Student Testimonials

Decoders 1.0 (Spring 2018) was one of the first courses that allowed me to deeply consider the connection between relevant groups across the country (and across the world) and truly understand the current state of the field. Having the chance to speak to influential researchers was extremely valuable, both in the context of the course, but also for my academic trajectory as a whole. The structure of our classes and the techniques we used to read and discuss papers has helped me shape my research and questions since then, and I now use a lot of these techniques with my own undergrads. I think we had a unique opportunity to ask questions, build a community, and try out some new perspectives in a way that I have not gotten to do elsewhere. Canan really took the time to get to know us as students, and it made a huge difference.

Bianca Datta
PhD Candidate, Media Lab, Object-Based Media group

The most different (and liberating) aspect of the course was that we did not have any fixed textbook or curriculum. While this may seem overwhelming in the beginning, I thoroughly enjoyed reading research articles and reviews and then clarifying my doubts by interacting with the very researchers who had published those papers! This, I think, is the USP of the course. It was really fun working on this perspective paper with my fellow colleagues from the course. I really enjoyed the brainstorming sessions leading up to the paper and was amazed to see how the diversity among students brought forth different viewpoints on the same concept. It truly gives me a sense of fulfilment to see our semester-long effort culminate into a published paper!

Atharva Sahasrabudhe
PhD Candidate, Materials Science and Engineering

For me, taking the course was like entering a new galaxy. It was not only helpful for me to understand and gain knowledge of materials and mechanics of conformable devices, but it also helped me grow as a researcher having my own perspective with logical thinking. Also, by writing the summary paper every week, I could improve and practice my academic writing skills in English. The grade rule of the course also helped me to fully enjoy the contents of the course, the learning process, and all the discussion, which was so engaging, since I didn’t need to worry about being graded. Without that pressure, I could focus on every moment of the process rather than the final result, which actually worked better for me to produce the best result.

Yun Choi
MSc, Media Lab, Tangible Media group

Decoders 1.0 (Spring 2018) provided an extremely valuable journey for my personal and academic growth. I was already interested in conformable devices, energy harvesting, and personal health monitoring, but this class truly solidified many key trends in these fields. The guest lectures, for example, were very helpful, since we were able to engage in a lecture and one-on-one, question-answer session with the biggest names of the field. As a graduating senior in the MIT undergraduate program, the Foresight paper really helps me establish my footing in the field of conformable devices. With well-researched and well-thought-out perspectives by our group, we can spread to researchers in the field our own predictions for how conformable devices will revolutionize the personal health monitoring industry. At the same time, during the process of writing this paper, I made new friends and established very valuable new connections to peers and researchers in the field.

Farita Tasnim
MIT UROP, Electrical Engineering

Decoders 1.0 (Spring 2018) was a major game-charger for me! Canan not only introduced me to new conformable technologies, but also empowered and enabled me to make those devices. I work in the personalized healthcare space and the course gave me a new perspective on how healthcare devices could be inside and on human bodies. I love Canan's wholehearted and loving approach towards her students, and she's definitely a mentor who I would have hated to miss!

Mina Khan
PhD Candidate, Media Lab, Fluid Interfaces group

Decoders 1.1 (Fall 2018) is indeed one of the rare classes in MIT where one can be highly involved in interesting, hands-on experimental work in the cleanroom. You may be thinking that this experimental work would be very intimidating or time-consuming, but the class is kept at a very comfortable and structured pace, with the class materials being taught in an easily understandable way. Moreover, learning is definitely prioritized over grading, with the tutors and Canan being very patient and helpful whenever one needs help. These factors add up to a stress-free environment where one can fully enjoy learning. One notable fun fact is that the class culminates with each student fabricating their own personal conformal flexible device which you can bend, stretch, test, and play around with. Canan is also a very passionate and knowledgeable teacher, and beyond teaching, she is a down-to-earth mentor who is willing to get to know each student on a personal level. Decoders 1.1 is definitely one of THE class to take!

Gabriel Loke
PhD Candidate, Materials Science and Engineering

My educational philosophy is that courses should not be about lecturing to students, but merely serve as vehicles that create new kinds of opportunities for students to explore their own curiosity and creativity under some constraint, while learning something new in that pursuit. Decoders 1.2 (Spring 2019) was the perfect exemplar of this approach to education! It created an opportunity for me to incorporate micro-fabrication processes into my existing research projects! Moreover, it empowered me to see numerous potential research opportunities, as I found that this particular interdisciplinary intersection still remains largely unexplored! However, structure alone is not sufficient to make a course great. What is also required is an instructor that cares about the students and provides the support, guidance, advice, and understanding they need. Canan was exactly the kind of instructor that excelled at all of those characteristics. Furthermore, she also placed great trust into all of her students, by giving everyone the opportunity (from the very beginning of the course!) to showcase their final project in her first exhibition, "The Bees of Science," in the main lobby of the Media Lab, which is now seen by thousands of visitors every week and will remain on display for many months.

Ali Shtarbanov
PhD Candidate, Media Lab, Object-Based Media group

The Decoders 1.2 (Spring 2019) course allowed students to exercise their creativity by having the freedom to propose what they wanted to research and fabricate. The class had very strong hands on dynamic where students were encouraged to learn by making where trying, experimenting, making mistakes and correcting them accelerated my learning. The unique resource of having world-class clean room available offered students with a unique opportunity to take time to experiment and pace their learning and ultimately having an exhibition at the end of the course give the group a clear objective and deadline requires students to focus which I see as a good thing. Personally I have come to this class with no background in MEMs fabrication and I now feel I have gained enough theoretical knowledge and practical experience to design and fabricate my own devices.

João Wilbert
MSc, Media Lab, Tangible Media group