Learning Technologies PhD Students Shine at AECT 2025

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Doctoral students from the Learning Technologies program at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities showcased their research at the 2025 International Convention of the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT), one of the leading conferences dedicated to innovation and research in educational technology.

The AECT International Convention brings together scholars, practitioners, and leaders from across the globe to explore how technology shapes teaching and learning. This year, students from Learning Technologies contributed to critical discussions on artificial intelligence, open education, and computing identities in education.

• Seeun (Tina) Jeon was recognized with the Best Proposal Award by the AECT International Division for her research analyzing South Korea’s national policies on AI-enhanced digital textbooks, emphasizing the vital role of teachers in the implementation of emerging educational technologies. (Upper left)

• Shreepriya Dogra presented a systematic review on computing identities in higher education, examining how the theoretical frameworks’ conceptualization evolved over time and the implications to the ways in which learners’ relationships with technology are conceptualized. (Upper right)

• Galyna Arabadzhy and Luis Lopez Parada conducted a systematic review of generative AI chatbots in language education, mapping new pedagogical opportunities and challenges emerging in the field. (Lower left)

• Rebecca Nissen, alongside her co-author and former master’s advisor Dr. Royce Kimmons (Brigham Young University), examined higher education administrators’ perceptions of open access publications, advancing timely debates on access, equity, and institutional adoption. (Lower right)

Dr. Bruna Damiana Heinsfeld, Assistant Professor of Learning Technologies and current Program Area Coordinator, attended AECT 2025, presented, and supported the student cohort throughout the convention. Dr. George Veletsianos, Professor of Learning Technologies, also attended the conference and was honored with the 2025 Outstanding Publication Award by AECT’s Culture, Learning, and Technology Division for the article “How do Canadian faculty members imagine future teaching and learning modalities,” recognized as the year’s most outstanding published journal article relevant to the culture, learning, and technology field.

“These presentations exemplify the intellectual diversity and critical engagement that define our program,” said Dr. Heinsfeld. “Their work reflects how our students are not only engaging with current technologies but also questioning their implications for education and society.”