"For both international and local students in the program, my advice would be to be bold and to challenge yourselves with things you've never done before and beyond the program/course expectation, and at the same time, find a way to enjoy the experience."

Hometown

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Department

Learning Design and Technology

Related Degrees

• MEd, Learning Design & Technology

What is your current job position?

I’m currently working at an organization called Aide et Action as a Digital Learning Program Coordinator. I’m also teaching a graduate class, ICT in Education, at the Royal University of Phnom Penh.

Please briefly describe the path that brought you to the LTEC program.

I have always had a keen interest in technology, so after teaching TEFL at the university for almost two years, I knew I wanted to pursue a graduate study in educational technology and to use it to deliver quality education to a larger group of audience. I applied to be in the LTEC program because, in addition to educational technology, the program also offers courses in instructional design, which were not available in Cambodia at that time, so I thought it could be a great asset to bring back home. Part of the reason was also because there was a full scholarship opportunity by the East-West Center for international students from Asia.

How do you apply what you learned in the LTEC program to your current work?

I’ve found myself using what I learned in the LTEC program in many aspects of my work including designing learning modules for my graduate class, designing and evaluating the usability of the learning platform to deliver online learning modules for the commune councils, and working with open-source communities to localize open-source projects including Moodle, BigBlueButton, and Scratch.

How would you describe the LTEC program to others?

If I were to describe the LTEC program to others using three adjectives, the three adjectives would be “practical”, “enjoyable”, and “worthwhile”. Every course in the program is designed in such a way that at the conclusion of the course the students gain practical skills that they can apply at their work. The workload isn’t overwhelming, which allows the students to enjoy their learning and to fulfill other commitments in their life. The program is worthwhile because of the essential skills and knowledge it provides and the enjoyable experience the students have with their professors and peers.

What was your favorite part of being in an LTEC program?

My most favorite part of being in the LTEC program is the experience I had with people in the program. Everyone was very friendly, understanding and helpful. As an international student, I really appreciated it.

What do you hope to inspire by sharing your education experience?

Educational technology is the key to quality education and accessibility. By sharing my experience during and after the program, I hope to inspire more interest and investment in this field. I also hope that other international students, especially those from developing countries, consider being part of the life-changing experience in the LTEC program.

What are your future plans?

My goal has always been to broaden access to quality education among the people in the remote areas. I am fortunate to be working currently with an international organization, Aide et Action, which shares the same vision. I also hope to continue sharing my knowledge of instructional design and educational technology to other educators so that together we can design more quality learning and make it more accessible.

What advice would you have for others currently in the LTEC program?

If you are a new international student, the first few months can be a little overwhelming since you need to get used to the new place and culture on top of the program itself. However, you’ll be used to it after a few months. For both international and local students in the program, my advice would be to be bold and to challenge yourselves with things you’ve never done before and beyond the program/course expectation, and at the same time, find a way to enjoy the experience. Also, take advantage of the resources you have including your professors and peers.