How did I learn about LearnSci?
I first learnt about LearnSci because their resources were introduced to the course that I tutor in. Then I met Iain when I was presenting at a conference. After talking with him I got the impression that LearnSci was a lovely place to work, and so when my university encouraged a placement as part of my PhD, I thought LearnSci would be the perfect fit for me.
What did I achieve during my internship?
I feel like I got to do a bunch of different things during my internship. It was fun to do some brand-new things, like I helped make existing resources more accessible by writing LaTex code for scientific equations, and alt text for images and graphs. I also reviewed and gave feedback on some learning resources that were in development. One way I was asked to do this was to record myself going through the activity as if I was a student, and say whatever came to mind. I have a lot of thoughts about science education so this was an ideal task for me. I was honestly just vibing, giving random unfiltered thoughts and ideas, but I got so much feedback saying that my insights were helpful. I hadn’t appreciated that my research experience had given me so much practice analysing learning activities and thinking deeply about how students would respond to them. It was really gratifying to have my knowledge and input taken seriously and valued.
What was it like working alongside the LearnSci team?
It was really wonderful! The LearnSci team were very welcoming and supportive. I worked remotely from Brisbane which obviously introduced some challenges, particularly with the time difference, but communication was easy. They made sure I had people I could check in with if I was ever unsure, instructions were clear, and feedback was always helpful and constructive. Despite being on the other side of the world, they never let me feel lost or isolated. Overall, it was a lovely experience that helped me build confidence in my abilities.
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