PhD in Curriculum & Instruction | Learning Systems & Emerging Technology
Where learning science meets
emerging technology
I design learning systems at the intersection of AI and education — from training 4,000+ learners annually in CS & STEAM, to building interactive courses with Claude Code. PhD researcher, program builder, and bridge between learning science and emerging technology.
Years Experience
Learners Reached
Women Empowered
Publications
Degrees (PhD, MS, BSc)
About Me
I'm a learning designer who can also code — and a technologist who understands how people actually learn. With a PhD in Curriculum & Instruction (May 2026), an MS in Educational Technology, and a BSc Hons in Computing, I bring a rare combination of research depth and technical fluency to everything I build.
Over 10+ years, I've designed and managed learning programs across K–12, higher education, nonprofits, and community organizations — from teaching computer science in Nepal, to building a 3-year literacy program for 150+ women, to now overseeing CS and STEAM curricula reaching ~4,000 learners annually at Code For Fun. I've led 50+ instructor training workshops, delivered 49,000+ student instruction hours per year, and built programs from scratch in fast-growing environments where nothing existed before.
Why AI + Learning
AI is changing what people need to learn — and how they learn it. But most organizations are stuck between two extremes: ignoring AI entirely, or adopting it without any instructional framework. The gap isn't technology. It's learning design.
My work sits at this intersection. With a PhD in Curriculum & Instruction focused on technology integration, a computing degree, and 10+ years building programs from the ground up, I design learning systems that help people develop real fluency with AI — not just awareness, but the ability to collaborate with it effectively.
I've put this into practice: I built Zero to Live, an open-source interactive course that teaches anyone to build professional websites using Claude Code. I designed the curriculum, wrote the content, and built the entire site — all through human-AI collaboration. It's not just a project about AI. It's a project made with AI, proving the methodology it teaches.
I believe the most important skill in the age of AI isn't syntax — it's strategy. The people and organizations that thrive will be the ones who learn how to learn with AI. That's the problem I want to solve.
Featured Projects
Zero to Live: Building with Claude Code
Built an 11-page portfolio using an AI agent, then documented the entire process as a free interactive course for technical and non-technical creators.
Challenge
Building a production-ready portfolio without traditional web development experience, while creating a repeatable framework others could follow.
Approach
- Used Claude Code as an autonomous CLI agent
- Created a CLAUDE.md “syllabus” to scaffold AI behavior
- Applied instructional design principles to human-AI collaboration
- Documented the workflow as an interactive step-by-step course
Impact
- 11 pages built with zero frameworks
- 48 repo clones in the first week
- Course features interactive checklist, progress tracking, and collapsible lessons
Scalable CS & STEAM Curriculum System
Designed and scaled multi-format training programs reaching ~4,000 learners annually, delivering 49,000+ student instruction hours.
Challenge
Rapid program expansion created inconsistencies in training quality, facilitator implementation, and rollout timelines across distributed sites.
Approach
- Built standardized learning program development frameworks
- Implemented structured review cycles and defined success metrics
- Designed facilitator enablement systems supporting 50+ educators per season
- Developed seasonal program roadmaps aligned with learner enrollment and operational priorities
Impact
- Standardized curriculum delivery across 10+ distributed sites
- Reduced program rollout cycles through repeatable development frameworks
- Built facilitator enablement systems supporting 50+ educators per season
- Scaled programs to reach ~4,000 learners and 49,000+ instruction hours annually
3-Year Community Literacy System Design
Designed and implemented a multi-year adult learning and digital skills program serving 150+ women in underserved communities.
Challenge
Limited access to structured learning opportunities required a sustainable, scalable training model with measurable outcomes.
Approach
- Designed a longitudinal learning pathway spanning foundational literacy to digital skills
- Structured assessment frameworks and learner progression milestones
- Built community-based delivery models
- Aligned program with local capacity and sustainability goals
Impact
- 150+ women progressed through a structured literacy-to-digital-skills pathway
- Designed a replicable framework adopted for ongoing community-based delivery
- Created measurable progression milestones tracking learner growth across 3 years
Skills & Expertise
Bridging education research with technology to design scalable learning experiences.
Program Management
End-to-end learning program design and delivery, cross-functional team leadership, stakeholder alignment, and scaling training initiatives across organizations and distributed sites.
AI Literacy & Collaboration
Developing AI literacy training programs, integrating emerging technologies into learning experiences, and collaborating with product teams to shape responsible AI-powered learning tools.
Learning Science & Research
Learning program design grounded in research, published author in education technology, experienced in UDL, backward design, needs assessment, and competency-based frameworks.
Cross-Functional Leadership
I specialize in translating complex stakeholder and educator needs into actionable program requirements for engineering and product teams. By collaborating directly with developers on education-focused tools and AI literacy initiatives, I ensure that scalable technology remains grounded in research-backed instructional design. I thrive in cross-functional environments, aligning operations, marketing, and leadership to deliver learning systems that drive both organizational impact and learner success.
Technical Skills
Professional Experience
A decade of designing learning systems — from community programs in Nepal to training programs across Silicon Valley.
Curriculum Manager
Code For Fun • Sunnyvale, CA
- Oversee all CS and STEAM curricula — including AI literacy — reaching ~4,000 students annually
- Lead curriculum development, review, and continuous improvement
- Collaborate with engineering teams on educational tool development
- Train and mentor instructors on curriculum delivery
Graduate Research & Teaching Assistant
ISU — Dept of Teaching & Learning • Terre Haute, IN
- Designed and delivered graduate-level course content (CIMT 657)
- Created interactive SoftChalk learning modules
- Conducted research on educational technology integration
Graduate Assistant
Office of the President & Provost, ISU • Terre Haute, IN
- Supported university-level administrative initiatives
- Assisted with strategic planning and academic program coordination
Curriculum Developer
Hands In Outreach (HIO) • Sheffield, MA
- Designed literacy curriculum for 150+ adult women in Nepal
- Organized STEM career days for high school girls
- Connected career programming to HIO's 'Reach for the Stars' higher education scholarship program (50+ participants)
- Managed community education programs
Graduate Assistant
Office of Education Abroad, ISU • Terre Haute, IN
- Supported international education programs and student advising
- Coordinated education abroad outreach and communications
Opinion Columnist & Writer
Indiana Statesman (ISU campus newspaper) • Terre Haute, IN
- Published opinion columns on education, culture, and international student experience
Computer Teacher & Education Technologist
Lalitpur Secondary Boarding School (LMV) • Lalitpur, Nepal
- Taught computer science and technology courses
- Integrated educational technology into classroom instruction
Education
PhD in Curriculum & Instruction
Indiana State University
Technology integration in education
MS in Educational Technology
Indiana State University
Instructional technology & online learning
BSc Hons in Computing (IT)
London Metropolitan University
Computing & software development
Publications
Sitaula, A. (2024). The Kaleidoscope of Connections. In Bridging Cultures, Empowering Futures: Global Citizenship and International Education (pp. 15-18). STAR Scholar Press.
View Publication →Sitaula, A., & Sitaula, G. (2021). Lap of Mount Everest Our Lab of Learning: The Education Structure of Nepal. In J. McConnell-Farmer (Ed.), World of Children: Perceptions and Connections in Sustainability with Reflections during the Pandemic (pp. 181-202). Linton Atlantic Books, USA.
Let's Connect
I'm always open to connecting with people who are building learning systems, thinking about how teams develop new skills, or working at the intersection of education and technology. If that sounds like your world, I'd love to hear from you.
Based in Mountain View, CA