Koutayba Yamak
Graduate Assistant
University of Maryland at College Park

Biography

My name is Koutayba Yamak. I am the new graduate assistant working with Dr. McAlpin. I was born in Kuwait City, Kuwait. I completed my undergraduate studies in the Lebanese American University, in Lebanon. Currently I am in my first year pursuing a MBA degree from the Robert H. Smith School of Business.

During my undergraduate studies I received two degrees, the first in Business Marketing, and the second in Banking and Finance. While completing my undergraduate studies I received several awards such as the distinguished student award for 4 semesters in a row. After my undergraduate education I worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers in the Assurance and Business Advisory Services division. My responsibilities were to analyze and recommend improvements on the financial conditions, IT systems and business processes of several companies. Additionally, I was responsible for training staff on new software applications. Upon graduation my goal is to become a business consultant for non-profit organizations, since this would allow me to apply my various skills for the benefit of society as a whole.

The Advanced Internet Satellite Extension Project will allow me to combine my business skills with my interest in technology and my passion for education. I have always attempted, on an individual basis, to provide the less privileged with the necessary education required to succeed. The most exciting aspect for me is that the Advanced Internet Satellite Extension Project gives me the opportunity to merge my efforts with a larger group serving a larger audience. An audience I would not have dreamt of serving single handedly.

Project Description

Our project studies the educational effectiveness of satellite based Internet 2 technology. The study will involve a children's activity using the International Children's Digital Library (ICDL) http://www.icdlbooks.org/. We are particularly interested in the differences between structured and unstructured learning and the differences in learning between high bandwidth users and low bandwidth users when the children are performing this activity.