Interesting take on learning to programme

http://worrydream.com/LearnableProgramming/

I enjoyed this article on the importance of thinking about how learners learn programming - worth a look if you are either taking or designing a programming course!

With thanks to Richard Law for the link.

Congratulations Heather Campbell!

Heather Campbell recently won the best in group poster competition at Victoria University.  Heather produced a poster detailing her work on a household travel survey by Greater Wellington Regional Council.

Each summer, VUW offers a number of summer scholarship projects to promising students thinking about postgraduate studies.  Information on the programme is available here.

Heather is pictured below with Nick Sargent her industry advisor.  Heather's project was supervised by Mairead de Roiste and Toby Daglish and builds on earlier work with similar datasets.

Heather is currently studying on the Postgraduate Diploma in GIS at Victoria University of Wellington.

An International PGDipGIS Student

My name is Sanky Meng and I’m from Hohhot, China. I will soon graduate with a PostgraduateDiploma in Geographic Information Sciences (PGDipGIS) from Victoria University of Wellington. Before I came to New Zealand for this program, I had a few worries about studying and living in New Zealand. English is particularly difficult for Chinese students, and the education system and cultures are totally different. 

It’s true that at the start, it wasn’t easy. However, I got a lot of help from the lecturers and my classmates, in both my studies and with any problems with language. For example, Andrew Rae, the GIS Technician often supported me to solve problems and answered my questions in the computer labs. Having spent a lot of time in our GIS lab, I had many discussions about assignments and GIS. I generally chatted about GIS and life with my classmates and with their help improved my English along the way!  Without their help and friendship, I wouldn't have been able to integrate into this new environment so quickly.

I chose to specialize in GIS because of Google Earth which attracted me to the field. Being the kind of person who is interested in new technologies, I took a bachelor degree of Geography Information Systems in Beijing. I enjoy studying GIS and think it's a great field to be in.

The MGIS program gave me plenty of professional GIS knowledge across both theory and practical applications, such as programming skills, advanced spatial analysis, and GIS in conservation. I am very fortunate to be able to study in New Zealand. This is such a beautiful country and the locals are very kind and friendly.

After one year of studying, my English has improved significantly and study at Victoria University has highly increased my GIS knowledge and has broadened my outlook on life. I have now built up my skills and confidence and look forward to working in the GIS industry.

Summer Scholarship: Sam McLean - Graduate Pathways Project

Sam McLean, a VUW summer scholarship student, comments on his summer research work.

Over this summer, I worked as a summer scholar with Mairead through the Victoria University of Wellington Summer Research Scholar programme. This scholarship was jointly funded by Land Information New Zealand (LINZ), the Department of Conservation (DOC) and Victoria University of Wellington.

My scholarship assisted with research on establishing baseline data on young geospatial professionals in New Zealand and the support mechanisms available to assist their transition from higher education to employment as well as existing young geospatial professionals’ ongoing professional development.    

As a part of this research, I interviewed lecturers at universities and polytechnics in New Zealand that offered a geospatial curriculum, as well as helped design surveys for geospatial organisations and young geospatial professionals themselves. We were interested in the the skills being fostered in young geospatial professionals, what support mechanisms are developing these skills, as well as the desirable attributes and characteristics that make young geospatial professionals employable. The research project builds on previous research by Mairead (see 'Filling the gap: The geospatial skills shortage in New Zealand paperhere) and is directed by the Geospatial Capability Reference Group to understand the support for young professionals entering the geospatial industry in New Zealand.

In the short time that I have been involved with data collection, it has been interesting to see unfold both the connections and disconnections between the responses of stakeholders’ in New Zealand’s geospatial industry, as well as their alignment with literature or distinctive and unique characteristics in departing from the literature.

My participation in the scholarship programme has also allowed me to develop valuable research experience that will assist me in my own Masters research this year. It has also encouraged me to explore my options for advancing my own geospatial education.  

From this experience, I have come to realise the variety of geospatial opportunities available in New Zealand, as well as the significance of expanding training in this area. I can only encourage GIS, as I have done with my sister, friends and summer colleagues, for the opportunities open to members of the geospatial community, its relevance to most professions and growing geospatial capabilities within some organisations.