Dr. Sonakshi Ruhela
Dr. Sonakshi Ruhela holds a Harvard Certification in Higher Education with a PhD in Psychology, recognized by the Ministry of Education, UAE. She is an accomplished Educationalist with over 12 years of extensive experience in Undergraduate and Postgraduate teaching, training, mentorship, and research of students from different nationalities and ethnic backgrounds. She is also a Co-guide for Doctoral Research Scholars in the field of psychology and mental health.
She is a Community Development Authority (CDA Dubai) Licensed Psychologist with a comprehensive experience in the field of Counselling, Psychotherapy, Behavioral-Lifestyle interventions, Neuro- linguistic programming and Psychometric assessment. She has worked extensively in the area of adolescent and adult counselling, Relationship management (Couples and Family), Depression, Anxiety and Emotional- Psychological distress, in both India and UAE. She has authored the Book- ‘Counseling Interventions for Millennials’, published in 9 languages by Lambert Publications in 2020.
She is currently designated as a Senior Lecturer and Program Coordinator for Psychological Sciences at Curtin University Dubai. She is the Former Associate Registrar and Assistant Professor of Psychology at Amity University, Dubai. She was pioneer in forming the Department of Psychology at Amity University Dubai in 2016. Previously, she has worked as an Assistant Professor of Psychology with the Amity Institute of Psychology & Allied Sciences, Amity University Noida, India for 6 years.
She has a rich Research profile with interdisciplinary Scopus index publications and Research Projects applied at ICSSR & All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), India and Al-Jalila Foundation, UAE. She is a professional member of the American Psychological Association, Indian Association of Clinical Psychologists and Middle East Psychological Association. She has participated in over 100 national and international events, seminars, talk shows, radio shows, conferences, industrial trainings, community engagement initiatives hosted by various schools, hospitals/clinics, government bodies, corporates in India, UK, and UAE.
Humanising learning in the Digital Era
Education has changed, it demands creativity, collaboration, flexibility, problem solving and sufficient challenges to keep the learner engaged. This, along with, the appropriate and humane use of technology. Post Covid, as most educational institutions faced issues with student attention, student retention and student engagement, this research work was developed with an objective to discuss the delivery of human element to the digital instruction process. It was also to explore the dynamics of quality education practices, positive student- instructor relationship and humanising pedagogy.
This study explores strategies for humanising learning such as liquid syllabus, warm, wise feedback method, micro-lectures method and also draws from Project-based learning (PBL) which is actively engaging in real-world situations and meaningful projects that are personalised in nature.
The results exhibited higher student engagement, lesser withdrawal rates, more attendances to online sessions, heightened compassion and learning in students.
This study is well suited to the theme of the conference as it takes into consideration principles of educational psychology, education 4.0 and use of artificial intelligence or digitalisation. The implications of the study ensures that student engagement and student fulfilment with their academic discipline can be retained and maintained.
Sources:-
https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/humanizinglearningframework/chapter/lets-start-with-some-definitions/
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/339365337_Humanizing_Online_Teaching_To_Equitize_Higher_Ed