Practical Classes

The technical support available for the preparation, set up and demonstration of undergraduate and postgraduate taught practical classes

Services include...

Management of specialist areas (laboratories, classrooms, teaching workshops, Observatory, studios, glasshouses and theatres) where practical classes are delivered

Preparation of practical classes

Consulting with academic on module content and technical demonstration level
Developing new modules content (as required)
Co-ordinating local timetabling with School staff and timetabling office, if required
Trialling of changes to existing modules (as required)
Writing risk assessments for technical preparation activities
Placing orders for authorised equipment
Ordering of consumables and student PPE (catalogue items and approved suppliers only)
Pre-checking basic teaching equipment
Creating / preparing of materials as defined in technical worksheets
Transporting and layout of equipment and items

During practical classes

Restocking items
Troubleshooting equipment failures
Clarifying items available or equipment configuration
Demonstrating techniques

After practical classes

Cleaning / decontamination of areas and equipment used, waste removal.
Storing samples or post-class work as required.

Management of practical class areas

Providing annual teaching equipment status report and informing when equipment is time served/beyond repair
Performing /organising programmed maintenance, calibration, data collection and monitoring of defined teaching equipment
Organising repair and maintenance by external engineers

What's not included

Marking of student material
Writing risk assessments for module content
Maintaining time served equipment that is no longer supported by suppliers and service engineers
Support at weekends

What we need from our service users

For classes that run in the Autumn Term, 6 months' notice of technical resource requirements for new modules or significant changes to resource requirements to current modules (may result from changes in student numbers). 9 month's notice is required for classes that run in the Spring Term.
Technical worksheet information provided to the Technical Manager 12 weeks before the start of the term
Risk assessment for the development of a new or existing module provided to the Technical Manager 10 weeks before the start of term
Suitable and sufficient risk assessments relating to each confirmed module provided to the Technical Manager 4 weeks before the start of term
Fully functioning, fit for purpose, teaching equipment
Adequate teaching supplies or due notice if orders need to be placed for such
Two weeks' notice of any minor changes to current module content (except when relating to technical resource - see first bullet point)
Access to account codes for ordering teaching items listed in the module technical worksheet