My Work Experience: Aleisha

Posted on: 26 July 2023 by Richard Finch in Student experiences

Aleisha is Mechanical Engineering student who has also been working in a Learning Technologist Support role for the School of the Arts alongside her studies.

My name is Aleisha and I am studying for an MEng in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Liverpool. I have just finished my second-year and will embark on a Year Abroad to TU Delft in the Netherlands very soon! As a volunteer course representative, I care greatly about improving the student experience and enhancing learning opportunities for my peers.

What kind of work experience did you pursue and at which organisation?

I worked as a learning technologist support for the School of the Arts at the University of Liverpool.

What were some of your key responsibilities as part of this role?

My role was to support lecturers in producing interactive learning resources for Canvas using a html-based activity creation software called H5P. The project was titled "Learner conversations as models of spoken language in second language German" and was run by Dr Chris Jones, Dr Ulrike Bavendiek and Dr Sandra Strigel.

My responsibilities included reviewing existing activities, creating new user-friendly templates and using Canva for graphic design. Working with lecturers was a great opportunity to see behind the scenes how the University is innovating to provide its students with high-quality, freely accessible online resources.

How did you find out about this opportunity?

During the summer of 2022, I worked as a paid intern with the University’s Careers and Employability Centre for “Sustainability in Action”. As part of my internship, I took on the role of H5P lead, working with Will Moindrot and Rob Lindsay from the Centre for Innovation in Education (CIE). This was the first trial of H5P at the University, so we were given free rein to explore the possibilities it offered in making the Sustainability course more engaging for students.

When the German Conversations project team started using H5P to develop their resources, Will recommended me as a potential learning technologist support. I never expected my internship to lead to a part-time job – it proved to me how valuable networking is!

What did the application process involve and how did you prepare for it?

For my summer internship, I had to submit a CV and cover letter to Handshake. After I was successful in the first stage, I was shortlisted as one of around 70 students to take part in a panel interview on Zoom. Using sticky notes, I planned my responses based on the STAR (Situation, Target, Action, Result) method to ensure each skill was evidenced by a relevant example.

When starting my role for the German Conversations project, I met with my project supervisor on Teams to discuss the project goals and how I would be supporting them going forward.

From an employability perspective, how has this experience been helpful to you?

Using Teams for remote working has improved my time management skills and prepared me for the world of hybrid work. I’ve had the opportunity to present my work alongside colleagues from the CIE at a North West event for learning technologists and to third-year medical students looking to use H5P for their coursework projects. It’s been fantastic to build my confidence in public speaking and hopefully help others by informing their future projects!

What are some of the top skills you've picked up from this type of work experience opportunity?

Working in learning technology, I’ve developed my technical and design skills. I’ve also learned to give and respond to constructive feedback in an academic environment. Effective time management and communication have been invaluable in achieving project deadlines, which is particularly important when external funding agreements are involved. 

What is your top tip for students currently looking for work experience opportunities?

As a first-year student applying for the “Sustainability in Action” internship, I questioned if I had enough experience to be successful at my interview. Looking back now, I'm so glad I decided to give it my best effort, as taking hold of that opportunity allowed me to grow professionally. My advice to any students looking for work experience would be to give the application a go, even if it seems scary at first, and to make the most of any opportunities to network within your role. Be friendly and enthusiastic; that’s what will bring success once you’ve landed the job!