My internship at the Centre for System Design at NITK Surathkal was an eye-opening experience that shaped my understanding of educational technology. As a virtual lab simulation developer, I got the chance to bring theoretical concepts to life through interactive simulations, making learning more engaging and accessible.
From the very first day, I was immersed in an environment of innovation. My main focus was the Virtual Labs initiative, a project designed to provide students with remote access to lab experiments. Working with experienced faculty and fellow interns, I helped develop web-based simulations that allow students to visualize and interact with complex scientific concepts in ways that textbooks simply can’t.
This journey came with its challenges. I had to sharpen my skills in JavaScript and visualization libraries to create accurate and user-friendly simulations. Every experiment required a balance between scientific precision and smooth, intuitive design. I also had to optimize performance for different devices and internet speeds while keeping the learning experience clear and effective.
One of the most rewarding moments was seeing our work being used by students across India.
Getting feedback from learners who found our simulations helpful made all the late nights of debugging and refining worthwhile. Knowing that our virtual labs were making a real difference especially for schools and colleges with limited lab facilities gave me a strong sense of purpose.
Looking back, this internship has been more than just a technical learning experience. It has sparked a passion for building technology that makes education more accessible. It showed me how software and simulations can bridge learning gaps and make complex topics easier to understand. This journey has reinforced my desire to create tools that empower students and educators, and I’m excited to keep exploring this path in the future.
Alan Joseph Monichan