Adhwita Gopi Selvan took a leap. She decided to leave her home on the East Coast and come to Illinois to be part of the very first cohort of Computer Science + Education students at the University of Illinois. Adhwita has long been interested in educational technology and even started a non-profit to help students become interested in and successful in STEM. We talked to her about her first year in the program, what she liked about her first year at Illinois, and her goals for the rest of her academic career in CS + Ed.
What have you enjoyed about your campus experience so far?
I love being at a large public school with access to various courses and student organizations. Since my first year, attending sporting events and engaging in campus spirit has been an incredible experience. Most importantly, I love how my curriculum can range from CS courses to Education courses throughout the day, allowing me to engage in interdisciplinary material. I am super grateful for my community at the University of Illinois, including professors and students, and the communities I have built through organizations like Illinois Business Consulting. Illinois allows you to take advantage of every opportunity, which has been incredible.
What made you choose CS+Education?
I chose CS+Education because I have always been interested in educational technology. In high school, I founded a 501 non-profit organization, Inspire Curiosity, dedicated to building the next generation of critical thinkers and problem solvers. I have continued growing this organization, and through the University of Illinois and my EdTech curriculum, I have made a meaningful impact across the globe. At some point in my life, I would like to do ambassador work, collaborate with EdTech startups, or create my own.
What have you enjoyed about it most?
I love the unique classes we can take, like Digital Learning Environments, which combines topics from Computer Science and Education. I also love how unique my schedule is and the many opportunities for me to engage in this field. I was able to do research projects and community-based work all in my freshman year.
What is a fun fact about you?
I am incredibly adventurous. I will be going skydiving later this month!
Tell us about any research you’ve done and the mentorship you’ve received from your instructors.
I have researched students with autism and their learning abilities, the impact of digital learning environments, EdTech research with Prairie Learn and Canvas by examining the impact of Machine Learning and AI, and culturally responsive assessment non-profit work. My instructors in the CS department and the College of Education have been incredibly helpful, guiding my projects and supporting me with access to graduate students and professionals in the field. I am also very grateful for the advice and support from Todd Lash, director of computer science teacher education, who has helped me attend conferences and grow in the EdTech field.
Tell us about your future career plans after graduating and why you want to pursue that field.
After college, I would like to work in the consulting world for a few years, engaging in public-sector consulting in the management sector with a focus on EdTech-related projects. After gaining some experience, I would probably go back to graduate school and then launch an EdTech startup.
Learn more about our ground-breaking Computer Science + Education degrees, including licensure and non-licensure degree options.
