Architecture studies, eportfolios and single parenting
Two years ago I became a single parent and I felt stuck in a low paid job. I decided to return to studying.
I’d always wanted to do a creative course but I felt it was important to do something vocational. I wanted to do interior architecture, but it didn’t work out that way.
First, I couldn’t get a grant because I’d done a degree years ago (my first degree was in philosophy but I never used it). But if I studied architecture (rather than interior architecture) I could get a student loan. I didn’t want to move as my son was settled at school. My parents live nearby and they kindly help with childcare. So I chose the University of Kent and now I'm in my third year studying architecture.
I’ve done the right thing. I’d felt at a dead end, and the course has given me new energy and interests. There are no students my age! I’m 45, and the course is really tough compared to the philosophy degree I did all those years ago. I work part time as well, to pay the bills.
One year into the course the University asked me to create an example eportfolio in order to promote the software to students. They gave me some training and now I have a web space where I can store and sort information. There’s a diary, calendar, cv builder and so on – its very easy to use. Some of it can be public, and it has already caught the interest of an architect outside the university. I can keep using it when I leave, for a small annual fee.
I finish in 2009. Hopefully, I’ll be able to get a job in an architect's practice. Lots of people do a Masters after their year in practice, but I may not be able to afford that. I will have to see - for now, it is the process that is important. You never know where something will lead you.
My advice – well, its like they say in the self-help books. If you want to do something, and you believe in yourself, that’s all you need. At first, the financial side looked impossible for me. But unexpected things happened, it worked out. If you want something badly enough, you can generally find a way, things fall into place.
There have been a lot of challenges and having a young child of eight years has been the greatest. There needs to be a lot more support in our society for parents and families, especially those in the low income bracket who wish to take their skills and interests into the workforce.
Rachel Thapa-Chhetri is studying at the University of Kent School of Architecture. Find out more about eportfolios, and read advice from Rachel and other students and teachers on having an eportfolio. UKRC is part of the JISC-funded eReturn project, exploring the use of eportfolios for women trying to return to careers in science, engineering, technology and the built environment. Rachel is a member of GetSET Women.
Comments
Helen:
Hi Rachel, I read your blog with interest having been a careers adviser in a past life I came across many people who were put off doing things because of the financial side of their lives so it is great to hear from someone who is finding a way forward. What has been your secret?
Rachel Tobbell - UKRC:
Hi Rachel, we have a particular interest in eportfolios at the UKRC as we think they may be a useful tool for women who are preparing to enter, or return to STEM careers. Would you say that your eportfolio is useful? Is it difficult to keep it up to date? Do you think you might continue to use it after you have graduated?
Rachel Thapa-Chhetri:
Dear Helen In response to your question - I don\'t have a secret as such, sometimes I wonder if I have been abit foolish taking on the debt (eg. the student maintenance loan) I know that many people wouldn\'t entertain the idea of taking on such a debt, but I actually felt that I had nothing to lose and probably alot to gain, I hope so, it is still early days, but never have I thought that it was the wrong thing to do, despite the effort it has taken me so far. Thank you for your interest.
Rachel Thapa-Chhetri:
Dear Rachel, as you probabaly know, an eportfolio has several functions, one of which is a self development tool, a space to record the many aspects of one\'s life and to consequently reflect on them, whether in education or at work or even in private life, creating a continual process of learning. Another aspect to the eportfolio is the abiliy to generate an online presentation of one self in a professional capacity which can then be shared with prospective employers to accompany and support a C.V. I have only had the experience of using pebblepad so I don\' know the capacities of other eportfolios and so far I haven\'t used mine to support any professional venture but I will say that it is a marvellous way to \'keep up with yourself\' so to speak providing you take the time to keep it up to date. It is a journal, it is a filing system, it is like a mind map in digital format where you stand at the centre, branching out to multiple links that are about you and for you. It provides an efficient organised way to access whatever you wish really, that is part of it\'s uniqueness. It requires however, just like it does for most things, for you to develop \'habit\' a habit of entry and really that is all there is to it. So I do advocate it to be a very useful tool for anyone really. I certainly intend to keep it on after I graduate even though I am still \'developing the habit of entry\' ! Hope this is useful to you.
Olga:
Greetings. In the meantime, all the very best gold Not much on my mind these days. gold step
Sarah Stewart:
Thank you very much for your post, Rachel and allowing us to see your ePortfolio in an open context. I have an ePortfolio that I have developed in an open wiki, although I must admit, I still have a lot of work to do on it: http://sarahstewart-eportfolio.wikispaces.com/ What I am interested in knowing is what people think about having ePortfolios in a closed or open environment. On the one hand, open reflection allows you to share your thoughts and receive feedback from the wider community. But what if your reflections are very personal, or could break professional standards and legal requirements if published in an open forum? EG, I am looking at ePortfolios for midwives. But if a midwife reflected on a specific case in an open context, she could be in breach of confidentiality. How do you think those sorts of issues should be handled?
Rachel Thapa-Chhetri:
Dear Sarah I have listened to your talk about how you created your eportfolio and I congratulate you on your initiative. You have bought to light something that hadn\'t occurred to me, precisely because my eportfolio is predominantly private. I only make public what I wish to make public and in fact I hadn\'t intended for my eportfolio to go public at all, it occurred through error! Which is quite funny given the attention that it is now receiving. The software, Pebblepad which I use has the facility for you to share anything you wish, with anyone you wish without it going public. What happens is that you send a link to the person/s either via an email or otherwise. This link can be permanent or you can set a limit on it e.g. can be viewed until - and then set a date. The link may be available to all, meaning you put it on the www. or just available to the person/s you wish to view it. This means that all other material in your eportfolio remains completely private, which is what you want really. Does this answer your query? Please don\'t hesitate to ask for more clarification.
Ruth Wilson (UKRC moderator):
Hi everyone. We\'ve discussed the private/public issue and eportfolios at UKRC - we are increasingly aware that a professional web-presence can help women as they look for work or for promotion, and we are trying to help with this in various ways. Its fascinating to read Louise\'s comments that some academic disciplines take to eportfolios more easily - does anyone else have experience of this?
Liza Brooks:
Hi Ruth, As requested a link to my eportfolio http://www.doctorsnowboard.co.uk Ref the above question about support for the e-Portfolio I was told about getting one from someone on my MBA. I had never heard of it throughout my academic life, which has been a solid mechanical engineering base, before and on reading this article was surprised that so many people use them. I could not find any guides on how to start one up or what sorts of things to include I used to run my old one from my myspace page believe it or not. Since starting my new website I have slowly been adding more bits of information and have seen a few other peoples portfolios and used them for inspiration of what to include. I do hope in the near future to include mp4 podcasts about my company, research and snowboard team and get it added to the itunes library to broaden the appeal. I am not aware that my university supports eportfolios and there have been no initiatives or courses run on how to make them and what its about. The person who initially mentioned it to me came from the non-profit section supporting rehabilitation of recovering drug addicts which is interesting given Louise\'s comments above about the social sector having far more emphasis on self reflection. I would like to see more information about it provided to schools and universitys. While I have been encouraged to regularly update my CV, and CPD on the iMechE website I have not been encouraged to \'advertise\' my skills online through my university.
Ruth Wilson (UKRC moderator):
thanks Liza! Liza got in touch today about her blog - and so I discovered an engineer specialising in advanced snowboard design at a British Armed Forces university and who has set up her own eportfolio. Its not easy finding women scientists, engineers, technicians, architects etc who have eportfolios that are in the public domain. As the best way to find out about eportfolios is to visit some, we are glad to have another interesting example to add to our website list. http://www.ukrc4setwomen.org/html/women-and-girls/getting-a-job/building-an-eportfolio/
Colin Dalziel:
I\'ve really enjoyed reading through the details and discussion. As one of the people behind the PebblePad system I find it inspiring to read that our software helps people. In terms of the public/private discussion our whole philosophy has always been that the individual is at the centre of the system and should have control over who sees what and for how long. We know from talking to people that this allows individuals to build confidence by only initially sharing things with others they trust. When this is successful confidence grows and sharing wider become less of a daunting proposition. In terms of using ePortfolio for self promotion I think this is something that will grow over the next few years. I read somewhere that something like 80% (sorry can\'t remember the exact number!) of employers now \"Google\"" job applicants to see what comes up. I would think having a professional looking ePortfolio appear in the results is going to give a much better impression than some of the pages that may crop up from social networking websites!
rachel Thapa-Chhetri:
Hi Lisa thank you for your post and for providing a link to your eportfolio. Most eportfolio\'s that I have seen do not include much image content, it is good to see photographs of all and everything. It is also interesting to see different formats and as Colin from PebblePad points out, the growing confidence in allowing individual experiences and self development to be shared with a wider audience. Thanks again.
Rachel Thapa-Chhetri:
Hi Colin in response to your post I confess that I am one of those with an eportfolio that still keeps a lot of it private. I currently use it for self development in the context of my course. Incidently the appearance of the one asset from my eportfolio that this blog refers to , appeared on the web in error, without my knowledge, until UKRC contacted me about it. Isn\'t it strange how things happen sometimes! Through this blog and the numerous contacts that have resulted from it, my confidence has certainly grown in wanting to develop my public presence on the www further.
Ruth Wilson (UKRC moderator):
Its lovely to read your comments Rachel - I think all our bloggers so far have found it a very positive experience, which is great. I went to a meeting of our eportfolio project yesterday. We are planning a final, free event, 25 February in Birmingham, to share what we have learnt about the possibilities of eportfolios in helping women in science, engineeringing, built environment and technology. I was so interested in Louise\'s comment about self-reflection in different subject areas that I offered to convene a workshop that will explore those issues! We will advertise the event later this year - everyone is welcome. More information on our eportfolio project can be found at http://www.ukrc4setwomen.org/html/projects-and-campaigns/ereturn-and-eportfolios/
RuthM:
Dear Rachel, Thank you for sharing that information with us. Congratulations & the best of luck . Looking forward to meeting you in person on Saturday & hearing more about eportfolios.
Rachel Tobbell - UKRC:
I have been most interested to read this discussion and wanted to highlight a course for women returners that, as part of helping you to plan and prepare for your return to work in SET, enables you to set up your own e-portfolio. The course is entitled 'T161: Return to science, engineering and technology' and is provided by the Open University. If you meet our eligibility requirements you can apply for a bursary to cover the costs. The course is delivered online, it takes 10 weeks to complete and starts again in May 2009. You can apply now to reserve a place through our website http://www.ukrc4setwomen.org/html/women-and-girls/career-breaks/training-for-returners/
Deirdre:
Hi I thought I\'d just wish you luck with your training day tomorrow. Please let me know how things went with MyStuff. I know its still slow but it is much more user friendly.
Mrs Dinnali:
Good luck with your training! Very inspiring!
Tim Stonor:
Hi, Rachel - as an architect in practice and an employer, I am very interested in what e-portfolios can offer. By using an e-portfolio you immediately put yourself at an advantage over \"analogue architects\"" in that your work is more accessible to eg prospective employers
Rachel Thapa-Chhetri:
Hi Tim Thank you for your encouraging words on the usefulness of eportfolio\\\'s from an employers point of view. I especially like your analogy of them to architecture and yes, their ability to create a unique experience that can then be shared appropriately. I know students will be keen to hear this and I am sure this applies to all disciplines not just architecture. Thanks again.
Rachel Thapa-Chhetri:
This blog will leave this space on wednesday 15th October and be archived alongside previous blog\'s which are linked on this page. It has been interesting experience being a \'blogger\' - (is there such a term?) I believe, just as Tim suggests, that e-portfolios will be the norm in the very near future. The impact they can have has been demonstrated to me just by this recent experience of having mine linked to this website. Last Saturday I attended the UKRC training \'Looking for work and brushing up your IT skills\' , I gave a short presentation on my experience of having an eportfolio, and I also got to learn some very useful job seeking skills. It was a good day had by all and it was lovely to meet people who had already met me via this \'blog\'. It will still be possible to send posts to all archived blog\'s after they leave this space.
Allia Wilson:
Inspirational story. Well done. Good luck with everything.
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