natalie

Born 1977, I am based in Melbourne right now - although I travel quite a bit.I'm doing my PhD in Monash University, under the Faculty of Information Technology. Did my first degree in Melbourne University, in Commerce specialising in Information Systems, and then went back to Singapore to work for a number of years.During this time, I've worked as a consultant in an IT company, followed by leading a team in content management in a telecommunications company, and did my Masters of Science (Information Studies) in Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.I then took up a contract job in a school in pursuit of my desire to teach. I then realised this: when formal education structures fail, peer learning can succeed. The 'naughtier' classes that most teachers dread to step into had the most potential to thrive with peer learning networks. Therein began my experiment with MUD, and classes where students teach one another.This inspired me to go into research and academia. I am wildly passionate about collaborative design (as I term the main concept in my PhD) and commons-type of working models (p2p is one of them).Meeting my fiance brought me to Malaysia next, where I began work as a Graduate Research Assistant in Monash University. Towards the end of my contract, I met Don (one of my current supervisors) who then encouraged me to pursue scholarships at Monash to do my PhD.That's how I ended up here. In a gist anyway.