Creating real solutions for children: How Areej is building her future in education
Areej's goal is to become an education administrator. Through hands-on assessments, she applied the knowledge from her Psychology course to real-world educational challenges, building the skills needed for her career.
Tell us about an assessment that felt relevant to the type of work you'll do in your career
During my Development of Brain and Behaviour in Infancy module, I created a poster on helpful implementations in the classroom and foster system that would aid in the development of vulnerable children. This helped me understand how to create adaptations in schools with limited resources and staff to cater to children with different needs.
How was it different from a traditional essay or exam?
The assessment prepared us for real-world settings. For example, we were allowed to create our own topics and conduct our own research. We did this to create improvements and adaptations to real-world settings, which allowed us to create our own parameters and weigh all possibilities. This is something that cannot be implemented through a traditional essay or exam.
I learned how to balance the needs of students with the realities of school environments, including staffing, budgets and resources.
What practical or professional skills did you develop?
I developed and sharpened my analytical, organisational, administrative, and leadership skills by thinking in the shoes of the role I would like to pursue.
Which assessment are you most proud of, and why?
I am most proud of my dissertation because it pushed me out of my comfort zone. I explored a topic I had little prior knowledge about and independently created a study that interested me and addressed issues relevant to today's political and social climate.
Can you give an example of how it reflects what you do in the workplace?
Creating practical solutions for students with different needs taught me how to think like an education professional. I learned how to balance the needs of students with the realities of school environments, including staffing, budgets and resources. Developing this mindset helped me build the experience and confidence that led to two internships and a full-time role in my chosen field.