Hülya Avcı, Ph.D., (she/her/hers) is a Postdoctoral Associate at the STEM Transformation Institute in the College of Arts, Sciences, and Education at Florida International University in Miami, FL. She earned her Ph.D. in Educational Psychology with a concentration in Learning Design and Technology (Learning Sciences program) from Texas A&M University in August 2024. Her dissertation focused on the digital competencies of in-service K-12 teachers across U.S. schools, emphasizing the ecological factors that influence their pedagogical use of digital tools. She has presented her research at prominent international conferences, including the American Educational Research Association (AERA) and the International Society of the Learning Sciences (ISLS). At FIU, Dr. Avcı works on the NSF-funded (DRK-12) project, Supporting Teachers to Encourage the Pursuit of Undergraduate Physics (STEP UP), which aims to inspire young women to pursue careers in physics by creating inclusive and diverse classroom environments. All in all, with a passion for humanity and justice, she dedicates her efforts to ensuring that every human, regardless of background, has the opportunity to thrive.
Education
- Ph.D. in Educational Psychology (emphasis in Learning Design and Technology) Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA || Aug 2019 – 2024 - M.A. in Educational Technology (thesis, w/ honors) Bahcesehir University, Istanbul, Turkiye || Sep 2013 – Jan 2016 - B.A. in Foreign Languages Education (w/ honors) Yildiz Technical University, Istanbul, Turkiye || Sep 2007 – Jun 2011
research interests
Her research interests include teacher education and preparation, professional development, digital competency/literacy, AI literacy, the integration of technology in educational practices, formal and informal learning, online learning, instructional design, interactive learning environments, and STEM education with a focus on identity, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Keywords: teacher education, educational technology, and STEM education.
