ravi sinha

educator | researcher | maker

Hello!

I am a PhD candidate in Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences at Utah State University, where I work in the Learning Dynamics Lab under the guidance of Dr. Hillary Swanson. My research focuses on designing STEM-rich learning environments that weave in maker-centered, model-based, and embodied pedagogies.

In my current work, I use design-based research to examine how middle school students engage in epistemic practices of the engineering sciences in the domain of Avian Engineering. Using GenAI tools, I developed the Amazing Birds, a microworld to introduce middle schoolers to Avian Engineering. Through this work, I characterize learners’ sensemaking as they engage with digital and physical prototypes and explore how these prototype-centered interactions shape their emerging engineering sciences thinking.

I have taught undergraduate and graduate courses in digital making, learning design, and instructional technology. I also actively participate in science communication endeavors, where I make research and scientific ideas accessible through animated stories, simulations, popular science articles, and hands-on learning experiences.

Research Interests
Embodied cognition · Makerspaces · Engineering sciences education · Computational tinkering · DIY STEM toys · Generative AI in learning design

Publications

A complete list of publications is available on my Google Scholar page.

Projects

Amazing Birds

Mochi bird automaton prototype

An interactive learning environment for exploring avian-inspired engineering through research cases, simulations, prototyping, and reflection activities.

BirdApp

Collaborator: Adithi Muralidhar. An interactive Educational Resource depicting some common species found across India to inspire educators (and any curious individual) to initiate conversation around nature observation. Beta version was launched on World Environment Day, 2021.

metaStudio

Principal Investigator: Prof Nagarjuna G. Core team in design and implementation of the metastudio, a conversation-first platform for the STEM community, with 1500+ members since Jul 19; Active contributor to crafting and curation of STEM-rich tinkering challenges; Members are encouraged to engage in process documentation during making as well as share their feedback with others; Platform has provision of granting badges when an academic habit is demonstrated; Initiated dedicated discourse space turtleChat to support exploration of computational concepts.

TinkerApp

Collaborator: Vivek Pradhan. A mobile app with curated hands-on science projects; Downloaded by 10000+ educators/children worldwide.

Teaching

Teaching Assistant - eLearning Authoring Tools (ITLS 6245)
Department of Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences, Utah State University
Summer 2026

Instructor - Digital Making and Learning (ITLS 6270/5270)
Department of Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences, Utah State University
Spring 2026

Science Communication

Nudging Students’ Designs
Ravi Sinha, A. K. Pardeshi, and D. Chari
I Wonder, Azim Premji University, 8, 42-46, 2022
PDF · Link

The Not So Random Story
Amit Dhakulkar and Ravi Sinha
Teacher Plus, 2021

Aakho Me Chamak (Gleam in the Eyes)
Manish Jain and Ravi Sinha
A booklet for doing science using simple materials, 2017
Hindi · English

Animated Science Communication Videos

Worked on the following collection of animated science popularization films: Playlist

Danger of Space Travel without Spacesuit (CLI, IITGN)
Danger of Space Travel without Spacesuit (CLI, IITGN)

History of Genetics (CLI, IITGN)
History of Genetics

World’s narrowest fluid channel using Graphene (CLI, IITGN)
World’s narrowest fluid channel using Graphene

How much land does a man need? Part 1 (CLI, IITGN)
How much land does a man need? Part 1

How much land does a man need? Part 2 Proof (CLI, IITGN)

How much land does a man need? Part 2 Proof