Officially, I’m an Assistant Professor of digital technology and pedagogy. Unofficially, I’m that teacher who can’t resist trying new teaching methodologies and technological tools.
I started my teaching career at 20 as a bright-eyed primary school teacher — back when ‘educational technology’ mostly meant a chalkboard that still worked. Since then, I’ve taught across K–10 and higher education, collecting lessons, stories, and a lot of grey hair (hidden) along the way.
Before heading off to Australia in 2018 for my PhD adventure, I served as the Head (Dean) of Open Learning at the Maldives National University (MNU). I led an incredible team that designed and delivered flexible learning courses to students scattered across the Maldives. It wasn’t always smooth sailing (sometimes quite literally), but it was deeply rewarding to help hundreds of students access university education that would’ve otherwise been out of reach. All were eye-opening learning experiences.
My love of learning runs deep (thanks, mum, for the cradle to grave reminder). That mindset carried me through my studies in Australia, where I also juggled roles as a casual research project manager at the University of Sydney, a research assistant at UNSW and UOW, sessional academic at UOW, and an online tutor at Griffith University. Notably, my two-and-half year time at UOW as an educational designer gave me the humble opportunity to refresh my pedagogical and technological knowledge, make the meaning of theory that I explained in my PhD thesis. Small roles, perhaps — but big in lessons, and perfect stepping stones for my postdoctoral journey.
Fast forward to today, I’m proud to be part of the MNU team once again. Here, I aspire to contribute to the university’s efforts in strengthening learning and teaching, specifically technology-enhanced learning. I also aim to contribute to my field of research, in which I already have a few publications. To see my small contributions, visit my Google Scholar page.
At the end of the day, I’m still that curious teacher who believes there’s always more to learn — and that technology, when used wisely, can make education more human, not less.
If you’re interested in my work, feel free to connect with me through the ‘Stay Connected’ channels. Let’s work together to make a positive impact on education through collaboration!