We had a University student at Heathrow once decision-making in ATC. He was with us for a few weeks, sat in with us, chatted with us in the rest room, etc., and it really was an most interesting experience for both sides. At the end we saw the results of his work and the decisions which controllers made without thinking about filled a good few pages.
Technology is a serious matter in ATC because very few machines have been devised which can undertake the decision making aspect of the job and the majority simply provide information for the controller to use in his decision making processes. I guess ATCOs will be replaced by computer chips eventually, but it ain't about to happen.
Hope you get a 1:1!