We are all made of stardust!

Personal development plan

In this section I will try to explain my aims, targets and ways of achieving them.

Starting with what a university or school as an institution is we can say that that institution is meant to teach us. We are here to learn something that we don't know given to us by the teachers who know it in a form of practical or theoretical knowledge. Starting from that point I cannot miss to say that (comparing with the educational system in Bulgaria) the system here is different. In our course we are told how to find the information we need to learn things. In other words we teach ourselves guided by our tutors. And from this point I would like to say that when provided with that type of choice we have to find our own way in the Landscape Architecture, what attracts us, what we are passionate about in the course, what can we best at. That means that we pave our own development and we decide what kind of development that would be. To conclude my point of view I think that I as a person/student decide myself what do I want to improve on my way of becoming a landscape architect ... hopefully. Combining my choice and the feedback from my tutors about my strengths and weaknesses I am trying to build a picture of my skills and abilities. 

Getting closer to the point of my PDP I think that I know what I need to improve and what to start doing in the last year of my education. What I really think I need to do is at the beginning of a project to reference the big architects, to look at some of their work, to read journals, in other words turn more attention to books. Fresh ideas found in a journal or a book is always welcome especially when you have to design something nice and impressive. There were no computers, Google, Autocad, Photoshop etc. before 20 years but people still managed to make masterplans and point where the tree grows in the park. We all know the value of a book but we don't embrace them fully. That's why I put that challenge before myself as of highest priority for year 3 of my education.

I would also like to point out the enormous help we get in the form of technology. Internet and all of the modern software we use to build our projects are inevitable part of our development and it is a must to have more than an average knowledge of computer software. Although I personally work with a limited number of programs I have proven myself as a quick learner and do not fear of a new unknown software challenge put in front of me. 

Last but not least I would like to appreciate the direct feedback we get from our tutors. It is a very important step in our education. This is a very valuable piece of advice that we have to follow. Positive or negative I think it is the form of teaching we are given - not a 5 hour lecture but a personal feedback that will address me and my work. Sometimes teacher's opinions are not the same and that creates more headache for me but I guess that what makes this profession so diverse and innovative. If everyone was the same the world would have been so boring. There is no role model of making a garden look in a particular way, everyone's view and taste is different. 

In conclusion: more reading, fresh ideas and listening to our tutors!!!

0 comments:

Post a Comment