Welcome to Learning to Grow Lab
Learning to Grow Lab is led by educators, researchers, and professionals committed to fostering meaningful learning experiences.
“Together, we’re strong!” — Yaronn James Arciaga (2022)
Together, our team, mentors, and advisors bring expertise in mathematics education and related fields to advance our mission of connecting research and practice by translating research into educational practice and using insights from practice to inform future research.
Think Globally, Act Locally
The phrase “Think globally, act locally,” from the 2015 Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Campus Asia Program, inspired our Founder and CEO, Dr. Nitchada Kamlue, to become a global citizen. Since then, she has been committed to creating communities where people feel safe to learn, grow, and embrace productive struggle.
As shown in the video below, Nitchada once struggled to communicate in English. Together with her friends from Chulalongkorn University, she connected with students from Hokkaido University, Korea University, Seoul National University, and Beijing Normal University by sharing Thai food and culture. These experiences inspired her never to give up on learning English and ultimately helped her achieve her dream of studying abroad.
Nitchada encourages everyone to start learning English, even when it feels challenging. By communicating across languages and cultures, we can better understand one another, exchange the knowledge and wisdom passed down through generations, advance education, foster greater appreciation of diverse perspectives, and support lifelong growth.
Today, through Learning to Grow Lab, Nitchada hopes to create equitable opportunities for others to embrace productive struggle, deepen their understanding, and make a positive impact in their communities.
Upcoming Events & Presentations
August 2026
MOST Reading Group
Date: Friday, August 14, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM–11:00 AM (EST)
Facilitators: Dr. Zeynep Arslan & Dr. Nitchada Kamlue
You are invited to join our discussion of the research article:
“A Conceptualization of the Teaching Practice of Building” (Stockero et al., 2026)
Thai Teacher Noticing Club
Date: Friday, August 28, 2026
Time: 7:00 PM–8:00 PM (Thailand Time Zone)
Facilitator: Dr. Mai Bui
You are invited to join our discussion of the practitioner article:
“Measurement: Big Ideas and Little Noticings”
(Bui & Bishop, 2025)
Productive Struggle Working Group
At our next meeting (August 2026), we plan to continue our discussion on productive ambiguity (e.g., Xenofontos & Appelbaum, 2026) and productive uncertainty (e.g., Jairam, 2020; Manz, 2025). For more information, please contact Nitchada at nitchada.kamlue@wmich.edu.
Become a new member today to receive updates related to productive struggle in research, teaching, and learning!
October 2026
Dr. Nitchada Kamlue and Dr. Mai Bui received a 2026 MI-AMTE Mini Grant to host the Collaborative Workshop on Fostering Responsive Teaching Through Noticing and Productive Struggle on October 3, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (EST) at Grand Valley State University in downtown Grand Rapids.
Stay tuned for more information about registration and workshop details.
Learning to Grow Networking Dinner at the PME-NA Conference
Date: October 11-14, 2026 (TBA)
Time: Dinner (TBA)
Restaurant: TBA
Points of Contact: Dr. Nitchada Kamlue & Dr. Beth MacDonald
Join us for the Learning to Grow Networking Dinner, where Dr. Nitchada Kamlue will share updates on the planning and development of upcoming academic events in Thailand in June 2027.
June 2027
Dr. Nitchada Kamlue and her colleagues in Thailand are developing an itinerary for educators and researchers interested in learning more about the Thai education system and exchanging ideas about teaching, learning, and mathematics education research with Thai scholars.
If you are interested in hosting a visit to your school or university as part of this initiative, we would be delighted to connect with you. Please contact Nitchada at nitchada.kamlue@wmich.edu to explore opportunities for networking, knowledge exchange, and future collaboration.
Nan EdExpo: ร่วมเฮ็ดการศึกษาบ้านเฮา
Date: Sunday, June 20, 2027
Time: 9:00 AM–5:00 PM (Thailand Time Zone)
Venue: Nantrungjai Boutique Hotel
Organizing Committee Chair: Dr. Nitchada Kamlue (Researcher) & Thanawat Tenghyong (Practitioner)
Join us for the first Education Expo in Nan Province! This event brings together educators, researchers, community members, and experts from diverse cultural backgrounds to listen to the needs of local communities while sharing insights, experiences, and research-based practices that support educational growth.
Together, we will collaborate to strengthen education in our community through meaningful conversations, knowledge exchange, and shared learning.
Donate today to support this initiative and help us create meaningful educational opportunities for the Nan community.
Nan Math Carnival
Date: Sunday, June 20, 2027
Time: 3:00 PM–5:00 PM (Thailand Time Zone)
Nan Math Carnival Co-Chairs: Dr. Mariana Levin & Dr. Aaron Levin
This event is part of Nan EdExpo. Bring your children to experience hands-on mathematical activities with us at Nantrungjai Boutique Hotel. Stay tuned for more information on how to participate as a facilitator or learner in this event.
Let’s grow together!
Previous Events & Presentations
Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.
Nelson Mandela
Dr. Nitchada Kamlue, Founder and CEO of the Learning to Grow Lab, and her family hosted the Thankful Dinner during The 2026 Annual Conference of the Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators (AMTE) to express their gratitude to her advisors as well as to the colleagues who supported her throughout her journey of pursuing higher degrees in the United States.
These three advisors have graciously committed to serving as U.S. mentors for the Learning to Grow Lab, supporting the organization’s mission to bridge educational research and practice.
First Row:
• Dr. Jane-Jane Lo, Western Michigan University, Advisor since 2020
• Dr. Ruthmae Sears, University of South Florida, Advisor since 2018
• Dr. Laura Van Zoest, Western Michigan University, Advisor since 2020
Second Row:
• Edward Asoo, Western Michigan University
• Dr. Ok-Kyeong Kim, Western Michigan University
• Dr. Nitchada Kamlue, Learning to Grow Lab
• Jason Brown, Rocket Close
• Nicole Garcia, University of Michigan
• Hilda Asuo Baffour, Western Michigan University
Think globally, act locally