People

Dr. Areej Mawasi, is a Neubauer Assistant Professor and director of the “Co-Design and Interactive Learning Lab” in the Faculty of Education in Science and Technology at Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. Areej studies learners’ engagement and designs learning environments with objects and tools like technologies, games, and hands-on artifacts. In her research, she focuses on the intersection of learning sciences, technologies and digital media, design-based methods, AI in society, and critical Science and Technology education. In her design-based research work with educators and learners, Areej examines: (1) how critical and ethical exploration of technologies and digital media among teachers and learners support their thinking of technology role in society, its sociopolitical and ethical implications, and re-imagination of technologies; (2) learners interactive engagement in transdiciplinary learning environments; (3) sociocultural and political dimensions of learners engagement within STEM environments. Areej’s recent research focus is centered around AI literacies and developing learning materials for examining sociocultural dimensions of technologies.  Areej was a Research Associate in the NSF National AI Institute for Student-AI Teaming (iSAT) at Institute of Cognitive Science, University of Colorado Boulder. Areej completed her PhD in Learning, Literacies, and Technologies at Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, Arizona State University in 2021.  She was a Fulbright Scholar at ASU and a member of the ASU Center for Science and the Imagination. 

Jool Farraj is a Master’s research student in history and theory at the Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Technion. His work explores spatial theories and justice, focusing on the intersections of architectural historiography, preservation, and socio-political processes. He analyzes architectural spaces through the lens of spatial theory, politics, and ethics. At the “Co-Design and Interactive Learning Lab”, Jool explorers ways to support Arab youth engagement with critical perspectives of AI and Digital Media through co-designing of transdisciplinary learning activities.