College of Education and Human Development

Department of Curriculum and Instruction

People

Angelica Pazurek

  • Pronouns: she, her, hers

  • Teaching Associate Professor of Learning Technologies

My scholarship bridges practice and research in learning technologies, and it largely focuses on critical digital pedagogy, learning science, and learning design in higher education.

    PhD, University of Minnesota, Learning Technologies

    MEd, University of Missouri - St. Louis, Adult and Higher Education

    BS, University of Missouri - Kansas City, Dental Hygiene with a specialization in Dental Education

      Online teaching and learning; open and distance education; critical digital pedagogy; learning design in higher education, learning science; higher education; interpretive educational research; phenomenology

        I have enjoyed 25 years of practical experience as an educator in traditional and online settings in higher education, post-graduate education, and other adult learning contexts. For the last 15 of those years, I have also been conducting interpretive educational research into teaching practices and learning processes. In my current role as a Teaching Associate Professor in Learning Technologies at the Department of C&I and the CEHD, my work is focused on advancing teaching and learning through practically-oriented scholarship. Teaching is the heart of my professional identity, and I use critical digital pedagogy to prioritize equity, inclusion, and learner agency.

         

        I teach a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate level courses that explore sociocultural and sociotechnical dimensions of living and learning with technology. This includes courses on digital literacy, digital culture and learning, technology ethics, learning with social media, introduction to learning technologies (an interdisciplinary blend of learning sciences and learning experience design), distance education theory, online learning design and development, and research methodologies to investigate learning with tech.

         

        I am deeply curious about the human-centered nature of learning with technology and the use of interpretive phenomenological research designs to better understand the learner experience and learning ecosystems. My current research projects are exploring emerging developments in educational uses of generative artificial intelligence, co-construction in higher education, and international initiatives in open and distance learning.

         

        What can students expect of me?

        My role allows me to prioritize teaching and direct work with students, like advising and mentorship. I believe that teaching should be centered on building relationships with students, among students, and even (ideally) helping students build a new relationship with learning through the connections made possible by technology. In striving to build trusted relationships with students, I position myself as a facilitator, co-learner, and supportive guide. In general, I see my biggest priorities as: 1) helping students navigate institutional opportunities and barriers as they pursue and achieve their educational goals, and 2) helping students gain self-efficacy and confidence in their ability to learn and to succeed. 

         

        In today's digital age, we have abundant opportunities to leverage digital ecosystems (tools, processes, spaces, and networks) to connect with resources, people, and ideas. And so more specifically, I am very passionate about helping others learn how we all can use technology to explore our curiosities, pursue our passions, and learn more about anything, at any time, anywhere-- independently and (even more dynamically) with others. This requires that we all keep learning to advance our digital literacy, and it requires knowledgeable educators that are able to support students in learning how to learn (most effectively) with technology. This is my mission.

         

        I welcome current and prospective students to contact me by email for more information about our academic programs in Learning Technologies and the courses I teach. And I am also eager to hear from students from across the University who may be interested in adding me as a faculty advisor or as a member of their master’s or doctoral committee.

         

        Associations and Memberships
        • American Educational Research Association (AERA)
        • Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT)
        • International Higher Education Teaching and Learning Association (HETL)
        • International Society of the Learning Sciences (ISLS)
        Selected Awards
        • 2023-2024 CEHD nominee for the Horace T. Morse – University of Minnesota Alumni Association Award for Outstanding Contributions to Undergraduate Education
        • 2022 – 2023 Editor’s Best Reviewer Award recipient in recognition of exemplary scholarly service to the Asian Journal of Distance Education
        • 2022 Outstanding Contribution Award recipient from the Learner Engagement Division of the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT) for exceptional leadership and service
        • 2020 CEHD Outstanding Achievement Award recipient for development of a new undergraduate minor program in Learning Technologies
        • 2020 Outstanding Contribution Award recipient from the Learner Engagement Division of the Association for Educational Communications and Technology for leadership in establishing this new Division in the AECT organization
        • 2020 GOGN Fred Mulder Awards – Joint Runner Up for Best Open Education Paper: "A global outlook to the interruption of education due to COVID-19 pandemic: Navigating in a time of uncertainty and crisis” (Bozkurt et al., 2020)
        • 2020 “Top 10 Covid-19 ‘Good Reads’: Lessons for the Future” by the National Institute for Digital Learning (NIDL) – No 2: A global outlook to the interruption of education due to COVID-19 pandemic: Navigating in a time of uncertainty and crisis
        • 2016, 2014, 2013, and 2012 Department of Curriculum and Instruction nominee for the CEHD Distinguished Teaching Award
        Courses Taught
        • CI 1942 Social Media and the Changing Nature of Interaction
        • CI 2311W Introduction to Technology and Ethics in Society
        • CI 3342 Social Media and Connected Learning
        • CI 4311W Technology and Ethics in Society
        • CI 2312 Introduction to Digital Culture and Learning
        • CI 4312 Digital Culture and Learning
        • CI 5321 Foundations of Distance Education
        • CI 5323 Online Learning Communities
        • CI 5325 Designing and Developing Online Distance Learning
        • CI 5331 Introduction to Learning Technologies
        • CI 8196 Practicum in Teaching in Colleges of Education
        • CI 8350 Advanced Readings and Research in Learning Technologies

          Xiao, J., Bozkurt, A., Nichols, M., Pazurek, A., Stracke, C. M., Bai, J. Y. H., Farrow, R., Mulligan, D., Nerantzi, C., Sharma, R. C., Singh, L., Frumin, I., Swindell, A., Honeychurch, S., Bond, M., Dron, J., Moore, S., Leng, J., Slagter van Tryon, P. J., Garcia, M., Terentev, E., Tlili, A., Chiu, T. K. F., Hodges, C. B., Jandrić, P., Sidorkin, A., Crompton, H., Hrastinski, S., Koutropoulos, A., Cukurova, M., Shea, P., Watson, S., Zhang, K., Lee, K., Costello, E., Sharples, M., Vorochkov, A., Alexander, B., Bali, M., Moore, R., Zawacki-Richter, O., Asino, T. I., Huijser, H., Zheng, C., Sani-Bozkurt, S., Duart, J. M., & Themeli, C. (2025). Venturing into the unknown: Critical insights into grey areas and pioneering future directions in educational generative AI research. TechTrends.

          Bozkurt, A., Xiao, J., Farrow, R., Bai, J. Y. H., Nerantzi, C., Moore, S., Dron, J., Stracke, C. M., Singh, L., Crompton, H., Koutropoulos, A., Terentev, E., Pazurek, A., Nichols, M., Sidorkin, A. M., Costello, E., Watson, S., Mulligan, D., Honeychurch, S., Hodges, C. B., Sharples, M., Swindell, A., Frumin, I., Tlili, A., Slagter van Tryon, P. J., Bond, M., Bali, M., Leng, J., Zhang, K., Cukurova, M., Chiu, T. K. F., Lee, K., Hrastinski, S., Garcia, M. B., Sharma, R. C., Alexander, B., Zawacki-Richter, O., Huijser, H., Jandrić, P., Zheng, C., Shea, P., Duart, J. M., Themeli, C., Vorochkov, A., Sani-Bozkurt, S., Moore, R. L. and Asino, T. I. (2024). The Manifesto for Teaching and Learning in a Time of Generative AI: A Critical Collective Stance to Better Navigate the Future. Open Praxis, 16(4), 487–513.

          Bozkurt, A., Xiao, J., Lambert, S., Pazurek, A., Crompton, H., Koseoglu, S., Farrow, R., Bond, M., Nerantzi, C., Honeychurch, S., Bali, M., Dron, J., Mir, K., Stewart, B., Costello, E., Mason, J., Stracke, C. M., Romero-Hall, E., Koutropoulos, A., Toquero, C. M., Singh, L., Tlili, A., Lee, K., Nichols, M., Ossiannilsson, E., Brown, M., Irvine, V., Raffaghelli, J. E., Santos-Hermosa, G., Farrell, O., Adam, T., Thong, Y. L., Sani-Bozkurt, S., Sharma, R. C., Hrastinski, S., & Jandrić, P. (2023). Speculative futures on ChatGPT and generative artificial intelligence (AI): A collective reflection from the educational landscape. Asian Journal of Distance Education, 18(1).

          Pazurek, A. & Koseoglu, S. (2023). Phenomenology. EdTechnica: The open encyclopedia of educational technology. *also translated into Turkish by collaborator, Murat Sümer

          Pazurek, A. (2021). Social media for connected learning and engagement in online education. In B. Hokanson, M. Exter, A. Grincewicz, M. Schmidt, & A. Tawfik (Eds.), Learning: Design, engagement, and definition (pp. 137-145). Springer.

          Bozkurt, A., Jung, I., Xiao, J., Vladimirschi, V., Schuwer, R., Egorov, G., Lambert, S., Al-Freih, M., Pete, J., Olcott, Jr., D., Rodes, V., Aranciaga, I., Bali, M., Alvarez, A. J., Roberts, J., Pazurek, A., Raffaghelli, J. E., Panagiotou, N., de Coëtlogon, P., Shahadu, S., Brown, M., Asino, T. I., Tumwesige, J., Ramírez Reyes, T., Barrios Ipenza, E., Ossiannilsson, E., Bond, M., Belhamel, K., Irvine, V., Sharma, R. C., Adam, T., Janssen, B., Sklyarova, T., Olcott, N., Ambrosino, A., Lazou, C., Mocquet, B., Mano, M., & Paskevicius, M. (2020). A global outlook to the interruption of education due to COVID-19 pandemic: Navigating in a time of uncertainty and crisis. Asian Journal of Distance Education, 15(1), 1-126.

          Pazurek, A. (2019). How to teach online: An interview with Dr. Angel Pazurek. eLearn Magazine.

          Scharber, C., Pazurek, A., & Ouyang, F. (2019). Illuminating the (in)visibility of female scholars: A gendered analysis of publishing rates within educational technology journals from 2004 to 2015. Gender and Education, 31(1), 33-61.

            Reese, R., Pazurek, A., Turner, E., & Bozkurt, A. Exploring identity, transformation, and educational technology. Panel discussion presented at the Association for Educational Communications and Technology Annual International Convention, Kansas City, MO. October 21, 2024.

            Pazurek, A., Koseoglu, S., Scharber, C., & Heinsfeld, B. D. (Re)conceptualizing innovation in digital education through a critical lens and in conversation. Panel discussion presented at the International Society for Exploring Teaching & Learning Annual Conference, Montgomery, AL. October 17, 2024.

            Pazurek, A. What Do Advances in Generative AI Mean for Educational Practice and Research? Invited virtual keynote speaker on educational technology and innovation at the International Conference on Advances in Social Sciences, Education, and Humanities. Istanbul, Turkey. September 22, 2024.

            Pazurek, A., & Kreml, R. Phenomenology: A contemplative study of human experience. Invited virtual research presentation about phenomenology as an educational research methodology to graduate students and faculty in the Institute for Educational Development at The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan. March 22, 2024.

            Pazurek, A. Formative evaluation in instructional (learning) design. Virtual presentation to undergraduate students and faculty at Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia. December 2, 2022.

            Pazurek, A. Productive intersections between feminist pedagogies and distance education. Presented at the Association for Educational Communications and Technology Annual International Convention, Las Vegas, NV. October 25, 2022.

            Moore, J., Dousay, T., & Pazurek, A. Considerations of academic politics: Navigating as a student, emerging scholar, and early practitioner. Women’s leadership panel presented at the Association for Educational Communications and Technology Annual International Convention, Las Vegas, NV. October 25, 2022.

            Learner Engagement Activated Podcast. Episode 9 with Angelica Pazurek. Invited featured guest on this educational podcast to discuss ways social media can be leveraged to support connections for learning. October 7, 2022.

            Pazurek, A. Learning with social media in online education. Presented at the International Conference on Social Media & Society (virtual). July 18, 2022.

            Pazurek, A. Social media for connected learning and engagement in online education. Association for Educational Communications and Technology Annual International Conference (virtual). November 6, 2020.

            Pazurek, A. Cultural responsiveness through enactments of critical digital pedagogy and dialogic design. Association for Educational Communications and Technology Annual International Conference (virtual). November 5, 2020.

            Pazurek, A. A phenomenological investigation of engagement and connected learning with social media in online college courses. Association for Educational Communications and Technology Summer Research Symposium. July 23, 2020.

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            Angelica Pazurek photo