How to photocopy
Yes – photocopy. If you’ve got this far in and have been a teacher for any length of time you know why I’m writing this post.
Woman using a photocopier on Freepik.com
We have all been at the mercy of the whims of the photocopier. We have all said a silent (or audible) prayer to the uncooperative photocopier begging it to just work!
Is it excessive to write an entire blog post on the joys and pains of the printer / photocopier? Maybe? But as I’m sure a scout once said, it is better to be over-prepared than underprepared. This is so you do not get to experience the exquisite panic of realizing that you need some copies but you have run out of time.
First things first
Make sure that you get to “know” all the photocopiers in your school intimately. The reliable ones, the ones that are always jammed, the ones that do / do not staple, the ones that technically can print but can only really be used as a copier, the ones that can hole punch or make booklets, the ones that inexplicably stop after 20 copies of anything, the ones that don’t accept A3 paper even though technically …. You get the gist.
This is the kind of thing that you can find out from your mentor or the members of your department. They will gleefully relay to you which to avoid but with the added bonus of how they unfortunately found this out with a probable definite sprinkling of expletives.
Photocopier paper jam on Freepik.com
Second things second – get even more intimate
You should also, obviously, make sure that you know how to fill up the photocopiers with paper, top up the staples and change the toner (careful that you don’t get covered in ink doing this, toner cartridges are very leaky).
On the occasions when you do have time – also try to see if you can fix a paper jam by yourself.
Man restocking a photocopier on Freepik.com
Third things …
Find out where all the resources are stored and how you can get them. In one of my schools, everything – paper, toner, staples – had to be ordered by email from the administration team. They would then have to ask the facilities team to take the required equipment to the designated photocopier. The whole process could take up to two days!!
Knowing this kind of information in advance can help you make sure that you do not get caught short.
Keep an eye on all of the stocks – alert the team responsible if it looks like paper is running out. Keep a couple of emergency reams of A4 in your room / locker / pigeonhole. You then won’t be caught out and you might be able to help someone else if they are in a pinch.
Do yourself a favour
Plan ahead your big print jobs such as assessment papers and workbooks. Use your free periods or after school when you’re not time restricted. This then allows you time to find another copier or chase down missing resources if necessary.
Give yourself as much advance time as possible to print and / or photocopy. This so you can then check the copied resources and make changes as required. You will never be annoyed with yourself for preparing resources early.
Morning break, lunchtime and before your first lesson of the day are not the times to be copying. Do it the day before at the latest.
Don’t be “that guy”
Remember that copiers are a communal resource and there is an unwritten etiquette that needs to be observed.
Hogging the copier with big jobs in the morning when other teachers are trying to print quick ones will make you very unpopular.
Email admin with missing or low resources – it will make you very popular as you will be helping them be more efficient for the whole school.
What if I forget and it’s an emergency
My experience with my first school was traumatic enough for me to get a £40 printer (still going strong 4 years later) so I could make the masters of all the resources I needed to teach. I would then only make the required copies at school. I’m not suggesting that you do this but it helped me feel better prepared and less anxious.
Your team will also be happy to help you if you get stuck. Don’t be afraid to reach out (as long as it doesn’t become a daily occurrence) as not everyone teaches every period. We’ve all been in a situation where we’ve accidentally left things until the last minute so don’t be shy to send a message asking if someone can help.
Despite your best efforts the scourge of the disappointing photocopier will strike you at some point. Don’t beat yourself but learn from it to make sure that you never again not know how to photocopy.
