Dartmouth Events

Abstract:

Today, how humans learn physical skills is transforming profoundly owing to the lightning-speed advances in technologies like sensing, AR/VR, and AI tools. However, amidst this excitement in innovation, it is critical not to lose sight of the fundamental nature of human learning, which is multifaceted and unique for every learner. 

In this talk, I will present my vision of building a learner-centric future by designing, building, and studying tools for skill learning that are grounded in learners' and educators' experiences. I'll share three research projects focusing on adaptive motor skill learning, game-based fabrication skill learning, and reflection-based makerskill learning. These projects aim to enhance motivation, creativity, and self-reflection, thereby expanding the design space of learning tools beyond merely focusing on skill acquisition. My work thus contributes to advancing our understanding of human learning. I'll conclude with my plans to expand my research into areas such as scalable learning, workforce training, and promoting equitable skill-learning futures.

Bio: 

Dishita Turakhia is a Ph.D. candidate in the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) dept. at MIT with a research focus in Human-Computer Interaction and Design and a minor in Brain and Cognitive Science. Her research focuses on designing systems for learning physical skills at the intersection of HCI and learning sciences. 

Dishita is part of the EECS Rising Stars ('23 cohort), a Meta Ph.D. Research Fellowship recipient ('22-24), and holds the MIT Edwin S. Webster Graduate Fellowship ('18). She is a SERC and Grace Hopper scholar. Her research has raised over $2million in funding and is supported by several grants, including two National Science Foundation grants. 

Before starting her Ph.D., she earned a dual master's degree in EECS (MS) and Architecture (SMArchS computation) from MIT ('17), and a master's (MSc) in Emergent Technology and Design (EmTech) from the AA School of Architecture ('11). Besides academic research, she has worked in the industry as a computational designer on several award-winning projects in London, Singapore, and Bern, and as a licensed architect in Mumbai, where she also co-led her design firm.