Hi, I’m Ben Sainsbury—a researcher, educator, and filmmaker working at the intersection of computer science, simulation, creative media, and learning.
I hold a PhD in Computer Science from Ontario Tech University, where my research focused on simulation, human–computer interaction, and practice-based applications of advanced technology. My academic path was nontraditional—I was once a high school dropout—and that experience continues to shape how I teach, emphasizing clarity, experimentation, and deep understanding over technical gatekeeping.
My professional work spans more than a decade designing and studying interactive training systems, including immersive simulators used in high-stakes domains such as medicine. In clinical and surgical training contexts, my role focuses on simulation design, human–computer interaction, workflow modeling, and learning frameworks that support skill acquisition alongside clinician-led instruction. I work collaboratively with domain experts rather than teaching clinical technique.
More recently, my research and teaching have expanded into AI-assisted creative workflows, examining how people direct, learn, and maintain authorship when working with generative systems that are probabilistic or opaque. Across both medical simulation and creative media, my core interest is the same: how people learn complex systems through practice, iteration, and reflection.
Alongside my research, I teach and develop curriculum across secondary, postsecondary-adjacent, and adult learning environments. My courses emphasize process over polish, helping learners build skills and mental models that remain useful as specific tools and platforms evolve.
In these courses, you won’t just learn what buttons to press—you’ll learn how to think critically about systems, design intentional workflows, and develop confidence working with emerging technologies.
