Learning Scientist | Educational Technologist

Assistant Professor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Xinran Zhu 

I’m an assistant professor in Learning Design & Leadership and Instructional Design, Technology, & Organization at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign College of Education. I earned my Ph.D. in Learning Sciences and Technologies from the University of Pennsylvania, working with Dr. Bodong Chen.

My research interests lie at the intersection of learning technologies, learning sciences, learning analytics, and human-computer interaction. Grounded in research-practice partnerships, my work is centered on the design of technology-supported learning environments that are theoretically grounded and pedagogically meaningful. Drawing on methods from media design, software engineering, and data science, I develop pedagogical approaches, technological innovations, and empirical insights that enhance meaningful learning experiences in authentic classroom settings.

My research involves two primary strands:

[Strand 1] The Design and Implementation of Educational Technologies: This research strand examines how emerging technologies support students’ knowledge practices in collaborative settings. Recent projects focus on designing and integrating social annotation technologies and generative AI (GenAI) tools into higher education classrooms. The goal is to augment students’ disciplinary skills (e.g., knowledge synthesis) by leveraging AI as a learning partner for deeper interaction and knowledge creation.

[Strand 2] Computational Research and Learning Analytics Applications: This strand focuses on developing methodological innovations to analyze learning engagement and collaborative behaviors, with the goal of generating actionable insights that support instructors in designing and facilitating more effective learning experiences. My work incorporates network analysis and natural language processing techniques to enhance our understanding of learning processes.