We have a tutorial booking system which we have talked about using however booking machinery is tricky for all the reasons already outlined.

At the moment we have a looser first come first served list (physically on the wall) during busy times. This gives priority to certain groups at certain times. It tends to be ok if students are feeling patient, we get more issues when different courses need to get on a machine at similar times.

In my experience, the course I support is to fluid and timetables lead to students getting more annoyed when I'm not there at the exact time. It's a very difficult balance to meet but I find more can get done through an open approach.


Nathan Chenery
Fine Art Technical Demonstrator
York St John University

E-mail: [log in to unmask]
Tel: 01904876070

________________________________________
From: Sharing Technical Teaching and Learning Practice [[log in to unmask]] on behalf of Harrison Luke Alexander [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, February 05, 2016 9:50 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: TECHNICALTEACHING Digest - 3 Feb 2016 to 4 Feb 2016 (#2016-7)

You could start by trying using doodle, or we have our own area in our VLE
(Blackboard) which I have in the past set up groups to book in for
training on cameras, etc.

Thanks,
Luke

Luke Harrison BA(Hons), MSc
Media Production Technician  |  School of Arts and Media
AC-116b, Adelphi Building, University of Salford, Peru Street, Salford  M3
6EQ
t: +44 (0)161 295 6013
[log in to unmask]  | www.salford.ac.uk <http://www.salford.ac.uk/>







On 05/02/2016, 00:02, "Sharing Technical Teaching and Learning Practice on
behalf of TECHNICALTEACHING automatic digest system"
<[log in to unmask] on behalf of [log in to unmask]>
wrote:

>There are 2 messages totaling 267 lines in this issue.
>
>Topics of the day:
>
>  1. advice anybody? (2)
>
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Date:    Thu, 4 Feb 2016 11:27:17 +0000
>From:    Sarah Wilson <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: advice anybody?
>
>Hello everyone,
>So have been part of this group for a while and have read everyone's
>interesting articles, issues.
>However I was wondering if anybody could possibly help or any advice
>really, so my issue is I currently run a digital print studio on my own my
>studio includes the use of a laser cutter, fabric printer, 15 head
>embroidery machine and a vinyl printer and plotter.
>With degree show currently looming I have been advised to try and set up a
>drop in booking session for students to use for fabric printing, to try
>and
>ensure a more smooth running.
>I was asking if anybody else runs a 'drop in/ booking system and how they
>went about setting it up any advice etc?
>
>Thanks
>Sarah
>
>------------------------------
>
>Date:    Thu, 4 Feb 2016 12:21:23 +0000
>From:    Tom Hignett <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: advice anybody?
>
>Hi Sarah,
>
>I run a similar facility but without so much textile involvement.
>
>We implemented a booking system for our laser cutter a couple of years
>ago as it had become a bit of a problem area organisationally.
>
>There are definitely pros and cons.
>
>We divided the day into hour long sessions and blocked off times that we
>wouldn't be available to oversee it's use (such as Wednesday afternoon
>when I am either in meetings or trying to do research stuff). It worked
>pretty well as students knew where they stood and could plan their time.
>
>Of course the hour long session was a bit arbitrary and some jobs could
>be completed in minutes where as some would over run. This was generally
>solved by diplomacy and having some wiggle room in the timetable (such as
>greying out two hours at lunch so a job can over run and one can still
>grab an hour for butties).
>
>Some students would book whole days, usually unnecessarily and in a bit
>of a panic, so we had to implement a "no more than two hours booked at
>one time" rule to ensure everyone had a reasonable chance to access the
>facility.
>
>It was also frustrating when students failed to arrive for a booking so
>both denying other students access, wasting my time and inevitably
>booking another session to make up for the time they had missed. We
>haven't come up with a solution to this one yet other than looking a bit
>cross.
>
>The hardest part of the booking system from my point of view was that the
>students had effectively booked a technician (either myself or a
>colleague) as well as the device and felt entitled to my support. I
>manage a lot of different kit and, frustratingly, it is spread out across
>the department. The booking system tends to mean that I am pulled away
>from other tasks that are often equally or even more pressing. I'm
>currently looking into strategies to help students use the equipment
>independently or with little oversight. In fact this forum might be a
>good place to get ideas for that sort of thing.
>
>I think overall the booking system isn't the perfect solution but is a
>good thing as you don't have to try and appease students, you can simply
>say that there is a system and they have the same access to it as
>everyone else. Especially if your team leader or whoever backs you up.
>
>Hope this helps,
>
>Tom Hignett,
>Technical Demonstrator (Design),
>Art & Design Department, Faculty of Arts & Media,
>University of Chester, Kingsway Campus, Chester  CH2 2LB,
>Office 01244 515786  Mobile 07841 256917
>________________________________
>From: Sharing Technical Teaching and Learning Practice
>[[log in to unmask]] on behalf of Sarah Wilson
>[[log in to unmask]]
>Sent: 04 February 2016 11:27
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: advice anybody?
>
>Hello everyone,
>So have been part of this group for a while and have read everyone's
>interesting articles, issues.
>However I was wondering if anybody could possibly help or any advice
>really, so my issue is I currently run a digital print studio on my own
>my studio includes the use of a laser cutter, fabric printer, 15 head
>embroidery machine and a vinyl printer and plotter.
>With degree show currently looming I have been advised to try and set up
>a drop in booking session for students to use for fabric printing, to try
>and ensure a more smooth running.
>I was asking if anybody else runs a 'drop in/ booking system and how they
>went about setting it up any advice etc?
>
>Thanks
>Sarah
>
>------------------------------
>
>End of TECHNICALTEACHING Digest - 3 Feb 2016 to 4 Feb 2016 (#2016-7)
>********************************************************************
[175 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE]<http://www.yorksj.ac.uk/175.aspx>


This email and any files transmitted with it were intended solely for the addressee. If you have received this email in error please let the sender know by return.

Please think before you print.