As we exit the Winter break, it felt appropriate to start on the reading journey and try to absorb the following articles, as per homework demands.

I really enjoyed reading the articles but I often had to ask myself ‘what does this mean?’. I had to slowly absorb the information word by word and had to research a lot of the language and words used in order to follow the flow of the articles. I read each article over and over to try and take in as much as possible each time, annotating as I went. I spent 7 hours in the library working through all articles.

This made me anxious and I immediately felt like I was a UG student again, panicking about not understanding what I am reading, and just wanting to create and draw and design and pattern cut!

This time around, as a technician, I understand the purpose of the reading material, I’m working to improve my understanding of how the academic universe works, to benefit my students, something I am passionate about.

I’m making sure I take the appropriate time to read slowly, research alongside the reading, and ensure I ask for help as I need it to understand the theories and practices being discussed.

I’m excited to speak with the rest of the class about the readings and how we have all explored the writing with unique perspectives.

I’m really looking forward to seeing where the journey takes me, I’m eager, excited, and energized wanting to dive right in. I know that as the year progresses, ill be more comfortable with academic reading, language, and will also be reminded of how the students feel as also go through the process one more time.

I also picked up and read the wrong 1A task to start with, but found Teaching practices for creative practitioners. Orr, S & Shreeve, A, very insightful and enjoyed reading and learning about different pedagogies.

My name is Jade Gellard, I am the lead Specialist Technician on the BA Fashion Contour Course, at London College of Fashion.

I’m really excited to work through the PG CERT this year.

I hope to learn more about inclusive practices, in doing so learn more about myself, my teaching methods, and implement best possible pedagogies for the students who cross through my studio. This is my fourth academic year with LCF. With each year that passes, I work to update and improve my delivery, and I want to understand how my teaching affects students, in a positive or negative way, and how to continue to improve this.

I’m passionate about reframing technical services at UAL. The strength, knowledge, and resilience that technicians demonstrate day in, day out, 9am-9pm, does not feel widely recognized, or appreciated.

It’s time to view technicians in the same light as academics. I hope that my PG CERT will help to place solid foundations in this field of research, furthering this into the MA when appropriate.