Ric_ Posted July 19, 2005 Posted July 19, 2005 Seems as if they can mess around as much as they like sometimes and certain individuals dont bother to do anything to stop them :( I was shouting at one of the little horrors today as he was about to pick a monitor up! The teacher didn't seem to care so I just walked over, shouted a bit and then made him go and sit in the corner away from all the computers. Public humiliation is great! :twisted:
tarquel Posted July 19, 2005 Posted July 19, 2005 lol I agree - nothing is done here to prevent vandalism, thus cctv in computer rooms are a must in future i'd think Nath.
Ric_ Posted July 19, 2005 Author Posted July 19, 2005 Wasn't vandalism, as such, but one of the stupid little ***** messing about. I shouted at another member of that class when he persisted to bang the mouse on the desk after I asked him to stop. If the kids answer back (posh catchment area = arogance and cheek) that REALLY winds me up! :twisted:
MkII Posted July 19, 2005 Posted July 19, 2005 If there's one thing that can REALLY get you going! LOL! Any sort of abuse really winds me up - I think eventually the teachers get the message and tell the kids off just coz they don't want me having a fit in thier classroom. I really lost it last year when a kid, annoyed at the speed of a particular web site slammed the PC case so it moved 18" across the table. As it happens this kid is from a comfortably off family too. Optical mice were a godsend - stopped the little idiots eating the rubber off the balls - they just chew through the cables now.
ssimstar Posted July 19, 2005 Posted July 19, 2005 It's all down to classroom management. The ICT "specialists" are quite good at managing classses, but cross-curricular ICT is a nightmare. Teachers without the slightest inkling of how to deliver ICT. No training whatsoever, just that arrogance that seems to be part and parcel of modern delivery of ICT. Had a teacher covering for a colleague who was off for an operation; nice girl but allowed her students to go crazy apeshit with the printers with the result that I now have two destroyed printers. When is it going to be mandatory to give ALL teachers some basic training in good practice in ICT? 1
Ric_ Posted July 19, 2005 Author Posted July 19, 2005 @ssimstar: Please stick a location in your profile and poss your job title (?) Should it not be the Netwok Manager's role to liaise with SLT to ensure that a certain level of INSET is given if you feel that it is needed? I know that it is hard to push this and it was nigh on impossible in my old job but where I am now, they are keen for me to take an active role in organising such systems and organising my job/environment in a way that suits me.
GrumbleDook Posted July 19, 2005 Posted July 19, 2005 Ric_ doesn't come halfway to the strong feelings I have about ICT comptence and staff training. We give you a laptop, so prove that there is a reason you need it, and that you can use it. We give you access to ICT to improve the learning of students, now prove that you can use it in your lessons ... if you can't then you need more training ... you will get it ... and you will attend ... and it will not be NOF, but something useful. Let's face it, you don't let anybody teach trampolining, though people may cover PE ... it should be the same with ICT ... babysitting is one thing, but actually making good use of the kit is another.
MkII Posted July 19, 2005 Posted July 19, 2005 You're making very good sense guys. My head is keen for me to suggest training needs for staff. The SMT are amongst the worst offenders I fear, they scoff at news of staff being over dependant on myself, then call me to replace the ink on their inkjets. I think it's whole school direction in using IT seriously that's most needed, with aims and goals built into a set IT lesson structure that can avoid the basic errors highlighted above. But then that's more something the IT Co-ordinator and Head of IT should be promoting I think.
Ric_ Posted July 19, 2005 Author Posted July 19, 2005 @mark: Don't even get me started on printing! I had my 3 month review on Monday and was told that the one criticism that people seem to have about me is that they can't contact me as and when they please. My line manager seemed pretty sympathetic, saying that it isn't expected that they can be contacted all the time. I pointed out that I receive numerous calls during the day where people simply don't leave a voicemail message - I can't fix something if they don't tell me it's broken! Does it not also show that I may be busy doing other stuff if I'm not available?
GrumbleDook Posted July 19, 2005 Posted July 19, 2005 @mark: Don't even get me started on printing! I had my 3 month review on Monday and was told that the one criticism that people seem to have about me is that they can't contact me as and when they please. My line manager seemed pretty sympathetic, saying that it isn't expected that they can be contacted all the time. I pointed out that I receive numerous calls during the day where people simply don't leave a voicemail message - I can't fix something if they don't tell me it's broken! Does it not also show that I may be busy doing other stuff if I'm not available? I have a mobile ... pay as you go ... and had it when I was Network Manager too ... there are times when I am away from my desk for long periods ... Then again, there are a number of people that ring it because my landline is engaged and they want to speak to me is silly ... MY LANDLINE IS ENGAGED BECAUSE I AM USING IT .... I AM BUSY ... RINGING MY MOBILE WILL NOT CHANGE THIS!!! rant over.
tarquel Posted July 20, 2005 Posted July 20, 2005 Seems alot of us have a mutual problem with this. Is there any way we can get the heads and SMT's to "wake up and smell the coffee" regarding this? I keep moaning at them and once, long ago, the deputy/ict co gave the teachers "as a whole" a telling-off regarding allowing the pupils to "roam-free" (mis-using the equipment and fiddling with the backs of the computers) and not stop them from doing it. I was quite impressed and I'm sure i wasnt particularly everyone's favourite member of staff after that for a while but it was all short lived unfortunately Again, its the newer staff that dont seem to have a "iron fist" with preventing them doing stuff and it drives me crazy. End of the day it isnt our job to tell the pupils off, thats part of the teachers job isn't? (sorry if I'm wrong here hehe) We certainly shouldn't need to do this I would have thought. I've been wonderng whether a name-and-shame process might be useful in that if a IT techie notices a teacher not prevent a pupil, say, fiddle with the back of the computer, or allowing them to swivel monitors about or bash the keyboard/mouse about, then its noted down and shown to the head/head of ICT, with intent that they are told about it in a staff meeting. I think everyone will pretty quickly stop the pupils from damaging equipment then. 'Tis only a thought tho - no flaming me pls /rant over Regarding getting hold of me, I tell the suppliers/external contacts to call my (personal) mobile as I dont have a phone in my room, or any school mobile that I can use. It just annoys me that when the school call me, they leave a voice message which ends up costing me something like 50p/m which I have to listen to as the mobile keeps calling me to tell me its there lol Cheers Nath
ChrisH Posted July 20, 2005 Posted July 20, 2005 I had my 3 month review on Monday and was told that the one criticism that people seem to have about me is that they can't contact me as and when they please. My line manager seemed pretty sympathetic, saying that it isn't expected that they can be contacted all the time. Dont get me started! if you are one person looking after so much what do they expect!!!! Just because they cant get hold of you doesnt mean your sat down the pub or something. Im glad to see im not the only one but seriously anyone who thought that through for more than a split second would realise that one person who looks after so many PCs/Laptops/IWBs general teacher/student/SEN needs , Planning and arranging contractors and finding and arranging the purchase of new equipment on their own maybe a tad busy! Not to mention the constant going around replacing mice and keyboards just becasuse they have been smashed up in lessons.
Ric_ Posted July 20, 2005 Author Posted July 20, 2005 ... then they get annoyed that THEIR problem isn't fixed because they haven't left you a message on your voicemail after ringing 20 times in 10 minutes!
ChrisH Posted July 20, 2005 Posted July 20, 2005 Our phone system is so old we dont have voice mail so I brought in an old answer machine from home and the majority still dont leave messages
Mango_RW Posted July 20, 2005 Posted July 20, 2005 We had a teacher who would constantly demand things to be done, the usual "i want it done..." by such and such a time, thing was when she wanted it done immediately it got done 3 weeks later. She soon learned. Some (not all!) teaching staff believe they are on a different level to us and I think it is good sometimes to bring them back to earth. If a teacher demands something make the b*ggers wait. They'll learn. As for moaning when they can't get hold of you, try doing it to them, ring the departmental phone 20 or so times during 10 minutes when you know they are teaching, see how they like it.
russdev Posted July 20, 2005 Posted July 20, 2005 ok here is my view on it all.. The telling off of students I do and have always been encourged by school to do so from keeping them in at lunch or break to filling in bad news slips to giving out lines.... I think it is important that support staff do have backing to disclpine the students as it helps to been seen as equal memeber of staff both by students and staff... As for not being contactable in some ways can be burden if they cna contact you and in some ways not.. What I would suggest if getting rubbish from not being able to contact you say get me a radio or mobile... or have answer phone and leave regular updates like 'I am currrent away in science and design please leave message etc etc' then make sure you can dail in and chanage the message from other phones if you move on.. As for staff being demanding the trcik here is when you start a job if get a staff member who comes up to you and say this needs doing NOW and you know that there is a more important job to do explain calmly that this job nees to be done and why but make sure you are loud enought for other staff to hear... Will amaze you have word get around that you will not be ordered about... I had amt member come up to me in staff room at 2:30 and said want this is done now first time had sat down had anything to drink or eat since 8 oclick due to network going down and it was still down .... and told her that more improtant things that that has we have got problems with network being down and so answer is no will sort it tommrow... she only tried it once more and that was when we had told or staff not to bother me that day as doing something very important and everything had to wait.. came and wanted pictures downloading again told her that this is more important and if she wants to do it herself she can otherwise it would get done tommrow.. suprisply got a well done from head over way i handle that last one... so be firm and if else fails and they say i'm smt you do as i say then tell them that you answer to two peopple heard and your line manager go and see them.. sayaing that i ahve said no to head as well... Be firm and remeber you are profestional... Russ
Ric_ Posted July 20, 2005 Author Posted July 20, 2005 @Russ: Not saying that you shouldn't let the staff know what you are doing - indeed, I try my best. Some just don't want to listen. I've mentioned before, I am going to be able to implemement my own system of being contacted from September and staff will be told that the ONLY way that requests can be made is through the specified channels.
russdev Posted July 20, 2005 Posted July 20, 2005 @ric yes was aware of that was saying at least if you leave it on answer phone then people will have an idea of contacting you and yes making sure there are clear guidelines to as how they can contact you is good as well. russ
ninjabeaver Posted July 20, 2005 Posted July 20, 2005 @Ric_ Perhaps this topic needs splitting. It has nothing to do with Network Cables now! @Tarquel - Dump the phone mate. Get them to buy you a pay as you go and they foot the bills. Or claim the calls back and they will soon realise it's costing far to much for them. I'm luck/unlucky here in that I've got a radio, mobile and desk phone with answer machine. Can be a pain at times. I agree with Russ, it's your computers systems and hardware as such. You are the one fixing it all the time because the staff can't be bothered. I'm also encouraged to bite when needed. It does work for a while, but don't do it in front of the students, in provate is far better and I find more appreciated.
tarquel Posted July 20, 2005 Posted July 20, 2005 it has now been split.. russAh - was gonna beat you to it [splitting topic] - only I'm not a mod on that board lol (i think :S) @Tarquel - Dump the phone mate. Get them to buy you a pay as you go and they foot the bills. Or claim the calls back and they will soon realise it's costing far to much for them. I'm luck/unlucky here in that I've got a radio, mobile and desk phone with answer machine. Can be a pain at times. lol I'm not dumping my phone! lol Dont worry - I dont make outgoing calls for work or anything lol But it dont cost me to receive calls naturally. Just a few txt's here and there Nath.
MkII Posted July 20, 2005 Posted July 20, 2005 Contacting me is an issue I've raised with the head - especially as I have so much work now and can't always around to help with class problems. I said staff would think the worse of me and they do. I was given a radio [which I constantly forget to take with me or leave somewhere 'coz the clips are all broken off]. Only a few use my mobile number - i've never had to call voicemail to school staff but to suppliers - yes. An anwerphone would be seen by staff as a long term fix solution. What they need is a quick instant contact for quick little problems. An online help desk system would help for the longer term jobs - I hate paper based job lists - they just don't work for me. Hopefully soon i'll get something up and running for this. I've just seen generic job descriptions for tech staf at our sch. and it says to descipline students quite clearly. I agree with Ric_ - it realy helps 'coz kids seeing you as a teacher with no power is a lot worse for you. Beter to get in there and assert your position - kids only take advantage of weaknesses as is thier nature.
ssimstar Posted July 23, 2005 Posted July 23, 2005 No. Do not get involved with discipline. If a kid directly, personally insults you, that's one thing; otherwise stay aloof. It is part of a teacher's training to administer discipline according to school policy; it's not yours. What YOU do is to enable and secure the use of ICT in teaching and learning. If indiscipline of the students compromises that, then hold the teachers to task - that is what they are paid for, that is why they get all those weeks of paid leave. It AIN'T your job ...
Ric_ Posted July 23, 2005 Author Posted July 23, 2005 @ssimstar: I think what we all meant was, if you see a kid throwing a mouse across the room or about to snap a monitor off its stand, you should do something. If you see this happening, the teacher is obviously not in control of the situation. I don't intend to make it my job to go finding the little... just say something when it is necessary.
russdev Posted July 23, 2005 Posted July 23, 2005 agree with ric over this one you should always be a part of school disipline otherwise you will not be seen as staff member... in fact it is a question i ask in interviews "what is procedure if i have a problem with student for example they swore at me' it gives me a an idea on how much support staff are intergrated into school life... Also remeber that teacher are not paid to disipline students they are paid to teach a big difference... Rus
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now