Speakers

Speakers will provide a variety of perspectives from different academic and professional backgrounds. This page provides information about presenters. For details of presentations and other programming, please visit the Programme page.


  • Peter Leong
    Peter Leong
  • Ariana Eichelberger
    Ariana Eichelberger
  • Chih-Pu Dai
    Chih-Pu Dai
  • Michael Menchaca
    Michael Menchaca

Become a Speaker

Excellent plenary speakers are central to our conferences, ensuring that timely, innovative and engaging content is presented to our audiences around the world. If you would like to be considered for a speaking slot at one of our conferences, please apply below.


Previous Speakers

View details of speakers at past SEACE conferences via the links below.

Peter Leong

Biography

Dr Peter Leong is a Professor with the Department of Learning Design & Technology at University of Hawaiʻi-Mānoa. He is currently serving as the Interim Director for the Technology & Distance Program at the College of Education. Dr Leong has extensive experience in the development and delivery of online courses and distance education. He was honoured as one of Hawaiʻi’s 2007 top high-technology leaders and was recognised with the University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents’ Medal for Teaching Excellence award in 2012. He was the President of the Pan-Pacific Distance Learning Association and the President of the International Division of the Association for Educational Communications and Technology, as well as an executive board member of the International Council on Educational Media. Dr Leong was previously a co-principal investigator on the RadGrad National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to evaluate new approaches to improving engagement, diversity, and retention in undergraduate computer science. He is currently a co-principal investigator on the Advancing Culturally-Relevant Computing NSF grant.

Featured Panel Presentation (2024) | Change for Resiliency: One Department’s Strategies for Implementing Culturally Relevant Education with a Focus on Asia and the Pacific
Ariana Eichelberger

Biography

Ariana Eichelberger is a Specialist and Instructional Designer in the College of Education at University of Hawai'i at Mānoa. Ari manages the Instructional Support Group of the College and coordinates the College’s faculty professional development program. As a faculty member of the Department of Learning Design and Technology, Ari teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in instructional design and technology integration. She is also an instructional designer with the College’s Technology and Distance Programs.

Featured Panel Presentation (2024) | Change for Resiliency: One Department’s Strategies for Implementing Culturally Relevant Education with a Focus on Asia and the Pacific
Chih-Pu Dai

Biography

Dr Chih-Pu Dai is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Learning Design and Technology at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. His research interests include Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Education, Extended Reality, Game-Based Learning and Simulation-Based Learning.

Specifically, he designs and studies immersive and experience-oriented advanced learning technologies to enhance teaching and learning in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields for diverse K-12 and adult learners. He aims to support and enhance learning with design features and solutions, as well as with the applications of AI and machine learning techniques in advanced learning technologies. As such, in a research project, he examines the effects of learning support for preservice teachers when they practise teaching in virtual reality with AI-powered virtual student agents.

Dr Dai uses quantitative, qualitative, mixed-methods, and AI and machine learning approaches to address research questions. His work has been published in academic journals such as Computers & Education, Educational Technology Research & Development, British Journal of Educational Technology, Computers & Education: Artificial Intelligence, and International Journal of Artificial Intelligence in Education. In addition, he speaks at conferences of International Society of the Learning Sciences, American Educational Research Associations, and Association for Educational Communications and Technology.

Featured Panel Presentation (2024) | Change for Resiliency: One Department’s Strategies for Implementing Culturally Relevant Education with a Focus on Asia and the Pacific
Michael Menchaca

Biography

Michael Menchaca is Chair of the Department of Learning Design and Technology at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa. He specialises in distance education, and has designed, implemented, and coordinated online and hybrid programs for over 20 years. He served as editor for the IAFOR Journal of Education: Technologies and Education Special Edition. He was an IT specialist for many years in the public and private sector. He currently teaches and conducts research in the areas of online learning, technology integration, and social justice with technology.

Featured Panel Presentation (2024) | Change for Resiliency: One Department’s Strategies for Implementing Culturally Relevant Education with a Focus on Asia and the Pacific