PEOPLE
Dr. Jewoong Moon (Lab Director)
Dr. Jewoong Moon is Assistant Professor of Instructional Technology at the Department of Educational Leadership, Policy, and Technology Studies. He earned his Ph.D. degree of Instructional Systems and Learning Technologies at Florida State University. He currently holds several editorships (Journal: Behavior and Information Technology) and leaderships in educational technology, game-based learning, and learning sciences fields (Chair, APSCE EGG SIG). Also, his academic research works appear in top-tier academic journals, such as British Journal of Educational Technology, Simulation & Gaming, and Educational Technology Research and Development.
Personal Webpage: https://jmoon.people.ua.edu/
Graduate Students
Idowu “David” Awoyemi (Lab Manager)
David Idowu Awoyemi is currently a Ph.D. student of Instructional Technology in the department of Educational Leadership, Policy and Technology Studies. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics Education and has a master’s degree in Educational Technology from one of the best universities in Nigeria, Africa; Federal University of Technology, Minna Nigeria and achieved a remarkable scholastic performance, due to his distinguished academic performance he was conferred on the Outstanding Student during his undergraduate and graduate studies. As an effective instructor and researcher, he has passion to always look for how to make learning more meaningful and interesting to students. His interest includes e-learning, digital based learning, artificial intelligence learning, instructional design. Specifically, he has interest in how new technologies may be applied to solve teaching and learning problems. His contact is idawoyemi@crimson.ua.edu
Arezoo Ghooreian
Arezoo Ghooreian received her Bachelor of Arts and master’s degrees in English as a Second Language (ESL) from Azad University Najaf Abad Branch, Iran in 2013 and 2016, respectively. She got admitted to the College of Education at the University of Alabama in 2023 with a graduate council fellowship. In 2024, she joined Dr. Moon’s lab as a Graduate Research Assistant. Her research interests include instructional technology, utilization of artificial intelligence in education and game making for developing computational thinking. She has authored a journal article on using Instagram for teaching idioms to upper-intermediate English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners.
Stephen Abu
Stephen Emmanuel Abu is an educational technologist and a dedicated scholar, currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Instructional Technology at the University of Alabama. He had his Bachelor’s degree in Educational Technology and a Master’s degree in Educational Media Resource Management both from Nigeria. As a doctoral student, Stephen’s work is marked by a deep exploration of the intersection between technology and education, with a keen interest in emerging trends and innovative methodologies.
His research focus spans a diverse array of cutting-edge areas, reflecting his commitment to advancing the field. His interests include learning technologies, virtual reality simulation, extended reality (XR), technology-enhanced learning environments, online learning, instructional design, gamification, and generative AI. Stephen’s dedication to understanding and leveraging these technologies is evident in his commitment to enhancing the learning experience for students and educators.
Beyond academia, Stephen’s passion extends to graphics design, gaming, and community service. His love for design is a testament to his appreciation for aesthetics and user experience, while his affinity for games reflects a dynamic approach to learning and engagement. Moreover, Stephen finds fulfilment in volunteering, demonstrating a strong sense of social responsibility and a desire to contribute positively to communities.
Moses Oladele Ogunniran
Moses Oladele Ogunniran is a third-year Ph.D. student in the Higher Education Administration Program at The University of Alabama, where he also serves as Executive Vice President of the Graduate Student Association and works as a Graduate Research Assistant (data and policy analyst) at the Education Policy Center. His research broadly focuses on post-secondary access, student success, graduate employability, and the policy dynamics that shape equitable learning environments.
Moses brings a global lens to higher education research, with academic and leadership experience across Africa, Asia, and North America. He has served with the Oyo State Universal Basic Education as a High School Facilitator, training high school STEM teachers for the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, a Graduate Teaching Fellow at Beijing Normal University in China, and a Fellow with the UNESCO Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development (MGIEP) in India, engaging with global citizenship and peace education initiatives.
Currently, his research focuses on designing digital learning environments that bridge the gap between academic training and labor market demands, particularly through the development of soft skills, microlearning, and career readiness interventions. He is especially interested in the adaptive design of immersive and student-centered learning platforms informed by usability, accessibility, and learning analytics.Her work aims to develop innovative instructional design strategies that utilize generative AI to foster these skills. In Dr. Jewoong Moon’s Adaptive Design of Immersive E-Learning Lab, Moses is interested in investigating the use of learning experience design (LXD), human-computer interaction (HCI) principles, and multimedia instructional tools to prototype digital solutions that address graduate employability. His envisioned project includes a microlearning software platform tailored to the career development needs of underprepared or underrepresented graduate students.
Empress Searight
Empress Searight is an innovative technologist, currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Instructional Technology at the University of Alabama. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design from the University of Alabama in Birmingham, and a Master of Technology from Alabama State University, Montgomery, Alabama with an Educational Specialist degree in Instructional Technology from the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa. She has also co-authored a publication on Augmented Reality Game-based Learning in STEM Education. Empress’s research interest is focused on instructional technology, gamification, game-based learning and argumentative reality that is used to enhance educational learning. Her main interest path is instructional technology and design of educational courses using gamification to enhance learners’ learning potential and training and development in the corporate world.
Mohammad “Mohi” Uddin
Mohammad Mohi Uddin is an academic researcher with over 15 published articles and an author with more than 10 creative works. He holds a BA and MA in English from Bangladesh, a PGD in Education from Malaysia, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Instructional Technology at the University of Alabama, USA. He is also serving as a Graduate Senator and Ambassador at the University of Alabama.
Areas of Research Interest: Artificial Intelligence in academia / Educational Technology / Theories such as Mimesis, Deontology, Teleology, Marxism, Post-structuralism, Post-modernism, and Eco-criticism / English and American Literature / Learning theories such as Cognitivism and Constructivism / Teacher professional development using frameworks like TPACK and the UTAUT model / Virtual internship programs / Neurodiversity in education
Mina Tran
Mina Tran is a research and teaching assistant at UA and a former English instructor with a background in applied linguistics and language instruction. With five years of teaching experience, she has developed curriculum, assessments, and learning materials for diverse learners – from secondary school, high school, university to adult learners – across both online and offline platforms. Currently pursuing an M.A. in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages/ Applied Linguistics at the University of Alabama, Mina is interested in AI-driven learning environments and how generative agents can enhance teacher training. She has presented at UALC 2025 and SWCA 2025 on the role of corpora in discourse analysis and multilingual writing support.
Jihane Amayou
Jihane Amayou is a Ph.D. student in Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Alabama. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Cadi Ayyad University in Marrakech, Morocco, and a master’s degree in Educational Technology from Bahçeşehir University in Istanbul, Turkey. Her academic path is shaped by a deep interdisciplinary interest in the intersection of Instructional Technology and Curriculum and Instruction, where she seeks to bridge technological innovation with pedagogical impact. Jihane’s research centers on how emerging technologies can be leveraged to enrich student engagement, foster critical digital literacies, and support the development of learners as active, reflective participants in their educational journeys. Guided by a vision of inclusive and forward-thinking education, she is committed to exploring how AI can serve as a cognitive partner in diverse learning environments, advancing both equity and innovation in teaching and learning.