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Development in Research

During my first year in the LDT program, I served as a graduate research assistant. I had the privilege of participating in several research projects related to AI-enhanced learning under the guidance of Dr. Jie Lu, including systematic literature reviews, usability analyses, and eye-tracking data analysis, to evaluate learning experiences and the effectiveness of instructional design, such as AI-assisted teacher development. This experience enhanced my skills in data analysis and literature review. In particular, while conducting my independent research, Dr. Jie Lu provided me with meticulous and systematic guidance, helping me construct my research framework. Additionally, through systematic training at the PIXL Lab under the guidance of Dr. Matthew Schmidt, I learned how to use VR and psychophysiological equipment and collaborated with lab members to explore their applications.

These experiences gave me a clearer understanding of the processes required to conduct a research project. Furthermore, I was encouraged to seek out collaborators during my research, which further enhanced my communication and collaboration skills. During the first year of my doctoral journey, I had the privilege of attending academic conferences under the guidance and leadership of my advisors, and I also participated in the writing of manuscripts and proposals. I believe this has significantly advanced my academic capabilities and further solidified my research goals and confidence.

Development in Teaching

During my first semester, I assisted Dr. Jie Lu by responding to student discussion posts in her course and became familiar with how the eLC learning modules function. I am deeply grateful for this experience, as it allowed me to become acquainted with the platforms I will need as a teaching assistant and helped me gain experience in communicating with students.

Additionally, during the spring semester, I took the GRSC7770 course, where I learned skills such as how to motivate students and ensure their engagement. This has equipped me with more experience for my future role as a teaching assistant. However, I recognize that I still need to strengthen my research and teaching abilities. I plan to complete my English proficiency test in the coming semester to ensure I am fully prepared for my future role as a teaching assistant.

Potential for Growth

As I review this past year, I recognize that there are still many areas where I need to improve. In terms of research, I plan to participate more actively in research projects and engage in and prepare for more academic conferences, such as AERAE and AECT, while improving my time management skills. Additionally, I plan to take more courses related to teaching to enrich my experience in instruction and working with students, thereby better preparing myself to become a qualified candidate in the field of education. Furthermore, I need to enhance my organizational skills. I plan to join student organizations such as WEIT/ITSA in my second year to contribute to the development of LDT program.