Sihan Jian
Position
PhD Student – Third Year
How Did You Join the ISLT Program at FSU?
With an interdisciplinary background in the social sciences, I have always been drawn to solving real-world, meaningful problems. My industry experience deepened my interest in education, particularly in how data-driven insights and technology can enhance learning. I chose FSU’s ISLT program because of its strong legacy in the field and the many pioneers who have advanced the use of instructional design to improve learning in technology-enhanced environments. Since joining the program, I have become even more confident that this is the right place for me.
Introduction
I am a PhD student in Instructional Systems & Learning Technologies at FSU. My academic background spans multiple disciplines, including Mathematics, Economics, and Psychology. Before starting my PhD, I worked as a data analyst and instructional designer at an ed-tech startup in Shanghai, where I focused on teacher competencies and personalized professional development. That experience reinforced my passion for education and shaped my current research interests.
Research Interests
Online learning, professional learning, and digital literacy for adult learners.
Projects
· Seniors’ Digital Learning
· Rural Digital Literacy
· Online Instructors’ Professional Development
· Informal Learning Among Neurodivergent Learners
· Online Communities of Practice for Teacher Development
· AI as a Copilot in Engineering Education
· Automated Detection of Presence in Communities of Inquiry
Publications
Burner, K. J., Dennen, V. P., & Jian, S. (2025). Prior online learning experiences as incidental professional development: A cross-sectional survey of online instructor beliefs and strategies. The Internet and Higher Education, 64, 100977. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iheduc.2024.100977
Kozan, K., Jian, S., & Grimmet, K. (in press). Ambivalent learner satisfaction in relation to teaching, cognitive, and social presence in distance education. Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education.
Social Media
