Available · August 2026 · Bangkok Science & STEM Educator · Learning Designer

STEM learning,
built to be remembered.

Physics, Science and Design & Technology specialist. I teach through real-world Project-Based Learning — and design the units, tools and assessments that make it work. QTS-qualified; systems thinker; maker with 3D printing & laser cutting; instrumental in the early years of VEX Robotics in Thailand.

QTS + BSc (Hons) 2:113 years · Head of Science"Distinguished" Danielson 24–25ASE presenter
Alan Dexter teaching

About

Educator-designer, student-first.

I build learning rather than just deliver it. Over ~13 years in international schools — Science teacher, Head of Science, and Learning Designer — my specialisms are Physics, Science and Design & Technology. I've also taught Mathematics, Business, Geography, Psychology and Performing Arts, and designed interdisciplinary, project-based units that anchor rigorous content in real problems.

I'm a systems thinker and a maker — comfortable in the workshop with 3D printing, laser cutting, CAD and electronics, and equally at home designing curriculum, tools and assessments. I hold QTS and a BSc (Hons) 2:1 in Environmental Science, am Agile Classrooms–certified, and specialise in STEM, robotics and AI-augmented learning design. I was instrumental in the early years of the VEX Robotics competition circuit in Thailand, and I build science & maths ed-tech — Sparkbench (hundreds of interactive simulations) and JustPrintAndGo (ready-to-use STEM/EAL/SEN teaching resources).

Beyond the classroom — marathon finisher, long-distance cyclist, advanced diver; learning to speak and read Thai. Bangkok-based for 14 years.

Recognition & credentials

Rated "Distinguished"

Top band across the Danielson Framework for Teaching, 2024–25 — "visionary contributor… leadership in data-informed assessment."

QTS · BSc (Hons) 2:1 Environmental Science · A-level Physics · Agile Classrooms (L1) · VEX (Coach/Judge/Head Referee/Event Partner) · Flint AI

Peer recognition
"Unicorn."

— John Miller, Agile Classrooms

Subjects & expertise

Specialist in Physics, Science and Design & Technology — with breadth across the curriculum and a systems-thinking, Learning-Design and PBL practice.

Specialisms

PhysicsScience (Bio/Chem/Env)Design & Technology

Also taught

MathematicsBusinessGeographyPsychologyPerforming Arts

Practice & pedagogy

Systems ThinkingProject-Based LearningSTEM/STEAMRobotics / VEXLearning Experience DesignEdTech & AI (Flint)Data literacy (Excel · Python)

Making & workshop

3D PrintingLaser CuttingCADElectronics & sensorsPrototyping

Featured projects

Project-Based Learning units I designed and led — across STEM, design and the humanities.

Health & Data Science
Data Science · ★★★★★

Health & Data Science Exploration

"How might we analyse and adapt our processes to exceed our previous limitations?"

Personal-health experiments with wearables; analysis in Excel/Python; TED-style talks. (Top-rated by students.)

View showcase →

Water rockets
Physics & Engineering

Physics of Water Rockets / Extreme Environments

"How can humanity innovate to thrive in extreme environments?"

Water-rocket prototypes, life-support design, design-thinking workshops — physics in action.

▶ Watch launch video →

Balloon cars
Physics

Newton's Laws with Balloon Cars

"How do forces and motion explain what we build?"

Hands-on investigation of Newton's laws through balloon-car design, measurement and graphing.

View showcase →

Permaculture / sensors
STEM · Sustainability

Smart Permaculture & Moisture-Sensor Tech

"How can technology support a sustainable permaculture area at school?"

CAD, sensors/robotics for soil & moisture, iterative prototyping, research journals.

VEX robotics
STEM · Robotics

VEX Robotics & Engineering Workshop

"How do we design, build and iterate a competition robot?"

Engineering design cycle, programming and teamwork — feeding the national VEX circuit.

View student X-Prize win →

Social enterprise
Social Enterprise

Flood-Resilience Social Enterprise

"How can a social enterprise help Thai communities adapt to flooding?"

GIS data, business plan & budget, investor-style pitch — Maths, Science & financial literacy.

Performing arts
Humanities · Arts

Thai Culture & History Through Performing Arts

"How can performing arts help us understand how eras change?"

Research-driven performance pieces and a final showcase; identity and culture through the arts.

View showcase →

Neuropsychology
Psychology

Neuropsychology & Growth Mindset

"How can understanding the brain help us cultivate a growth mindset?"

Brain science, research ethics, science-fair exhibits and reflective writing.

View showcase →

New planet
Science

Designing for New Planet Environments

"How might colonising a new planet shape human evolution?"

Theoretical habitats and life-support systems; human adaptability and ecological impact.

View showcase →

Business simulation
Business

Financial Literacy & Business Simulation

"How do real businesses make decisions under constraint?"

Business-model design, budgeting and pitching — entrepreneurship in practice.

Design & engineering work
Design & Engineering

Mobility Innovation Project

"How might we redesign personal transport for the city we want to live in?"

Students prototyped human-centred mobility concepts — sketching, CAD, materials and a public-pitch demo day. ▶ Watch the project film in the Media section below.

Engineering with students
STEM · Primary & Middle

Junior Engineer's Journey

"What does it mean to think like an engineer at age 11?"

A scaffolded curriculum strand that takes younger students through the full engineering design cycle — observe → define → build → test → iterate. ▶ Watch the project film in the Media section below.

Community partnership
Community Partnership

TCDF — Thai Child Development Foundation

"How can school learning serve communities beyond the gates?"

A multi-year partnership with TCDF connecting student STEM & literacy projects to children outside mainstream education. Watch the documentary in the Media section below.

Student work
Humanities · Media

Student Podcast — Voices of Change

"Whose voices matter, and who gets to tell the story?"

Students researched, scripted, recorded and edited their own podcast on issues that mattered to them — media literacy through doing. Listen in the Media section.

VEX Robotics — Thailand

Early-years builder · Coach · Judge · Head Referee · Event Partner · 2018–present

I was instrumental in the early years of building the VEX Robotics competition circuit in Thailand — helping establish judge/referee training, scoring systems and event infrastructure, and contributing to VEX Nationals 2021/22. I've coached teams to regional finals and XPRIZE-winning outcomes, and serve as a certified Coach, Judge, Head Referee and Event Partner.

20+
schools
100+
students mentored
6+ yrs
circuit involvement
VEX robotics

Media & talks

Documentary, podcast and project films from the classroom.

TCDF Partnership — Thai Child Development Foundation documentary.

Student Podcast: Voices of Change — students researched, scripted, recorded and edited their own podcast.

Project films

Short films from inside the projects — design days, builds and student demos.

Mobility Innovation Project
Junior Engineer's Journey
Junior Engineer — race day
Designing a Social Enterprise for Flood-Resilience
Water Rocket Engineering Challenge

More media

Selected student work & mentoring

EdTech I've built

Sparkbench — 100s of maths & science simulations LockGo — hotel smart-lock software JustPrintAndGo — STEM / EAL / SEN teaching resources (Teachers Pay Teachers)

Experience

Teaching & learning design.

Learning Designer — VERSO International School

Samut Prakan · Aug 2021 – Jul 2026
  • Rated Distinguished (4) across observed Danielson domains (2024–25).
  • Led school-wide Illustrative Mathematics & Building Thinking Classrooms; Eduscrum in G7–8.
  • Designed interdisciplinary PBL "Learning Labs"; built assessment-transparency platform (Headrush, IXL); Flint AI.

Physics, KS3 Science & D&T Teacher — St Andrews International School, Bangkok

Aug 2018 – Jul 2021
  • IB & IGCSE Physics, KS3 Science and Design & Technology; CAD (Autodesk), Arduino; ran VEX tournaments & F1 in Schools; EdTech "go-to" (incl. lockdown training).

Head of Science & Science Teacher — Bilingual School, Bangkok

Nov 2012 – Mar 2018
  • Led the department; STEM/inquiry/gamified curriculum; twice won "Outstanding Contribution to Student Achievement" (2014, 2017).

VEX Robotics Thailand — early-years builder & certified official

2018 – present
  • Instrumental in the early years of running tournaments; helped build infrastructure (judging, refereeing, scoring); 20+ schools, 100+ students, VEX Nationals 2021/22. Certified Coach, Judge, Head Referee & Event Partner.

Marine Eco-Toxicology Research Assistant — University of Cádiz (ERASMUS)

Spain · 2008 – 2009
  • Hands-on research on marine pollutants — calibrating instruments, maintaining experimental conditions, collecting and organising data. Conversational Spanish. A scientist's apprenticeship before the classroom.

Qualifications

 

Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) — Two Mile Ash (2019)

BSc (Hons) 2:1 Environmental Science — Kingston University

AS Physics · Agile Classrooms (L1) · VEX Robotics (certified official) · Workshop H&S certified (tools / machinery for D&T) · TEFL (150 hrs) · Flint AI

ASE workshop presenter — "Robotics & AI to teach science" (Association for Science Education)

Student voice

Notes from students — kept here as a reminder of why the work matters.

"Thank you Mr Dex for making physics one of my favorite subjects now. I used to struggle in other sciences but I've started to gain confidence from the dedication in physics. This lesson is one of the main reasons why my IGCSE course was so enjoyable." — J., IGCSE Physics student
"Thank you for teaching me that if I don't understand anything I should ask. I feel like I made the right decision listening to you and using that advice because it helped me improve a lot. Your 'why' questions are one of the things that have helped me solve hard problems." — I., Middle School student
"You are a very kind teacher — you care and understand all of us. Big thanks." — I-r., student
"You have expressed yourself in different ways… you always shoot us for success! Keep being you." — VERSO student card
"I was motivated to learn the subject matter."— anonymous Learning Lab survey
"I looked forward to attending class daily."— anonymous Learning Lab survey
"I enjoyed participating in class discussions."— anonymous Learning Lab survey
"Thank you for giving me this opportunity to do this learning lab."— anonymous Learning Lab survey

Get in touch

Open to Science / STEM teaching, Head of Science, and Learning Designer roles — Bangkok & Thailand, August 2026.