SLD Intros: Caitlin Diver
Tell us a bit about you and your background!
My name is Caitlin (last name pronounced ‘Dih-ver’, like river) and I have been working in what is now Student Learning Development since 2018. Jokingly referred to as the ‘token young person’ after I was hired, I am still one of the youngest members of the team (but I’m definitely nowhere near young enough to be making content for TikTok). I have a lovely greyhound called Venus who frequently comes into the office whenever I’m on campus and who can be found lounging on any sofa she can get her paws on. My background is actually in music, and I have a degree from UofG in Music and Celtic Studies. I am slightly unusual in that I am the only member of staff in SLD that does not have, or is almost finished, a PhD. Nor, I should add, do I want to do one and that’s perfectly okay!
What is your job and what does it involve?
I am a Digital Learning Technologist, and my day-to-day role varies enormously. For example, I am the primary manager and content creator for the blog you’re currently reading. I also specialise in digital technologies that students use for learning, and am really focused on making digitally accessible content. I am also the Editor-in-Chief for our undergraduate research journal, [X]position. I am also on the organising team for our corresponding conference, Let’s Talk About [X], as well as managing the Academic Writing Skills Programme alongside my colleague (and boss) Andrew for the last 5 years.
(At the time of publication, I am actually on secondment (temporarily reassigned) to Research Services! )
What are your favourite aspects of your job and your biggest passion project?
My biggest passion project recently has been to have a huge, deep dive into learning about and implementing ways in which we can improve our digital content in terms of accessibility. It sounds really nerdy, because it is, but it’s a real passion of mine. I am absolutely adamant that all content should be equally accessible and valuable for our students, regardless of how they access it. Aside from that, my other favourite aspect of my job recently has been working on [X]position.
Outwith work, what are your favourite things to do?
Outwith work, I can be found doing a variety of things. Continuing with the nerdy theme, I am into niche sports like bouldering, roller skating and am tentatively dipping my toe back into the world of Ultimate Frisbee. I have also got a duathlon coming up (my first ever!) and I wish I had more time to get properly into power lifting. I can also be found playing a variety of percussion instruments in various orchestras and am thoroughly enjoying the revival of the music scene post-pandemic.
Before you go, what’s your one tip for succeeding in study/university/research/the workplace?
My one tip would be: figure out how you can best work with YOUR brain. For me, as someone that did not know that they were neurodivergent until very recently, this has been life altering in terms of how I work with, instead of against, my brain in order to be productive. Despite being the #tokenyoungperson, I still didn’t have access to many of the tools and tech that you now have available to you as a student (I still had to print out and hand my work in to staff for assignments for the first few years of my degree!!) and learning about these and how to use them has significantly helped me in terms of managing my own workload.
Written by Caitlin Diver, Digital Technologist for SLD (and manager of this blog!)