Dyah Pitaloka
Marketing and Digital Communications
Helping students rethink technology and its impact on society
Dyah teaches students to question, critique, and creatively respond to the ways digital technologies shape communication and everyday life.
What do you teach?
I teach in Communication and Media Studies, focusing on Strategic Communication in a Digital Era.
What qualifications or professional experiences are most central to your work as an academic?
I hold a PhD in Communications from the University of Oklahoma.
What are you doing differently in your field that you believe is driving real change?
I'm developing gamified education tools to help young people understand technology‑facilitated violence, whether it happens online or in virtual environments. By using interactive methods like card games and VR experiences, students can explore these issues in a way that feels engaging, relevant, and grounded in real digital behaviours.
Tell us about a specific moment when you saw a student transform. What happened, and what role did you play?
Teaching and learning are reflective, ongoing processes. Today’s students learn from everywhere - social media, gaming, film - so my classroom becomes a space where we unlearn, question, and rebuild knowledge together. In my unit, students explore how technology changes the way we communicate and interact.
A transformative moment I repeatedly experience is seeing when a student realises they’re not just receiving information - they’re co‑creating it. Through gamified tools, they test ideas, critique technology’s role in society, and offer feedback that shapes the learning experience. Seeing them step into that role as active participants, not just learners, is incredibly rewarding.
A transformative moment is when students realise they’re not just receiving information — they’re co‑creating it. ”
What's something about Monash University, Indonesia that would surprise people in a good way?
The quality of our academic community - both staff and students. People are often surprised by how strong our teaching and research culture is, and how engaged and thoughtful our students are.
What industry partnerships, research collaborations, or real‑world projects are you and your students currently involved in?
I'm currently working with students in the Master of Marketing and Digital Communications program to test the gamified education tools I’m developing to raise awareness about technology‑facilitated violence. Together, we test card games and VR prototypes, ensuring the tools are co‑created with student input. Their perspectives genuinely shape the final outcomes.
What's one thing you're working on right now that doesn't fit the traditional "academic" mould?
I’m creating gamified education tools to help the public understand technology‑facilitated violence. This includes developing a VR experience, a card game, and a desktop game. It’s a creative, hands-on way to spark awareness and encourage people to think critically about how technology shapes safety and harm in digital spaces.
If you had to explain your research’s impact and/or teaching philosophy to a prospective student's parents over coffee, what would you say?
I’d say that at Monash, we encourage students to unlearn old assumptions and actively participate in solving real social issues. Learning here means bringing real‑world problems into the classroom and using our knowledge, creativity, and critical thinking to find meaningful solutions.
What achievement, qualification, or milestone in your academic or professional journey are you most proud of, and why?
Receiving the Research Talent Accelerator (RTA) Grant from Monash University Australia is something I’m very proud of. It recognises my contribution to global conversations on technology‑facilitated violence and efforts to combat sexual violence online.
What advice would you give a student who hopes to build a similar career or level of expertise?
Learn to listen, and keep your mind open. Growth comes from discussion, dialogue, and being willing to engage with perspectives different from your own.