Sotheara Veng

Sotheara Veng is pursuing a Ph.D. in Learning Sciences at the University of Delaware. He earned his B.Ed. in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) and worked as a lecturer after completing his undergraduate studies and received multiple teaching awards.

Through a Fulbright Scholarship, he completed an M.Ed. in Educational Technology at the University of Delaware. Sotheara believes in the potential of technology to make teaching and learning easier and more engaging. His research examines how digital platforms and software can enable more personalized, student-centered experiences. He also developed a strong belief in the importance of STEM and computer science education.

His academic work and research focus on issues of access and equity in computer science education. He aims to integrate computational thinking meaningfully into the K-12 core curriculum. He believes that starting from an early age, all students should have opportunities to develop vital skills like coding, robotics, and data literacy. Sotheara’s passion is designing inclusive educational experiences where all students can thrive in computer science.

Education

• M.Ed. Educational Technology, University of Delaware, 2023
• B.Ed. Education, Royal University of Phnom Penh, 2017

Professional Experience

• Research Assistant, School of Education, University of Delaware, 2021-2023

• Academic Technology Intern. Academic Technology Services, University of Delaware, March 2022 – August 2022

• Curriculum Advisor. We Educate STEAM (WESTEAM), 2021 – 2022

• University Lecturer & Teacher Trainer. Department of English, Institute of Foreign Languages, Royal University of Phnom Penh, 2017 – 2021

• Manager and Trainer, IFL Debate Club, Institute of Foreign Languages, Royal University of Phnom Penh, 2017 – 2021

Recent Honors and Awards

• Dean Scholar’s Award, University of Delaware, 2023 – present

• Fulbright Foreign Student Scholarship, 2021 – 2023

• Outstanding Teaching Award, Institute of Foreign Languages, Royal University of Phnom Penh, 2019 & 2020

• CamTESOL Regional ELT Research Grant recipient, 2018

Publications

• Lee, H. R., Veng, S., Cao, Y., Baer, J., Rutherford, T., & Bart, A. C. (2023). Work-in-progress: Exploring the computer science curriculum from undergraduate students’ perspectives. In 2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition. Baltimore, MD, United States.

• Veng, S., Mouza, C. & Pollock, L. (2023). Examining the Design and Outcomes of an After-School Physical Computing Program in Middle-School. In E. Langran, P. Christensen & J. Sanson (Eds.), Proceedings of Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference (pp. 2316-2326). New Orleans, LA, United States: Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE).

• Veng, S. (2022). Using an Online Student Response System to Promote Student Engagement in Critical Thinking Classes. International Journal of TESOL Studies, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.58304/ijts.20230106

Presentations

• Veng, S., Cao, Y., Baer, J., Lee, H. R., Bart, A. C., & Rutherford, T. (2023, August 3–5). A student-centered perspective investigation of the computer science pathway [Poster presentation]. APA 2023 Convention, Washington, DC, United States.

• Lee, H. R., Rodrigues, A., Veng, S., & Rutherford, T. (2023, August 3–5). Association between science motivation and STEM careers among a middle and high school sample [Poster presentation]. APA 2023 Convention, Washington, DC, United States.