EEd Lecture Series with Saira Anwar, Ph.D., Texas A&M Learn, Design, and Develop: A Human-Centered Technology-

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EEd Lecture Series : Learn, Design, and Develop: A Human-CenteredTechnology-Based Approach to Engineering Education
Distinguished Guest Lecturer: Saira Anwar, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Multidisciplinary Engineering, Texas A&M

As technology continues to advance, the ways we teach and learn engineering must evolve as well. In this invited talk, I will present work from the Learning Enhancement and Applications Development (LEAD) Lab at Texas A&M University, where we design, implement, and study educational technologies that help learners think, create and problem-solve like engineers.

Our projects – including SedimentSketch, FossilSketch, the AI-based Text Classifier, and the EdGUIDE web tool – illustrate how human-centered design, data analytics, machine learning, and pragmatic approaches to meaning-making can enhance learning in authentic engineering contexts. These technologies are grounded in engineering education theories and are developed through iterative cycles of design, implementation, and evaluation, allowing us to refine tools based on learner experiences and outcomes. They provide insights into how digital tools can foster conceptual understanding, creative engagement and meaningful problem-solving skills.

I will also share my vision for engineering education that emphasizes creativity, collaboration, and societal impact, preparing learners to apply technical knowledge and design technologies that positively shape the world around them.

Dr. Saira Anwar is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Multidisciplinary Engineering at Texas A&M University, where she has served since 2021. She holds a Ph.D. in Engineering Education from Purdue University and master’s degree in computer science. Her research integrates educational, psychological, and technological perspectives to explore students’ learning and motivation in engineering and computing contexts.

Her work spans three areas: designing and evaluating educational tools, developing integrated STEM learning environments, and assessing instructional impacts on learners’ cognitive and non-cognitive outcomes. She has secured over $5.8 million in external funding as a co-PI from federal agencies and has published over 100 peer-reviewed papers.

Her honors include the 2023 NSTA/NARST Research Worth Reading Award, a 2025 ASEE COED Top 4 Paper, the ASEE ERM Division Apprentice Faculty Grant, and the IEEE/ASEE Frontiers in Education New Faculty Fellow. She also serves as Associate Editor for the Journal of Engineering Education.

Questions?
Contact Curtis Taylor at curtis.taylor@ufl.edu
Free & Open to All