Team

The team includes learning scientists, designers, educational psychologists, educators, art educators, and educational technology specialists.

Prof. Dr. Anna Keune (she/her)

+49 (89) 289 - 29110
Room 443
anna.keune@tum.de
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1985-2313 

Prof. Dr. Anna Keune is Tenure Track Assistant Professor of Learning Sciences and Educational Design Technologies and TUM-IAS Rudolf Mößbauer fellow at the Technical University of Munich. Anna’s research and teaching stands at the intersection of learning sciences and design. Anna investigates high and low-tech educational design technologies to advance knowledge about STEM learning, transforming what counts as participation and expanding who participates. Her research is guided by constructionist, posthumanist, and participatory theoretical commitments.

Research Staff

Santiago Hurtado, M.Ed. (he/him)

Research Assistant and Doctoral Student

+49 (89) 289 - 29111
Room 442
s.hurtado@tum.de 
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7826-8862

Santiago Hurtado is a research assistant and doctoral student at the professorship. Santiago’s background is in educational and social psychology from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Colombia and TUM. His research is focused on learner-centered design in STEM+C education with a focus on understanding youth practices on social media as a rich source of learning.

Verena Kappes, M.Ed. (she/her)

Research Assistant and Doctoral Student

+49 (89) 289 - 29111
Room 442
verena.kappes@tum.de

Verena Kappes is a research assistant and doctoral student at the professorship. As a former early childhood educator, Verena holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology (LMU, Germany) with a specialization in Psychopathology and Clinical Neuroscience. Verena leverages her practical experiences toward the study of AI ethics literacy in educational technology.

Živa Simšič, M.A. (she/her)

Research Assistant and Doctoral Student

+49 (89) 289 - 29111
Room 442
ziva.simsic@tum.de
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-1688-3956

Živa Simšič is a doctoral student working as a research assistant. Živa holds a Master's degree in Arts Education from the University of Maribor, Slovenia. Her current research focuses on fostering early education in Additive Manufacturing in Construction (AMC) technologies, promoting gender equity perspectives, and sustainability awareness among youth in construction practices. In addition, Živa works on developing approaches to support AI ethics literacy in educational settings.

Administrative Assistant

Iris Zezelj (she/her)

+49 (89) 289 - 24302
Room 251
iris.zezelj@tum.de

International Visitors

Prof. Dr. Eve Manz (she/her)

Visiting Professor, academic year 2023/2024

eimanz@bu.edu

Prof. Dr. Eve Manz is a TUM Global Visiting Professor Program at the Professorship for Learning Sciences and Educational Design Technologies and the Friedl Schöller Endowed Chair for Educational Psychology. Eve is an Associate Professor of Science of Education at Boston University. The core motivation of her work is to support teachers and young people to engage in learning that builds on their capabilities to see themselves, others, and the world in new ways. Her focus is on elementary science education and on developing learning environments that engage children in science practices.

Hatice Şebnem Çetken Aktaş (she/her)

Erasmus Trainee, July 2023

scetken@metu.edu.tr
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4543-422X

Hatice Şebnem Çetken Aktaş is a fellow of the Erasmus+ Doctoral Traineeship Program. She is a Ph.D. candidate and research assistant in Elementary and Early Childhood Education at Middle East Technical University, Turkey. Her research focuses on Makerspace, STEAM activities, and guided play. She worked as an educator at a movement and art center and has expertise in outdoor and risky play.

Alumni

We are grateful to the alumni of the Professorship for Learning Sciences and Educational Design Technologies.

Daniela Villarreal Bermúdez (she/her)

Daniela Villarreal Bermúdez (B.A. Psychology) was a student research assistant at the Professorship for Learning Sciences and Educational Design Technologies. Daniela supported ongoing research on computational crafting with fiber crafts and is writing her Master thesis on the use of sewing for learning spatial visualization skills in collaboration with the Creativity Labs (UCI).

Mitsou Palomino (she/her)

Mitsou Palomino (B.A. Psychology) was a student research assistant at the Professorship for Learning Sciences and Educational Design Technologies. Mitsou supported research on the Connected Algorithmic Learning project and the Tangible Computational Design for Learning, which is the focus of her Master's thesis.

Hilal Calisir (she/her)

Hilal Calisir (M.A. Preschool Education) was a student research assistant at the professorship, where she supported research on the Connected Algorithmic Learning project and the Computational Crafting Lab. Hilal is writing her Master thesis at the professorship on an innovative assessment of structural design learning in collaboration with the Professorship of Structural Design (TUM).

Gabriela Cintra (she/her)

Gabriela Cintra dos Santos (M.A. Music Education) was a student research assistant at the Professorship for Learning Sciences and Educational Design Technologies. Gabriela supported ongoing research on computational crafting with fiber crafts and is writing her Master's thesis on the impact of different school subjects in motivation and interest to learn Science.