I am currently the Head of the School of Learning Sciences and Educational Leadership at the University of Haifa, and the 2025-2026 President of the International Society of the Learning Sciences (ISLS). My research focuses on the design and sustainability of innovative learning environments that prioritize humanistic values and adaptive expertise.
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My active lines of research are organized into three primary strands:
I am the developer of the Humanistic Learning Community (HLC) model, which serves as a foundational platform for investigating a diverse array of educational phenomena. Beyond examining how this model fosters student identity development and growth mindsets, my research utilizes the HLC framework to explore complex social dynamics, including the navigation of sociopolitical issues and identity work within areas of conflict. This work seeks to understand how structured learning communities can provide the safety and agency necessary for learners to engage with sensitive, real-world challenges.
This line of research moves beyond the specific tools of makerspaces to examine the broader infrastructures—social, pedagogical, and organizational—required to sustain maker-centered learning. I study how educational systems can create durable yet flexible support structures that allow creative, hands-on inquiry to thrive across diverse and evolving learning contexts.
My current work investigates the authentic integration of Generative AI (GenAI) in professional and educational settings. By studying how domain experts leverage GenAI in their actual practice, I develop design principles for classrooms that prepare students for a world where AI is a collaborative partner. This research focuses on translating expert workflows into pedagogical designs that maintain cognitive challenge and human agency.