Australia's Science Forum

We all hads to do this a few years ago in case we left, for any new people who came in. it is a very interesting exercise once you start. For a few weeks I kept an exercise book where I quickly jotted down what I did each day from this I was able to compile a work manual for any new person comming into this job. It is about 8 pages long and I keep upgrading it as new and different responsibilities come along. (I keep it on computer for easy upgrading) It was very helpful when we had our reclassification of our job descriptions. I think it could be adapted to most lab jobs.
If you would like a copy I can email it to you as an attachment my email address is bmurray@lhc.qld.edu.au

Bernadette I would love you to email me a copy THANKS!!
My email is
helen.a.larsen@education.nsw.gov.au
Look forward to hearing from you.
Helen

Demonstrates yet again why this site is so valuable! So interesting to hear about the range of experience/s in this job.

Sorry if I misled you earlier, Helen - no, I wasn't asked to do this for any experiments. I feel there are good reasons not to:
* We are not teaching staff, so technically, we prepare as requested by science teachers. However, I keep copies of experiments used frequently, as I do for recipes. In some instances, this does include how to set things up. Maybe that would be enough to satisfy your SAM. I'm pretty sure my HT would support me in putting the point that it's the teacher's responsibility to order the equipment, etc., and often varies to suit individual preferences.
* That in itself then becomes an OH&S issue in terms of welfare - roles & responsibilities.
* Discuss the list of suggested duties in the Conditions of employment section in the Manual for School Assistants Working in Science (pg12).

What I've chosen to do here is from the perspective of making things as easy as possible for anyone coming in as a complete novice. Sadly, it happens! The permanent SASS staff do not want to work in Science, and are seen as 'more valuable' where they are. That leaves casuals, who, like I was, are happy to do whatever's offered in their quest for permanent employment. It's a catch-22 - the PSA says SASS are not to work in Science unless trained, but training is rarely offered, and you have to have at least 18hrs/wk to be eligible.
I have also been led to understand that I won't be replaced for sick leave.

Love Kristen's tropical solution! Up here we could try the 'torture by Country Music' approach! LOL. (Sense of humour so vital in such a laughable situation).

I have learnt so much more about my role just be hearing how the rest of the country fares. Thanks Helen, and everyone on this site.

Liz

Hi All

Further to this thread.
Oue physics teacher has asked me to set up an electric field prac. He wants me to run this prac before he does it in class because he thinks it doesn't work very well.
Is this the type of thing others do or would this be something you would expect the teacher to work out for himself??
I know it would be good experience for me to do this, though I never done it before.
What are the thoughts out there??

Thanks Lorrae

Hi Lorrae

I do that all the time! There's nothing worse than spending a lot of time preparing equipment for an experiment that doesn't work! Sometimes if you invest a bit of your own time then you can iron out all the kinks before you put it before a class.

I also love teacher's handbook that have instructions that include the words "simply...." It's for certain that it won't be simple!

Also on the topic of electricity we have bought, from a company in Brisbane, an Energy Monitor. You can plug it into the wall, then plug an appliance into it, and it reads out how much power each appliance pulls. Interesting to get kids to run a microwave on Medium power, and see how much electricity is still required to operate the unit. I can pass on the details to anyone who is interested.

Cheers, Kristin

rae... re physics pracs. I regularly go into the classroom with the physics teacher to help with the set-up and running of the equipment. Once I get it running, I can leave to do other things. Unless its a demo... Then we do the demo.

Hi Kristin,
Can you give me details on the energy monitor, where from and about how much?
Thanks
Estelle.

I set up and test experiments sometimes although we have a teacher who if something doesn't work says "well nothing in science is meant to work 100% of the time" or "if something scientific works 100% then somebody is doing something wrong" or a similar comment

This is obviously an old thread, but......

I have been asked by my SAM (DET) to provide a list of everything I do in science, noting whether it be daily, weekly, term, yearly etc and also approximately how much time is spent doing each task. The principal has asked for this info for all SAOs.
It's so hard to think of everything you do on a daily basis....you just do it!!

Has anyone else had to do this?

We did this some time ago, I had it on a spread sheet, but as I am retired now, do not have with me. Cleaning microscopes Y for yearly, chemical register, Y. Order's D for Daily. MIxing Chemicals, D, Labels D, Photo copying D, Return's of books, Y, Ordering equipment & Chemicals D. Maintaining the budget,M for Monthly, (letting the Head teacher Know how much is left) Maintaining list of Equipment in need of repair, M, Keeping track of Equipment D, Each school is different, so you may more or less things.

How long have you got to prepare this grand document? I have had to do this in a past life, and found it useful to keep a list of things over a week. Do you keep a diary with what you need to do each day? That helps as I can go back over what I've done through the year. Some of those annual tasks, like Labbie listed, can be easily forgotten so good to get the rest of us to contribute.
Chemical registers is a big job, takes hours. Do you do a stocktake of your equipment? Ordering equipment takes way longer than I ever think it will take. Shopping happens most weeks. And cleaning, the endless cleaning...

Thanks Labbie and Merilyn!
When it's all written down it doesn't look like all that much, but as you all know there is a multitude of "things" we do day to day that either isn't worth writing down or doesn't even have a name!!!

Maybe try to group all those small things under some sort of heading(s), otherwise they will be forgotten and we all know how much time we spend on all those little things.

Make sure you write down a big chunk of time for "doing pointless stuff requested by the principal".

Marama T wrote: ↑10 Nov 2020, 11:06 Make sure you write down a big chunk of time for "doing pointless stuff requested by the principal".

That would be printing out safety data sheets? All that paper that you know no one will ever read...

Merilyn1 wrote: ↑10 Nov 2020, 14:43 That would be printing out safety data sheets? All that paper that you know no one will ever read...

Oh sooooooooooooooo true

Trying to shift to a semi-electronic system of storing SDSs. Electronic copy for the master set, but each faculty has printed copies. Sounds like a great idea? But the work of checking that I have them all electronically! What a great idea

Merilyn1 wrote: ↑10 Nov 2020, 14:43 That would be printing out safety data sheets? All that paper that you know no one will ever read...

Oh yes!!!!!!!!

Well finally i found a department job description.

I am sure we all do way way more than what is on this list.

School Administrative Officer – Science Laboratory

School Administrative Officer – Science Laboratory duties include:
• Provide technical assistance in the operation of the science laboratory under the supervision of a teacher, including where some discretion and judgment is involved.
• Assist in evaluating and selecting equipment and supplies.
• Provide guidance to students in the use of laboratory equipment.
• Produce, display and publicise materials using computer applications and other equipment.
• Preparation of materials and resources for science lessons in accordance with relevant safety protocols, including disposal of materials, as directed by the teacher.
• Testing of experiments and demonstrating experiments under the guidance and supervision of a teacher.


i found this on
Professional Learning for Non–Teaching Staff
Professional Learning Schedule – Live and Anytime Anywhere
Term 4 2020 – Weeks 6 to 10