Contextual Statement

Hi and welcome to my CMALT portfolio! 

I'm Arhum Khan - an Ed-tech researcher and digital designer.  In this introductory section, I would like to share a bit about myself along with my academic and professional development so far. 

My journey began with a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science and a developing career as a digital designer/front-end web developer. While I loved design, I always had an inclination to explore more venues in design, particular that of learning design i.e. designing and developing new and innovative ways for learning. My interest led me to enroll for Master's in ITE (Innovative Technologies in Education) at NUST (National University of Science and Technology). This was an eye-opening experience and I felt I had found my true calling. After graduating with a 4.0 GPA and a thesis focused on the use of VR for secondary school science education,  I began exploring more venues for developing my skills within the scope of digital education.

Alongside pursuing my career as a designer, I received the opportunity to teach two MS courses at NUST, entitled "Universal Design for Learning" and "The Role of Technology in Education". As my first step into teaching, the experience taught me plenty: course development, lecture-delivery, creating slide-sets, preparing in-class activities, planning projects, conducting assessments and providing appropriate and timely feedback. Even though the challenge of two jobs was overwhelming at times, the reward was in the feeling of achievement I felt at the end of each day.  I was able to discover my ability and potential as a teacher, which was previously unknown to me. The positive feedback from my students, administration and other faculty members was the motivation and encouragement I needed to further develop my skills.

As my path became clearer, I realised that a PhD could strengthen my intellectual and cognitive abilities and provide me the exposure and understanding to support my future goals. Soon after, I earned the Vice-Chancellor's Research Scholarship (VCRS) from Ulster University. The PhD project focused on the use of VR, and cognate technologies, for the purpose of teaching and learning. This seemed to be the opportunity I had been searching for as it perfectly aligned with my interest and goals. Fast forward four years, I have successfully completed my doctorate after presenting my thesis entitled "The Role of Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR) in supporting Middle School Science Education in Pakistan and Northern Ireland". Soon after graduation, I had the chance to teach a course at Ulster University, with the School of Communication and Media. The course entitled "Interactive Media Inquiry" was a module to develop final year undergraduate students' research skills and techniques in order to prepare them for the major project module for the next and final semester. I am currently working on various part-time roles with the School of Education at Ulster University and meanwhile also developing my portfolio and skills as I search for my next career opportunity within the UK.