An educational high
A Mid Canterbury woman who uses video conferencing to study was one of Ara Institute’s top students last year.
Mother-of-two Megan Wordsworth attends class via video in Ashburton, where she interacts with her Timaru-based lecturers and classmates while studying towards a Diploma in Human Resource Management.
She was the top student in the Introduction to Commercial Law and Business Communication paper last year.
Wordsworth, whose children are 14 and 19, said she was enjoying studying and the video conferencing was a great way to learn.
Megan Wordsworth
She and her husband Phil moved to Mid Canterbury five years ago from Whangarei and started a civil subcontracting company called Paneltech South.
They live near Methven.
With her children almost out of the nest, she wanted to study to increase her knowledge and opportunities for jobs in the future.
She hopes to finish her diploma with part-time study by the end of this year, then pick up other papers in health and safety in 2019.
“Long term I would like to use the qualifications I gain to work in the area of human resourcing and/or health and safety.
“This is such a growing industry which is set to continue in the future.”
Her full-time study last year had to fit around family and other commitments and there were time management challenges, but Wordsworth said her family was very supportive.
“The kids thoroughly enjoyed being able to give me direction at times on a computer concept that I had never really had the need to use before.
“They were also very encouraging when I passed an assignment or exam.”
She said the commercial law paper was challenging to start with but within a month she had settled into study and was enjoying herself.
“I had excellent tutors as well as peers.
“The tutors really want to help you succeed and respond to emails quickly.
“Other students are also supportive.”
Just over half her learning was at the Ashburton campus by video conferencing.
“The classroom had a large screen TV which is connected to a classroom in the Ara Timaru campus so basically we sit in on a class being taught in Timaru.
“This is very interactive as we talk to tutors and classmates as if we were in the same room through the use of video conferencing microphones which sit on a desk in the middle of each classroom.
“These microphones pick up what tutors are teaching as well as any questions that students may be asking.”
She said the tutors divided their time between Ashburton and Timaru sites, so there was also a good number of classes with face-to-face teaching in Ashburton.
The video conference worked well for her.
“I think it’s a fantastic resource which allows higher education to be taught in smaller urban areas such as Ashburton or Oamaru.
“I have no hesitation in encouraging others to take up study, especially as an adult, if they’ve been contemplating it and use this type of awesome resourcing that Ara offers.”
Wordsworth said the top student award was a surprise though she knew from her exam marks that she had passed well.
It was also a proud moment for her family.
She hits the books again next month with just one paper in human resource management.
“I can honestly say that I’m looking forward to it.
“I have found my experience as an adult student at Ara a very positive experience.
“I know that study takes effort, but also brings reward.”
Another Ashburton woman, Julia Papek, also featured among 2017’s best Ara students.
She was top student in a Fundamentals of Marketing paper that is part of a Diploma in Accounting.
– By Linda Clarke
Tuesday, January 16th, 2018
Tags: Megan Wordsworth
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