Last semester, Dr. Ghaffar-Kucher organized a “2nd Years: Ask Me Anything” panel for first year IEDP students. During the panel, I was excited to meet second-year IEDP student, Lushen Zhang, and learn more about her unique experience at GSE. Since then, she has been a wonderful support as a Teaching Assistant for our IEDP Proseminar course this semester. Hearing from Lushen about her experience was so interesting that I wanted to make sure that you all, loyal audience members of the IEDP blog (especially prospective students interested in both International Educational Development, and Learning Sciences and Technology), also have the opportunity to hear directly from her. Welcome, Lushen! 

During your time at Penn GSE, I know you have had the unique opportunity to explore both International Educational Development (IEDP) and Learning Sciences and Technology (LST) courses. Tell me more about how this interest came about!

I first learned about this possibility [of exploring both IEDP and LST courses] during an IEDP ‘2nd-year Ask Me Anything’ panel. After consulting with seniors, I realized that while IEDP provides excellent tools for policy analysis and program implementation, I felt a need for a stronger foundation in the ‘how’ of education. Coming from a non-education background, I wanted to understand how students cognitively engage with content and how learning environments can be optimized for specific outcomes. LST perfectly complements IEDP by focusing on the design and personalization of learning experiences. This combination allows me to bridge the gap between macro-level international development and micro-level learning science. 

How would you describe your journey pursuing both IEDP and LST courses? 

It is certainly a busy and demanding path, but incredibly fulfilling. To fulfill the requirements, early course mapping is essential. Especially, you need to identify which semester your preferred IEDP thematic courses and LST concentration courses (these are often the most uncertain ones) are offered to avoid scheduling conflicts later on. 

What have been some highlights of pursuing both IEDP and LST courses?

• Double the Community: I have the privilege of belonging to two distinct cohorts, which has doubled my network and exposed me to diverse perspectives from both development-focused and more tech-focused peers.
• Enriched Campus Experience: Having two full years on campus allowed me to commit to a one-year Graduate Coordinator role, which wouldn’t have been as feasible in a shorter program.
• Interdisciplinary Synergy: A major highlight was my ‘Design of Learning Environments’ (EDUC 6139, an LST core) course. I applied the technical proposal mindset from IEDP to learning design, ensuring that my solutions weren’t just theoretical, but deeply grounded in the specific needs and contexts of the learners.

Any advice for prospective students also interested in integrating both IEDP and LST courses throughout their experience at Penn GSE? 

First, do your homework: research the LST curriculum thoroughly and talk to current dual-major students to ensure this path aligns with your passions and capacity. Once you are in the program, the amount of information and opportunities can be overwhelming. Learn to filter and prioritize what aligns with your interests and goals. Time flies by, so be intentional with your time and cherish the unique cross-disciplinary community at GSE.