Sai Gattupalli

Hello and namaste.

I am Sai and I am a fourth year PhD student in the Learning Sciences program at the College of Education at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. I am located at the Advanced Learning Technologies Lab↗ (N137 Furcolo) in Amherst, MA and work with Ivon Arroyo, EdD↗, Francisco Castro, PhD↗, Beverly Woolf, PhD↗, Danielle Allessio, PhD↗, Torrey Trust, PhD↗, and Betsy McEneaney, PhD↗.

I work at Wearable Learning ↗, which is an online multiplayer embodied games platform for math learning that leverages on both learning outcomes on both play and design practices. Using our educational platform, K12 students develop computational thinking, which is crucial in the digital age. Research participants mostly children, aka learners, aka people from different cultures, economic backgrounds, identities, and under-served populations of our communities, from - Boston and Holyoke, USA, Huzurabad, India, Cardoba, Argentina and Manila, the Philippines participated in our game play and game design activities. Research has shown that higher learning outcomes can be achieved when educators use Wearable Learning. My research focuses on learner culture which when understood in nuanced contexts could lead to better learning experiences. It is our motto to make learning more equitable and accessible, and effective in culturally-relevant ways.

Previously, I graduated with a Masters degree in Instructional Technology Sciences from Merrimack College, Andover, MA, where I was the recipient of the Girard School of Management Sciences' Dean's Scholarship award. During the time, I worked closely with Dean Mark Cordano, Jennifer Kooken, the director of the institution, Prof. Kevin Salemme, the amazing instructional media guru, and the Director of Instructional Technology, Karen Slaton. I hold a bachelor's degree in Computer Science from Osmania University, Hyderabad, India, and a Instructional Technology Management Specialization from IIM Bangalore.

For research collaborations and research related opportunities in Learning Sciences STEM foci areas such as game based learning, learner culture, computational thinking, and advanced learning technologies, or for any other inquiries, email me at sgattupalli at umass dot eduor go here.