When I was an adolescent, one of my prized possessions was an old tin box where I kept colorful papers, cartons, ribbons and wires for making crafts. Once I felt I was getting too old and too busy, I passed down my box to my younger sister. To my disappointment, she did not seem interested in that old junk. Making crafts is not her passion, she loves singing.

Besides making crafts, I was interested in math, physics and programming which led me enroll in an engineering program for my undergraduate degree. Yet, I was still fascinated by art and design. I would make frequent visits to the architecture building next to our building. After graduating from the program, I worked for a US-based offshore company. Alongside my job, I enrolled in a Masters program in Sociology. I was still searching for that perfect field to integrate my array of interests. It was then that I came across an exciting new field of learning technologies that could potentially combine my wide-ranging interests. In addition, it could also help me explore innovative technical possibilities to enhance learning and education among the underprivileged communities. I believe that computer tutors can serve not only as means for effective learning but also as a medium to make learning accessible to a wider population.

Learning is a very complex phenomenon. Hence, I find learning sciences to be a fascinating and promising research area as it combines human variability and computer technologies. Working as a researcher in this area has given me the chance to discover an exciting intersection among my interests in math, programming, design, education and psychology. It also feels good to revisit some middle school curriculum and feel nostalgic about those days when the old tin box meant the world to me.