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About Me

Hi, I'm Mengyao!

I design thoughtful learning experiences — building joyful, effective pathways that help people learn with curiosity, clarity, and confidence.

Siyao

Background

I grew up in China’s traditional education system, where teacher-led instruction and exam-driven practices prevailed. While effective in some ways, this environment left me wondering how learning could be made more engaging and empowering. Motivated by that question, I sat A-levels and achieved three A* grades, earning a place at the UCL Institute of Education—the world’s top-ranked education faculty—to explore innovative approaches that help learners enjoy and take ownership of their education.

Education Journey

During my three years at UCL, I experienced a hybrid learning environment shaped by the pandemic and witnessed firsthand how tools like ChatGPT can transform study habits. For my undergraduate thesis, I applied the Technology Acceptance Model to investigate how international students at UCL integrate generative AI into their workflows. I found that interacting with AI not only kindles curiosity but also builds autonomous learning skills. Those insights crystallized my research focus on leveraging technology to boost instructional engagement and quality—enabling diverse learners to stay focused, motivated, and happy. This clarity guided me to UNC-Chapel Hill’s MEITE program, where I’ve deepened my knowledge and skills across four aspects:

  1. Education Theory (Learning Sciences & Analytics)
  2. Instructional Design (Articulate Rise & Storyline)
  3. UX Design & Research (Figma)
  4. Data Analytics (R, SPSS, Excel)

Along the way, I’ve fallen in love with instructional design—using technology to visualize and gamify learning for K–12 students, university students, and corporate employees—while constantly diving into new subjects myself. Through internships and campus projects, I’ve designed learning experiences for all three groups, developing both my creative and design skills.

Professional Goals

Driven by my original passion—to reinvent traditional teaching and make learning a joyful, learner-centered journey—I aspire to be an instructional designer after graduation. I look forward to combining solid theoretical grounding with hands-on design experience to create engaging, effective learning solutions.

Snapshots of Me