Riya Su

Education

Harvard Graduate School of Education                                                                                        Cambridge, MA

•      Master of Education, Education Policy and Analysis, GPA:3.94/4.0                                      June. 2023-May 2024

•      Instructional Design Related Coursework: Teaching and Learning Lab Practicum(A); Designing Intercultural Learning Experiences; Transforming Education Through Emerging Technologies(A);

•      Education Policy Analysis Related Coursework: Intermediate and Advanced Statistical Methods for Applied Education Research(A); Establishing Loving Spaces for Learning(A); Education Policy Analysis(Satisfied)

Tsinghua University                                                                                                                         Beijing, China

•      Bachelor of Economics in Economics and Finance, GPA: 3.7/4.0                                           Aug. 2012-July 2016

•      Advanced Coursework: Introductory Psychology (92), Health Psychology (90), Calculus (90), Principles of Economics (87), Econometrics (88), Introductory Probability and Mathematical Statistics (89), The Basics of Volunteer Management (Distinction), Academic Training for Enterprise Practice (Distinction)

Work Experience

Massachusetts Department of Transportation                                                                                 Boston, MA

Instructional Designer(Co-op)                                                                                 January 2025-December 2025

·       Learning Design & Delivery: Designed compliance and leadership learning solutions for state employees (e.g., Form 30, Management Questions, Delegation Skills) across self-paced eLearning, VILT, ILT, and blended environments, incorporating interactive, scenario-based learning to support performance-driven outcomes.

·       Learning Product Development: Developed eLearning modules, training and illustration videos, and instructional products (e.g., facilitator guides, participant handouts, job aids, posters, and presentation decks) using Articulate Storyline 360, Camtasia, PowerPoint, Canva, and AI-supported illustration tools, ensuring instructional consistency and visual clarity.

·       Instructional Design Process: Applied ADDIE and agile / iterative design approaches to conduct needs and learner analysis, support content development and storyboarding, and collaborate with 20+ SMEs, managers, trainers, and HR partners to gather feedback, define measurable learning objectives, and design formative and summative assessments, enabling continuous review, evaluation, and refinement of learning solutions.

·       Accessibility & Inclusive Design: Embedded WCAG 2.1 and Section 508 standards throughout development, implementing alt text, color contrast, captions, and keyboard navigation, and maintaining Excel-based systems to track accessibility compliance.

BrainCo Tech                                                                                                                                  Boston, MA

Curriculum Development Specialist                                                                              May 2024-December 2025

·       Learning Experience  Design(STEM + PBL): Designed and prototyped 10+ student-centered STEM learning experiences integrating Neuromaker Hand 2.0 and BCI brainband with Micro:bit, Arduino, and sensor systems, emphasizing brain-controlled robotics, block-based programming, and real-world applications grounded in project-based learning (PBL), delivered through Articulate Rise with visual learning assets including illustrations, videos, GIFs, and embedded knowledge checks to support critical thinking, creativity, and technical skill development.

·       Curriculum Improvement: Led the second-edition redesign of Neuromaker Hand 2.0 and BCI brainband curriculum, aligning 30+ lessons across 6 modules with measurable learning objectives, academic standards, and performance-based outcomes; delivered multi-format instructional materials for classroom and after-school settings, including slides, teacher lesson plans, background guides, and assessment menus, with interactive elements to support flexible implementation.

·       Cross-Functional Collaboration: Owned an end-to-end instructional design process from analysis through iteration, refining learning sequences through internal review; collaborated with engineers, product managers, and educators to translate complex hardware and software constraints into teachable, scalable learning experiences, with curriculum informed by CTE-aligned competencies.

Yuanfudao Online Education                                                                                                       Beijing, China

Instructional Designer & Chinese Literature Teacher                                             February 2020- February 2022

·       Learning Design: Designed and delivered 300+ interactive eLearning modules in Chinese literature for 100,000+ Grade 3–6 students, leveraging multimedia content, adaptive learning paths, and formative assessments to support diverse learner needs; achieved a 99% learner approval rating, reflecting strong instructional effectiveness and learner engagement at scale.

·       Teacher Training: Designed instructor professional development programs and 10+ targeted training workshops, integrating multi-modal learning interventions such as one-on-one instructional coaching with structured formative feedback, practice teaching evaluations, and facilitated group lesson reviews; assessed and supported the instructional performance of 50+ novice instructors to improve instructional effectiveness, quality, and consistency.

·       Social Responsibility: Contributed to the Social Support Public Welfare Plan by designing training for 1,500+ rural young teachers, focusing on layered instruction, gamilication in teaching, learner engagement strategies, and the use of low-tech h instructional resources to overcome barriers in under-resourced educational settings.

Xue’ersi Online School, TAL Education Group                                                                       Beijing, China

Instructional Designer & Chinese Literature Teacher                                                     July 2018- February 2020

·       Learning  Experience Design: Designed and delivered scalable Chinese literature learning experiences for 20,000+ elementary students (Grades 3–6) in an online education environment, sustaining learner engagement across large cohorts; led end-to-end curriculum development for a comprehensive Chinese literature program across 6 semesters, managing a team of 5 designers to produce 70+ instructional assets, including textbooks, lesson slides, interactive web-based modules, animations, and an innovative poetry manual integrating literary analysis with visual storytelling.

·       Educational Technology Application: Applied instructional theories and learning science principles by integrating gamification strategies, learner incentives, and interactive elements to increase motivation and participation, while embedding social-emotional learning (SEL) principles to support student confidence, expression, and sustained engagement; led the AI Scoring for Chinese Essays initiative, designing performance-based scoring rubrics aligned with curriculum goals and collaborating with technology specialists to refine AI models, enabling timely formative feedback and more efficient, consistent assessment at scale.

Teach For China                                                                                                                                 Guangxi, China

Chinese Teacher & ESOL Teacher                                                                                         July 2016-July 2018

·       Teaching Outcomes:Implemented Chinese curriculum (Grades 1–2) and bilingual English curriculum (Grades 5–6) in a low-resource rural school, applying layered instructional design and scaffolding strategies to address varied learner readiness; improved student performance by an average of 20 points, with cohorts ranking first countywide for two consecutive semesters.

·       Educational Technology Integration:Integrated appropriate, low-cost educational technologies to enhance learning efficiency in under-resourced settings, including establishing a basic library management system, curating 1,000+ books, and supporting online intercultural English learning with external educators to expand students’ global exposure; designed and led extended learning and social-emotional learning (SEL) initiatives, including Dream Mentor and Pen Friend programs with 30+ university volunteers, as well as a bedtime storytelling project using donated loudspeakers in student dormitories to support the emotional well-being of left-behind children.

·       External Collaboration: Collaborated with non-profit organizations, volunteer networks, and partner institutions to deliver education equity initiatives across rural schools; shared teaching practices through cross-school exchanges and model lessons.

Research Experience

Teaching and Learning Lab, Harvard Graduate School of Education                                       Cambridge, MA

Researcher                                                                                                                      January 2024-May 2024

·       AI-Supported Learning Design: Contributed to the design, development, and course integration of an AI chatbot for the How People Learn course, applying learning science principles to support personalized learning, conceptual understanding, and student engagement in a higher education context; conducted LLM testing and evaluation by comparing model outputs for accuracy, relevance, efficiency (e.g., token usage), and instructional alignment, and led learner experience and usability research by analyzing student interactions and feedback to improve clarity, usability, and instructional value; collaborated with faculty and researchers to align AI functionality with course goals, LMS workflows, and instructional design requirements.

Honors & Awards

M1 Level Trainer, Teacher Training Institute, Yuanfudao Online Education (2021)

Top 8 Teachers (Top 15%) in Teaching Competition, Yuanfudao Online Education (2020)

Excellence Award in Guyu Training Project (Top 20%), Teacher Training Institute, Yuanfudao Online Education (2020)

Winner in Teaching Skills Competition (Top 10%), TAL Education Group (2019)

Excellence Award in Lesson Preparation, TAL Education Group (2019)

National Teacher Certificate Examination (High School Chinese) (2019)

Third Prize in Tsinghua Students’ Extracurricular Academic and Scientific Works Competition(2014)

Second Class Scholarship for Freshmen(2012)