make a life for yourself outside of school. I'm immersed in the folk music world right now, in the past it's been orchestras and choirs. Always a new challenge there.
 
Alman

Alman

I think most of a technician work is sort of boring. Like 90% cleaning, sorting away, etc. 10% diluting acids, making up stock, microbiology, etc, is how I see it. I defo preferred it to other jobs I've had.

When I've got free time I try and innovate how a topic can be demonstrated/done. An example I'm doing is conductivity of heat in a metal. Teachers here have always done it with vaseline and paperclips and bunsens which is A) too much mess and B) uses bunsens. Instead I've made some rods with thermochromic paint and dipping into boiling water. Same outcome but shown more visually and easier to set-up.

This type of problem solving/creative outlook has helped me through some more boring tasks in the job
 
S

Stephen Hough

Techno said:
Look carefully at the job description, they want you to do before, lunchtime and after school duties and exam scribing for students. I wouldn't touch it with a bargepole.
Click to expand...
So the job description is 'all round helper with occasional technician work'? I'd prefer if they just said that really! In some schools, if you're an adult, 'you'll do' as a supervisor. In my 34 years in schools the situation has got worse rather than better - there's loads more roles that have been introduced since i started work but techs are still expected to do 'any other duties'.
Not having a go at you, Techno. it's just what schools are like!
 
P

Puds

KateA said:
All of this here too. It's an OK job compared to some others, I like the holidays and I'm lucky enough to be in a department where I enjoy the company of the people I work with (mostly!). Not keen on demonstrating - I've seen the behaviour of the kids getting worse and am happy to be out of the classroom. Horses for courses though, one of my techs loves it.
You have to make a life for yourself outside of school. I'm immersed in the folk music world right now, in the past it's been orchestras and choirs. Always a new challenge there.
Click to expand...
I'm not a "group" person & I'm a bit odd, I hate commiting to anything, stresses me out that anyone expects me to be somewhere regularly. ( funnily enough work ok) Not sure why, partly due to various ailments maybe & I think I'll have to go even if I feel crap?
Think my school reports must have said, " Does not play well with others" :laughing: My son is the same.
 
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