Melissa’s research investigates the kinds of work practices, skills, and values involved in creating and maintaining education technology (EdTech) platforms. The project seeks to understand the culture behind the platform; and what the role of teachers, product designers, and software developers have in assembling the EdTech platforms features and functions.

Melissa’s outlook is shaped by over a decade of work in public sector innovation. This began as a researcher building urban data platforms for The Global Urban Futures Project. She then served as Research Director for Star City Group, an urban planning and technology consultancy in New York City. Most recently, Melissa was responsible for education innovation programs in her hometown of Cebu City, where she made history as the first female Chairperson and Executive Director of the City’s Local School Board.

First digital memory

My cousins and I managing our two-hour playtime limit by ‘rotating’ between Claw on the PC, Super Mario on the SEGA, and Harvest Moon on the Game Boy. Surely attribute this as a foundation of my time management skills but also a testament to the creativity and cunning of 5 yr olds everywhere.