Skills Feedback by Lois Blackwell

lblackwell21 — 2022-03-11 13:15:18 UTC

Vectorworks and its hissy fits

2022-03-11 13:35:43 UTC

Wished that I had time learning more on photoshop

2022-03-11 15:01:32 UTC

Skills sessions are literally my favourite time of the week

2022-03-11 15:13:07 UTC

I really enjoyed the skills sessions and I found them very useful. They’ve really helped me develop and improve my vectorworks skills. Thank you Lois!

2022-03-11 15:16:30 UTC

The skills sessions have taught me so much! Couldn't of done my time without them, I feel as though I have really developed my skills through them and I feel much more prepared for industry because of the sessions.

2022-03-11 15:20:21 UTC

I wish there had been more of a focus on them, without the sessions I would be very unprepared and feel as though I wouldn't be where I am today. Just wish there had been more of time dedicated towards them

2022-03-11 17:56:07 UTC

I appreciate the mannerism in which the skill sessions are taught, it's formal/professional but also casual in a sense that makes myself and others feel comfortable enough to ask questions and reach out for help during the sessions, without feeling scared.

2022-03-11 18:00:28 UTC

Second year was an odd spot when it came to skill sessions. Going from first year where we were building up our skills, it felt like in second year we didn't get even half of the support we got in first year. Meaning that we lost some of our skills, which going into third year meant that a lot of us struggled to find our footing when it came to Vectorworks.

2022-03-11 18:03:19 UTC

Like another comment said, sessions with Lois were always my favourite time of the week. Even now in third year. I wake up at 8am (that's horrifically early for me) just to get into the studio to make sure I get to have a skill tutorial with Lois.

2022-03-11 18:25:17 UTC

Sessions with Lois are a GODSEND. Throughout the three years, Lois’s guidance has been one of the most rewarding aspects of the degree and she has been extremely helpful in helping me develop a critical process of creative thinking. The vectorworks session have been very useful in developing my cad skills and her photoshop sessions + the example sessions helped me a lot in first year to develop my personal style :) 11/10 Lois is amazing :)

2022-03-11 20:15:16 UTC

Skills session with Lois are the most helpful part of the week and my favourite thing to attend. It’s such a nice stress-free atmosphere to learn where everyone feels comfortable and has the opportunity to develop their skills step by step, something that has helped me so much as I knew nothing about Vector works before them. The drop in sessions are the reason I get through my projects. Literally don’t know what I would have done without skills with Lois.

2022-03-11 20:38:48 UTC

Having skills with Lois each week has honestly been a life saver. I would not have had any idea what I was doing and my outcome of work has all stemmed from Lois’ help. She taught me new skills and encouraged all of us along the way. All I want to say is thank you thank you thank you!!!

2022-03-11 21:07:03 UTC

Lois skills sessions are great, full of knowledge and if we ever needed an issue solved. She would always know how to do it. On top of this, I don’t think there is a student that Lois does not get along with. She’s always really infusiastic (sorry I’m dyslexic!) and makes her sessions enjoyable for everyone. I’ve never felt like I’ve not got the help I’ve needed and she treats all students equally, no matter their abilities.

2022-03-11 21:17:48 UTC

Skills sessions have been the highlight of first year! Learning and developing new skills has been a great confidence boost but also Lois has so much knowledge in her skills which makes me comfortable with being more adventurous with design!!

2022-03-11 21:20:30 UTC

I wish we had more time for skills, however the videos published on moodle are so helpful! It may be more beneficial if the skills sessions we did have were targeted more towards help and questions!

Skills have really me a lot

2022-03-11 21:53:24 UTC

Without that I would have struggled on vectorworks.

2022-03-11 21:57:00 UTC

Having skills with Lois has been extremely helpful! Lois always goes into depth with her presentations, physical demonstrations and personal tutorials. She always makes time for everyone and often stays for more than an hour after the session to make sure everyone’s problems have been seen to.

Skills

2022-03-11 21:58:15 UTC

I love working with the software vectorworks even though it gets slower and slower near the deadline but overall the way we have been taught how to work it is really good whenever I struggle I have VIDOES online to help me and it makes life so much more easier. I loved rendering on it!!

Photoshop skills

2022-03-11 21:59:58 UTC

I personally need more time on photoshop I have tried to use it but I haven’t been taught it for a longer period like lois has taught vector works photoshop skills went pretty fast and pretty confusing so I’d like if we can get more time and support in it

2022-03-11 22:07:05 UTC

Lois sessions are literally the only reason why I am surviving my Interior designing course it is personally the only lesson that actually teaches me what will help me after graduation it’s all about the softwares and floor plans and how to put them on their. Her lessons are full of support and knowledge and are a big stress relief during the stressful days. I really appreciate her time and how much she helps us and teaches us. I wish we could have more skills sessions with Lois with different softwares other than vector works.

Skills session

2022-03-11 22:19:44 UTC

I’m not that confident with digital software, but the sessions really helped me work through VectorWorks at my own pace.

2022-03-11 22:49:06 UTC

My love for vectorworks only grew because of Lois

2022-03-11 23:07:17 UTC

Skills sessions are my favourite part of the course, I really enjoy developing my vectorworks and photoshop skills, Lois explains everything clearly and is very helpful, although we definately don’t get enough sessions and I wish we could have them more often.

19072602 — 2022-03-12 01:21:26 UTC

For me, skills has been a roller coaster, it's a ride of emotions and a lot of stress, but whenever it ends I feel that I'm in the most perfect spot that I can be at.
I'm not the greatest at softwares, at the beginning of 1st year I felt that I was lacking a lot, until Lois joined us and taught us not only skills, but also mentored us through, in our university work and journey. 2nd year due to the pandemic, a lot changed and in skills we were not able to show as much progress since we did not have organised and planned through sessions like Lois had in our previous year.
Now, 3rd year! It has been an incredible year thanks to Lois and our tutors' patience and excitement over our projects and progress. And it's just motivating and touching to see how they have our backs. I feel ready to graduate, go into the industry.
I believe Lois teaching method is not about pressuring us to be the best at skills, but to do our best and be confident about it. It's formal but also casual and welcoming, I believe that's what makes the bond between her and us, her students, so strong.
Thank you Lois, you're the best :))))

19072602 — 2022-03-12 01:31:40 UTC

I believe that more time with the students would be very helpful, it is hard to see two years groups in one day, and not only for us students, but also for Lois.

Skills session

2022-03-12 13:23:23 UTC

Without Lois and her skills session, I would not have been able to progress and learn as much as I have done with vectorworks over the past 3 years. Her sessions are something I constantly refer back to, be it simple skills like scaling a document to more advanced 3D modelling skills. She is an essential part of our university course experience, she always knows how to solve a problem and as a year we trust and appreciate her hard work and efforts. Lois and all the support she has given over the past few years is one of the main things I will take away from my course experience after I graduate

2022-03-12 19:51:49 UTC

Lois' Vectorworks and Photoshop skills sessions have been the foundations of Interior Design degree. As a current third year, they were immensely helpful in first year and I noticed a huge difference in second year when she was not available to us. This stunted my learning in second year and left me unguided as I struggled to keep up with skills. Now in third year, I feel as though I have missed out on a huge part of my learning and wish I had Lois last year. :(
I love Lois' attitude when teaching us as she is clearly a very understanding and lovely person to be around, so her lessons are a joy to be in and I wish we had more!

2022-03-12 19:53:31 UTC

To have better sessions, Lois needs to be in the loop more! She has so much guidance to give us but she can't if she doesn't know we need it! :(

Skills

2022-03-12 20:12:40 UTC

Lois thank you!
i genuinely wouldnt have survived projects if it wasnt for skills. in first year it was all new and Lois was really really helpful with giving tips and tricks. but in second year over covid was tricky because it was hard online, really hard!! but being back and into third year has been amazing especially being back with Lois and doing skills sessions, i always look forward to skills days, not just to learn stuff but to also see Lois : ) skills sessions are really really helpful and i find its really crucial to the course as i would find it really hard without it and i know i would get stuck so easily. so thank you Lois for helping us always, you're a star <3

Development

2022-03-12 20:15:41 UTC

The only thing that i have to mention that i would like to develop more on is the little skill stuff and shortcuts, on photoshop. That could also be really effective! for example i just learnt the stroke tool which has helped in my visuals, so learning elements like that would be helpful : )

2022-03-12 20:36:49 UTC

I think we need more time with skills, i personally believe it would have been really beneficial to have more time for it especially in fmp! because it felt packed with having to share the day with another year, not just for us but for lois too, so she wasnt too rushed or stressed dealing with alot of people in a few hours

Vectorworks

2022-03-12 21:32:27 UTC

I found the skills sessions in first year really helpful and even when I was behind and didn’t understand something that the rest of the group did, Lois still took the time to correct or help me through what I was having problems with. I also found the third year sessions very thorough, as Lois would talk to each person individually about their needs and their aims. You can tell that the skills sessions and Lois herself really cares about each persons projects and how well they do.