Adaptive learning systems
Adaptive learning systemsOur people
Different disciplines.
A human purpose.
Understanding learning takes more than a single perspective. Our research team and advisory board bring classroom experience into conversation with research, design, engineering, and adolescent development.
The people behind
the questions.
Research roles
An interdisciplinary team taking shape.
Adaptive learning systemsHuman-centered research
Human-centered researchAI systems, evaluation & governance
AI systems, evaluation & governanceEducational leadership, implementation & safeguarding
Educational leadership, implementation & safeguardingAdolescent development
Adolescent developmentMeasurement, analytics & research communication
Measurement, analytics & research communicationLaw, AI governance & institutional policy
Law, AI governance & institutional policyAdvisory board
Experience that informs
our work.
Phil Smy
Phil Smy is a software developer and founder. A professional developer since the early 1990s, he built Zonmaster and runs Code Grey, an investment company supporting experienced founders. He also writes Solo Operator about building software businesses.
As SILT’s technical adviser, he brings practical software-building experience to the team’s exploration of intelligent learning systems.
Bio
Dr. Agatha David
Dr Agatha Nkiru David is a consultant paediatrician and researcher at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), where she serves in a research leadership role in product development. Her published research encompasses adolescent health, psychosocial wellbeing, growth and pubertal development, and clinical research involving young people. She has also contributed to research on depression and suicidality among adolescents living with HIV.
As SILT’s adolescent health and research ethics adviser, she brings clinical research experience and knowledge of adolescent development, participant wellbeing, and ethical research involving young people. Her perspective supports SILT’s development of age-appropriate research protocols, safeguarding practices, and responsible approaches to investigating how adolescents interact with AI-supported learning systems.
Publications
Prof. Olive Stumke
Professor Olive Stumke is an Associate Professor in the Department of Auditing and Taxation at Durban University of Technology. She holds an NRF SARChI Research Chair in Digital Transformation. Her research explores technology integration in higher education, digital competencies, artificial intelligence, and emerging technologies in professional education.
As SILT’s academic research and digital learning adviser, she brings expertise in educational research, curriculum innovation, digital transformation, and the integration of emerging technologies into teaching and learning.
Academic profile
Abayomi Semudara
Abayomi Semudara, also known as Bayomi, is a Nigerian tech content creator, product designer and startup storyteller with a background in marketing, design and product management. He is the creator of IN60, formerly 60 Seconds Startup Pitch, and produces content documenting the people, technologies and startups shaping Africa’s innovation ecosystem.
As SILT’s storytelling and public communication adviser, Abayomi supports the institute’s approach to communicating its research, documenting its progress and sharing the stories behind its work. He brings experience in technology storytelling and product design to help make SILT’s ideas, research findings and learning technologies accessible to wider audiences.
Abayomi’s storiesA shared responsibility
Keep the learner
at the centre.
Each discipline brings a different question: Is the feedback useful? Does it respect the learner? Can a teacher act on it? What should the system remember? How will we know whether learning improves?
Read our principles