Faculty Spotlight: Zilong Pan, Ph.D.

Over the next few months, we will be introducing the newest COE faculty members! Welcome, Dr. Pan.

Zilong Pan, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Teaching, Learning and Technology
he/him

What inspired you to be a faculty member?
As a faculty member in the educational technology field, I was always amazed by how much advanced technologies can impact our way of learning. Becoming a faculty in this field allows me to explore, experiment, and evaluate those technologies through teaching and research practices.  

What are your research interests?
Developing and customizing emerging educational technologies such as AR/VR into classrooms; and applying innovative methods, including learning analytics incorporated pedagogical approaches, data visualization, problem-based learning, and game-based learning.

How do you integrate issues of DEI into your research and/or teaching?
As an educator, I apply culturally responsive pedagogies and endorse Funds of Knowledge concepts. I believe every one of us can bring our own experiences and values, which mirror their background and experiences, to contribute to learning and teaching activities. As a researcher, I intend to explore and implement an individualized learning environment. With the advancement of learning technologies, I hope to enhance the adaptive features of the learning environment where different learners’ needs and preferences can be met.

What advice do you have for graduate students?
Based on my experiences, I would encourage graduate students to explore an area outside their subject. It can be a habit, a skill set, a leisure activity, or a niche of a small research topic. Having an area to explore on the side can keep us refreshed and help us maintain work life balance. 

Favorite things to do in Bethlehem and the Lehigh Valley? If you're new, what are you most looking forward to?
I am new to the Lehigh Valley, and as a southerner, I look forward to seeing the colorful leaves in autumn. 

BIO
Dr. Pan’s research focuses on developing and customizing emerging educational technologies and innovative methodological approaches in educational practices and studies in STEAM disciplines. The emerging educational technologies include AR/VR/MR, adaptive learning systems, and virtual learning environment (VLE). The innovative methodological approaches include learning analytics incorporating pedagogical approaches, data-informed decision making, problem-based learning (PBL), and game-based learning (GBL). As an educator and researcher, his goal is to explore emerging technologies as well as approaches to harvest their potential in serving learners’ and instructors’ diverse learning and teaching needs or preferences.