about me
I have fond childhood memories of learning. I vividly recall being in the kitchen with Grandma and my younger brother in kindergarten, misreading a cooking oil label.
Earliest memory of learning...
If there’s something that I have enjoyed my entire life, it’s learning in school and outside of it. My earliest memory takes me to a vivid scene in my grandma’s kitchen when she was preparing breakfast in mid-morning, and my younger brother and I joined her. I started reading the label on a cooking oil jar. I was only equipped with vowels and a bit of alphabet. I did my best but could only read a couple of the words correctly. Grandma recognized my efforts and motivated me to continue with the good job!
Culturally, in our community, not giving compliments in public or private is common. So this must have meant a lot to her – that I could read. (My grandma never went to school; only a quasi-play group). I felt so amazing inside. Grandma planted a tree (by enrolling me in school) and watered it (appraisals and provisions). This tree has, since then, blossomed beyond her comprehension.
Unorthodox route to education...
My love for learning extends beyond formal education. Although I largely excelled in my formal education, I have always found non-formal learning to be more enriching and holistically meaningful. I’m particularly grateful to individuals such as Jay Larson and Anay Shah, who provided a much-needed impetus in the right direction for my learning journey post-high school. I’m equally grateful to Tunapanda Institute for shaping my learning journey in a rather unpopular yet significantly meaningful way through the apprenticeship model.
Well-organized courses motivate learners to enroll or keep on learning. From my personal experience, I know the importance of multimedia, assessment, and further reading resources for an online course. I also know the importance of choosing the right educational technologies for curricula.
Finally, an instructional designer...
Even before I called myself an “instructional designer” or “curriculum developer”, I had already developed an interest in making engaging courses. My learning web design earlier in my career helped me get to know the inner workings of eLearning portals.
As an instructional designer, I’m passionate about creating engaging learning experiences that not only center learners but also the relevant educational technologies that necessitate learning. In the current rapidly changing technological landscape, I’m keen on ensuring that learning solutions do not lose sight of the science of learning principles.