Entrepreneur (own company: Exact Match ) |
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Anna Foldager Toft | part-time employee at Zenaria A/S | Denmark
Name: Anna Foldager Toft
www.hum.aau.dk/~afto00
designing e-learning products based on storytelling and action learning at Zenaria A/S
and graduating
Age: 25
Education: Master of Science in Information Technology, Multimedia
Job Orientation
I am a part-time employee in a small Danish company called Zenaria A/S designing e-learning products based on storytelling and action learning. At the same time I am working on my Master thesis, researching the importance of storytelling in e-learning, and the effect it has on the users learning experience. My part-time job consists of writing, storyboarding, light software programming and working with different software programmes and steps in designing of our products.
When did you decide doing vocational training in IT?
My bachelor degree in Danish involved analysis in language and media. I still was not sure what Master degree I would like to do, a lot of my fellow students chose teaching and communication. Slowly I began thinking of the possibility of IT & Multimedia, I found it interesting, and I realized that it actually was something I was quite good at. At the end of my bachelor I decided to proceed with Multimedia. Three boys and I chose the same direction towards the study of Multimedia.
Why do you think did you choose this specific education?
New technologies have always interested me; at home I had three brothers who also introduced me to the topic. I have always been good at maths and hoped to find a study direction that could combine both the humanities and the more technical studies. At the University I found that especially this study could combine a practical, technical and an analytical approach to the subjects of media.
Who supported you doing your career decision phase?
My friends, boyfriend and family both supported me in my decision like they always have. At first I was not sure that I actually was good enough to do this, but good advice and confidence in my own abilities guided me on my way.
What is needed to change career counselling?
I think that we actually have quite good career counselling in Denmark. But I do not think that there is focus on the subject of girls not working with IT. It was not seen as a possible problem at the time I had to choose. Career counsellors might work on making the subject visible to girls, making them think about their abilities. Girls might have feelings of insecurity they are not aware of.
Educational training
Did your expectations and wishes about the vocational training come true?
My expectations and wishes about my education and job did very much come true, and I realized that I had a lot of knowledge and skills I had not focused on.
What is it that you especially like in your vocational training?
I especially like the combination of practical and analytical approaches. The combination of being creative, the humanity way of thinking and the technical problem solving.
Would you choose the same vocational training again?
I never knew what I would end up doing, I had a lot of ideas, but I found my lucky shelve, and the perfect education and job. I would choose this over and over again.
You have the chance to do advertisement for your profession. Please give us some good reasons why to choose this job.
I was lucky to get a trainee position in this e-learning company, with cosy, intelligent, funny and creative employees. Zenaria A/S supported all the abilities I have to offer, and I am now making advanced educational products using both creative and logical thinking. It is a job that challenge both imagination, knowledge, humour and that everyday widen my horizon.
Differences women and men
Women are still underrepresented in IT profession, why do you think this is the case?
A lot of girls of my age did not nerd around with computers in their childhood years (like my brother for example did). Girls often have different interests whether we like it or not. But I think that a lot of girls gain this interest, and could do very well in the world of IT. They might just have to consider the possibility, and get familiar with the media. The fact that some have not used as much time playing with a computer might make them uncertain of their own abilities, and they might need a little more time to get adjusted.
What are some typical prejudices, which maybe also appeared to you?
Maybe a lot of girls make up prejudices in their own head;
Girls do not really know any technical stuff.
Girls can’t possibly be better than guys working with computers.
What would you advice girls who also want to go into IT?
Do not be afraid of trying something new and prejudged. Believe in yourself and your own abilities.
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