Jennifer is a part-time student pursuing her MA degree in Education and Technology while working as a full-time secondary science teacher. She developed a keen interest in understanding how technology is shaping and influencing education and learning as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdown measures. She's currently volunteering at Otermans Institute, a not-for-profit organisation that aims to provide professional development and soft skills training to some of the most disadvantaged students in several countries around the world.
Tell us a little about your volunteering
I started volunteering at Otermans Institute around October last year and it has been great so far! The organisation has been very accommodating given my busy schedule and has allowed me to work on various projects. I started with a small task where we were in groups of 3 or 4 and had to provide feedback on one of their AI-based prototypes, which was looking at how to interact with learners in impoverished or very remote areas to enable them to upscale themselves and navigate the massive range in professional goals. I also conducted literature reviews and gathered data for one of the prototypes they were developing. I have been offered the role to co-author a paper and have been working on this for the past few weeks. Getting to design an experiment and eventually carrying it out in the near future is something I never would have expected to be able to do with a volunteer role.
How did you find out about the role?
I found out about the role through UCL Students' Union volunteering page, where a whole list of volunteering opportunities is available. I applied for a few; however, only this one suited my schedule. It was also precisely what I wanted and where I hoped to gain experience
Why did you want to become a volunteer?
During my Bachelor's degree, I felt that I didn't engage with the student life as much as I should have. So for my Masters, I decided that I would get involved and make the most out of my time. So I've looked at volunteering opportunities and joined several societies here at UCL. Becoming a volunteer made me realise that, as students, we should not just focus on our studies but also on trying out new things that will improve our experiences, such as volunteering.
Becoming a volunteer made me realise that, as students, we should not just focus on our studies but also on trying out new things that will improve our experiences, such as volunteering.
What difference do you feel you've made by volunteering?
To be honest, I am not sure what kind of a difference I have made as I did not get the chance to see the actual implementation of the technologies. However, because I am volunteering in an organisation that reaches out to learners in impoverished and remote areas, I feel that I am somehow contributing to the betterment of society, which is a great feeling.
What impact has volunteering had on you?
It taught me to prioritise and manage my commitments better. It has also benefited me academically as it allowed me to go beyond the literature and theories I am taught in my degree and see their implementation in the real-world environment. For example, in one of the modules I was taking, we learned how to increase access for people with learning difficulties using technologies. The last project I worked on at Otermans was about making technology more accessible for people with special education needs and learning difficulties. This alignment between what I am taught and my tasks at the organisation has, in fact, been the best part of this volunteering experience as it is widening my perspective, knowledge, and skills in this whole field.
What's the best thing about volunteering?
Honestly, I think the best thing about volunteering is expanding my academic reach. As I said before, it allows me to see people in action, working on the things I am currently studying in the real-world context, which is incredible. It is also a great value addition to my CV, and I believe it will significantly help me in the future.
It allows me to see people in action, working on the things I am currently studying in the real-world context.
And the most challenging? How did you overcome the challenges?
One of the biggest challenges was that I did not want to overstep and continuously flood them with several emails and questions as I was a volunteer and not an employee. So I ended up just being mindful of things and prioritising the key questions that I needed to ask. I also learned to write everything down, especially when given a new task and to ask everything on the spot to ensure everything was clear and I knew exactly what they wanted.
Tell us about something memorable that's happened to you whilst volunteering!
I would say when I was offered the opportunity to co-author and contribute to a published article. That was pretty amazing and something that I won't forget!
Would you recommend volunteering? If so, why?
Definitely! Honestly, some of the experiences you get are some things you can't predict! They may not be as relatable to you right now; however, they will come in handy in the future. So, in my case, I know that many of the experiences I am currently getting and the challenges I am facing will play out later in life. They are preparing and giving me a taste of what I will encounter when I work in the tech industry in the future.