Bridging practice and research to explore how technology shapes the ways we live and learn
My scholarship bridges practice and research in Learning Technologies, and it largely focuses on critical digital pedagogy, learning science, and learning experience design in higher education. More broadly, I am deeply interested in the human-centered nature of learning with technology and the use of interpretive phenomenological research designs to better understand the learner experience and learning ecosystems. My current research projects are exploring emerging developments in educational uses of generative artificial intelligence, co-construction in higher education, and international initiatives in open and distance learning.
Teaching Experience & Philosophy
I have enjoyed over 25 years of practical experience as an educator in traditional and online settings in higher education, post-graduate education, and other adult learning contexts. I earned a Ph.D. in Learning Technologies at the University of Minnesota in 2013; so for the last 16 of those years, I have also been conducting interpretive research into teaching practices and learning processes. In my current role as a Teaching Associate Professor in Learning Technologies at the University of Minnesota in the U.S., my work is focused on advancing teaching and learning through practically-oriented scholarship. Teaching is the heart of my professional identity, and I use critical digital pedagogy to prioritize equity, inclusion, and learner agency.
I teach a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate level courses that explore sociocultural and sociotechnical dimensions of living and learning with technology. This includes courses on digital literacy, digital culture and learning, technology ethics, learning with social media, introduction to learning technologies (an interdisciplinary blend of learning sciences and learning experience design), distance education theory, online learning design and development, and research methodologies to investigate learning with tech.
Teaching should be centered on building relationships with students, among students, and even (ideally) helping students build a new relationship with learning through the connections made possible by technology.
In my teaching, I strive to build trusted relationships with students. I position myself as a facilitator, co-learner, and supportive guide. I believe that the biggest responsibility and challenge we have as educators, regardless of the focal topic(s) of study or our discipline-specific expertise, is to help students gain self-efficacy and confidence in their own ability to learn and to succeed. In today's digital age, we have abundant opportunities to leverage digital ecosystems (tools, processes, spaces, and networks) to connect with resources, people, and ideas. We can use technology to explore our curiosities, pursue our passions, and learn more about anything, at any time, anywhere-- independently and (even more dynamically) with others. But this requires digital literacy and educators that are able to support students in learning how to learn (most effectively) with technology.
I was taken aback by how my relationship with learning has forever been changed as a result of this course (in a very good way!)" --graduate student in my fall 2024 'Intro to Learning Technologies' course
Academic Program Development & Innovation
I have been highly creative + productive in new course design and academic program development as well. Over the last 15 years, I have designed numerous new courses on relevant topics in Learning Technologies. I also developed and launched an undergraduate minor program in Learning Technologies at the University of Minnesota that is situated in the College of Education and Human Development. Additionally, I have initiated and led interdisciplinary collaborations in order to create several individualized pathways for undergrad students to major in Learning Technologies (B.A. or B.S.) as well.
Advising & Committee Service
In addition to teaching, program development, and leadership, I also serve students in the capacity of faculty advisor and doctoral committee member and chair. I advise undergraduate students pursing a major or minor in Learning Technologies, graduate students in the Learning Technologies M.Ed. program, and students enrolled in the Online Distance Learning and the Learning Analytics graduate certificate programs at the University of Minnesota. I have also served as faculty co-advisor for Ph.D. students in Learning Technologies. And I have served on numerous masters and doctoral committees for students conducting empirical research in Learning Technologies.
Connections & Collaborations
Learning Technologies is all about connections-- connections to resources, people, and ideas. I value these connections and have taken great care in building a wide and diverse professional learning network of colleagues in my local community of Minneapolis-Saint Paul, nationally throughout the U.S., and abroad. I regularly collaborate and consult with educators, scholars, and academic programs at universities across North and South America, Africa, Europe, and Asia. As a result of these highly generative connections and collaborations, I continue to learn and grow as a scholar and as an active, engaged global citizen.
I have also made valuable contributions to the global conversation about the affordances and limitations of learning technologies. I have several international collective projects and publications. And I have gained national and international respect and recognition for my work with adult educators and college faculty through invited guest speaking and faculty development workshops I lead related to pedagogical strategies and learning design combined with interaction design, fostering digital literacy and leadership, and critical approaches to integrating generative artificial intelligence as a teaching and learning tool.
Selected Talks & Workshops
- Pazurek, A. Phenomenology has left the chat: Strategies for innovative pedagogies in mindset and practice. Presented at the International Society for Exploring Teaching & Learning Annual Conference, Indianapolis, IN. October 1, 2025.
- Reese, R., Pazurek, A., Turner, E., & Bozkurt, A. Exploring identity, transformation, and educational technology. Panel discussion presented at the Association for Educational Communications and Technology Annual International Convention, Kansas City, MO. October 21, 2024.
- Pazurek, A., Koseoglu, S., Scharber, C., & Heinsfeld, B. D. (Re)conceptualizing innovation in digital education through a critical lens and in conversation. Panel discussion presented at the International Society for Exploring Teaching & Learning Annual Conference, Montgomery, AL. October 17, 2024.
- Pazurek, A. What Do Advances in Generative AI Mean for Educational Practice and Research? Invited virtual keynote speaker on educational technology and innovation at the International Conference on Advances in Social Sciences, Education, and Humanities. Istanbul, Turkey. September 22, 2024.
- Pazurek, A., & Kreml, R. Phenomenology: A contemplative study of human experience. Invited virtual research presentation about phenomenology as an educational research methodology to graduate students and faculty in the Institute for Educational Development at The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan. March 22, 2024.
- Pazurek, A. Formative evaluation in instructional (learning) design. Virtual presentation to undergraduate students and faculty at Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia. December 2, 2022.
- Pazurek, A. Productive intersections between feminist pedagogies and distance education. Presented at the Association for Educational Communications and Technology Annual International Convention, Las Vegas, NV. October 25, 2022.
- Moore, J., Dousay, T., & Pazurek, A. Considerations of academic politics: Navigating as a student, emerging scholar, and early practitioner. Women’s leadership panel presented at the Association for Educational Communications and Technology Annual International Convention, Las Vegas, NV. October 25, 2022.
- Learner Engagement Activated Podcast. Episode 9 with Angelica Pazurek. Invited featured guest on this educational podcast to discuss ways social media can be leveraged to support connections for learning. October 7, 2022.
- Pazurek, A. Learning with social media in online education. Presented at the International Conference on Social Media & Society (virtual). July 18, 2022.
- Pazurek, A. Social media for connected learning and engagement in online education. Association for Educational Communications and Technology Annual International Conference (virtual). November 6, 2020.
- Pazurek, A. Cultural responsiveness through enactments of critical digital pedagogy and dialogic design. Association for Educational Communications and Technology Annual International Conference (virtual). November 5, 2020.
- Pazurek, A. A phenomenological investigation of engagement and connected learning with social media in online college courses. Association for Educational Communications and Technology Summer Research Symposium. July 23, 2020.
As a bilingual student of mixed-race heritage, I have always felt welcomed to share my experiences and insights in Dr. Pazurek’s classes; in every course, [she] sets a foundation of respect and also positions herself as a co-learner, which fosters a sense of community often lacking in online courses. From the content of her courses to the discussions that she ignites with students, differing perspectives and cultural experiences are always viewed from a positive, growthful lens; [she] consistently motivates students to think for themselves and interrogate their beliefs, all the while allowing them to cherish and express the unique thoughts they bring to the table." --undergraduate student in the Learning Technologies minor program at the University of Minnesota, who then went on to enroll in our M.Ed. program
Selected Publications
- Xiao, J., Bozkurt, A., Nichols, M., Pazurek, A., Stracke, C. M., Bai, J. Y. H., Farrow, R., Mulligan, D., Nerantzi, C., Sharma, R. C., Singh, L., Frumin, I., Swindell, A., Honeychurch, S., Bond, M., Dron, J., Moore, S., Leng, J., Slagter van Tryon, P. J., Garcia, M., Terentev, E., Tlili, A., Chiu, T. K. F., Hodges, C. B., Jandrić, P., Sidorkin, A., Crompton, H., Hrastinski, S., Koutropoulos, A., Cukurova, M., Shea, P., Watson, S., Zhang, K., Lee, K., Costello, E., Sharples, M., Vorochkov, A., Alexander, B., Bali, M., Moore, R., Zawacki-Richter, O., Asino, T. I., Huijser, H., Zheng, C., Sani-Bozkurt, S., Duart, J. M., & Themeli, C. (2025). Venturing into the unknown: Critical insights into grey areas and pioneering future directions in educational generative AI research. TechTrends, 69, 582–597.
- Bozkurt, A., Xiao, J., Farrow, R., Bai, J. Y. H., Nerantzi, C., Moore, S., Dron, J., Stracke, C. M., Singh, L., Crompton, H., Koutropoulos, A., Terentev, E., Pazurek, A., Nichols, M., Sidorkin, A. M., Costello, E., Watson, S., Mulligan, D., Honeychurch, S., Hodges, C. B., Sharples, M., Swindell, A., Frumin, I., Tlili, A., Slagter van Tryon, P. J., Bond, M., Bali, M., Leng, J., Zhang, K., Cukurova, M., Chiu, T. K. F., Lee, K., Hrastinski, S., Garcia, M. B., Sharma, R. C., Alexander, B., Zawacki-Richter, O., Huijser, H., Jandrić, P., Zheng, C., Shea, P., Duart, J. M., Themeli, C., Vorochkov, A., Sani-Bozkurt, S., Moore, R. L. and Asino, T. I. (2024). The manifesto for teaching and learning in a time of generative AI: A critical collective stance to better navigate the future. Open Praxis, 16(4), 487–513.
- Bozkurt, A., Xiao, J., Lambert, S., Pazurek, A., Crompton, H., Koseoglu, S., Farrow, R., Bond, M., Nerantzi, C., Honeychurch, S., Bali, M., Dron, J., Mir, K., Stewart, B., Costello, E., Mason, J., Stracke, C. M., Romero-Hall, E., Koutropoulos, A., Toquero, C. M., Singh, L., Tlili, A., Lee, K., Nichols, M., Ossiannilsson, E., Brown, M., Irvine, V., Raffaghelli, J. E., Santos-Hermosa, G., Farrell, O., Adam, T., Thong, Y. L., Sani-Bozkurt, S., Sharma, R. C., Hrastinski, S., & Jandrić, P. (2023). Speculative futures on ChatGPT and generative artificial intelligence (AI): A collective reflection from the educational landscape. Asian Journal of Distance Education, 18(1).
- Pazurek, A. & Koseoglu, S. (2023). Phenomenology. EdTechnica: The open encyclopedia of educational technology. *also translated into Turkish by collaborator, Murat Sümer
- Pazurek, A. (2021). Social media for connected learning and engagement in online education. In B. Hokanson, M. Exter, A. Grincewicz, M. Schmidt, & A. Tawfik (Eds.), Learning: Design, engagement, and definition (pp. 137-145). Springer.
- Bozkurt, A., Jung, I., Xiao, J., Vladimirschi, V., Schuwer, R., Egorov, G., Lambert, S., Al-Freih, M., Pete, J., Olcott, Jr., D., Rodes, V., Aranciaga, I., Bali, M., Alvarez, A. J., Roberts, J., Pazurek, A., Raffaghelli, J. E., Panagiotou, N., de Coëtlogon, P., Shahadu, S., Brown, M., Asino, T. I., Tumwesige, J., Ramírez Reyes, T., Barrios Ipenza, E., Ossiannilsson, E., Bond, M., Belhamel, K., Irvine, V., Sharma, R. C., Adam, T., Janssen, B., Sklyarova, T., Olcott, N., Ambrosino, A., Lazou, C., Mocquet, B., Mano, M., & Paskevicius, M. (2020). A global outlook to the interruption of education due to COVID-19 pandemic: Navigating in a time of uncertainty and crisis. Asian Journal of Distance Education, 15(1), 1-126.
- Pazurek, A. (2019). How to teach online: An interview with Dr. Angel Pazurek. eLearn Magazine.
- Scharber, C., Pazurek, A., & Ouyang, F. (2019). Illuminating the (in)visibility of female scholars: A gendered analysis of publishing rates within educational technology journals from 2004 to 2015. Gender and Education, 31(1), 33-61.
Angelica is an innovative pedagogue and scholar who is committed to equity and inclusion in order to decrease barriers and help students feel valued and confident in their learning and ability to succeed. Her efforts have been instrumental in preparing students from across the university with the digital literacies that are critically necessary to become informed and engaged digital citizens, professionals, and leaders." --University of Minnesota faculty colleague