Mete Akcaoglu

Mete Akcaoglu, Ph.D.

Professor of Instructional Technology · Department Chair, Leadership, Technology, and Human Development · Georgia Southern University, College of Education · Savannah, GA 31419

📞 912.478.0002 · makcaoglu@georgiasouthern.edu · meteakcaoglu.com

About

I am a professor of instructional technology and department chair at Georgia Southern University. My research focuses on how people learn with and through technology — with particular emphasis on motivation, curiosity, and the design of technology-rich learning environments.

I study game-based learning, interest development, and AI in educational settings. My work spans experimental, survey, and qualitative methods.

Google Scholar · GitHub · LinkedIn · Bluesky

Research Interests

  • Interest development, and motivation in technology-rich learning environments
  • Game-based learning and computational thinking in K–12
  • AI in education and LLM-assisted research workflows
  • Online learning design and community of inquiry

Current Position

Department Chair — Leadership, Technology, and Human Development Georgia Southern University · Fall 2024–Present

Overseeing 20 full-time faculty, 10 graduate programs, ~600 students. Focus areas: faculty development, curriculum reform, enrollment management, and accreditation.

News

  • 2026 — Co-authored Computational Analysis of Educational Data: A Field Guide Using R with Wang, Rosenberg, & Kellogg. Read online →
  • 2025–2026 — Co-PI on Math Nation Georgia Pilot Program Evaluation ($1M, Georgia Department of Education)
  • 2024 — Keynote at the International Symposium on Computer and Instructional Technologies (ICITS), Kastamonu, Türkiye
  • 2024 — Appointed Department Chair, Leadership, Technology, and Human Development
  • 2022 — Completed NSF-funded Project GAME: a game design-based CS curriculum for middle schools