Nachamma Sockalingam

Singapore University of Technology and Design

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Nachamma Sockalingam is a forward-thinking educational researcher whose work sits at the intersection of technology-enhanced learning, engineering education, and human-computer interaction. Her primary research areas include the pedagogical effectiveness of physical and virtual robots in programming education, the design of cyber-physical learning environments, and the role of augmented reality in motivating novice learners. Sockalingam’s most cited study (24 citations) provides a rigorous comparison of physical robots versus robot simulators in introductory programming courses, revealing critical insights into how tangible tools impact students’ conceptual understanding and hands-on learning experiences. Her recent work on “cyber-physical learning” (2025) outlines an ambitious institutional vision for the future of education at Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), where she is helping to pioneer new educational models and technology tools under the SUTD campusX initiative. Additionally, her investigation into augmented reality robots (2021) demonstrates that AR-based tools can match physical robots in fostering student confidence and intrinsic motivation—a finding with significant implications for scalable, cost-effective STEM education. Sockalingam’s research is distinguished by its practical, evidence-based approach to integrating emerging technologies into authentic learning contexts, making her a key voice in the ongoing transformation of engineering pedagogy.