Bruno Bachmann, Web Programmer & Project Assistant (May 2016 – September 2016)
Working at ETS was a critical starting point to my career as a programmer. Entering the professional sphere can be a scary transition from being a student, but I feel that ETS made that transition seamless for me. Developing the Scarfe Digital Sandbox with the support and advice of ETS staff was a fantastic learning experience in terms of both technical and soft skills. Moving forward I will miss the friendly, supportive, and especially innovative environment ETS perpetuated. Building amiable yet professional relationships is probably the most important skill I picked up at ETS. It is a skill I hope to apply in my future workplaces, wherever those may be.
Melissa Liang, Web Programmer & Project Assistant (May 2016 – September 2016)
What I found most surprising about working at ETS was just how friendly and welcoming is the whole team. As this was my first co-op term, I was filled with anxiety during the first days of work. However, we had many ice breaking activities throughout the term and I realized how genuinely open and caring everyone is. I also I felt that my opinions had value and that I was encouraged to voice them. I will remember this term as a remarkable learning experience with colleagues who were not only co-workers but knowledgeable mentors in their areas of expertise.
Katya Baranova, Co-op student (Tech Coach) (September 2016 – December 2016)
Mary Kostsandy, GAA Project Assistant (May 2017 – September 2017)
Liza Navarro, GAA Project Assistant (January 2017 – September 2017)
During Summer 2017 and Fall 2017, Liza Navarro has worked as a GAA for the TLEF project. In her role, she worked alongside team members to find relevant and engaging resources for teacher candidates. In addition, she conducted seminars with teacher candidates. Liza expressed gratitude for this opportunity and believes that this experience has enhanced her learning:
Thanks to this experience, I know that when I finish my doctoral degree in education, my goal is to find a teaching tenure track so that I can continue to work alongside teacher candidates. Finding ways to integrate technology in the classroom is now essential in this high-tech environment and I strongly feel that teacher candidates need more exposure and opportunities to learn about and put these resources into practice. I have enjoyed working on this project and have learned a great deal about technology, online resources, the BEd teacher program and BC curriculum. With the skills I have acquired and things I have learned, I have taken initiative in spreading my knowledge by means of a publication in BC TEAL Magazine. In addition, I have submitted a proposal to a conference that looks at technology in a French language learning context. I only hope that UBC continues to support what was created and foster digital competencies among their teacher candidates in years to come! (Liza Navarro, testimonial)
Wendy Zhang, Co-op student (Tech Coach) (January 2017 – September 2017)
Working at ETS was my second Co-op term and it was an amazing experience for me. Not only did I get the opportunity to explore various areas, from website development and maintenance, to helping with workshops and conferences, as well as creating and editing videos and posters. As a student majored in Library and Information Studies, I learned so much from working on a diverse range of tasks, and from my conversations with Yvonne and all ETS staff members (they were very helpful and supportive although they all got very busy schedule). Last but not least, I learned so much about the different emerging technologies to use in libraries and education, which I believe will be invaluable for my future career development as well.