Course Faculty

 

David Guralnick, Ph.D.
President and CEO, Kaleidoscope Learning
Adjunct Professor, Columbia University
New York, New York, USA

About Dr. David Guralnick


David Guralnick envisions a new approach to education and workplace learning. His vision integrates progressive learning theory, advanced technology, and creative, entertaining storytelling to create learning experiences that help people learn to think critically, reflect, and make thoughtful decisions. David holds a Ph.D. from Northwestern University, where his work synthesized concepts from the fields of computer science and artificial intelligence, instructional design, and cognitive psychology. Over the past 30 years, he has designed and evaluated a variety of simulation-based training applications, performance support systems, online courses, mobile applications, and authoring tools for corporate, non-profit, and university audiences.

David holds a Ph.D. in computer science from Northwestern University, where his work synthesized concepts from the fields of computer science/artificial intelligence, instructional design, and cognitive psychology. Over the course of his thirty years in online learning, he has designed and developed simulation-based training applications, electronic performance-support systems, and specialized authoring tools which allow non-technical people, such as writers and trainers, to build e-learning sites.

Among David’s most notable achievements are the creation of the first learn-by-doing simulation for corporate training purposes and the first authoring tool for a non-technical audience that was specific to e-learning. He has been the recipient of over 200 e-learning design awards, and his work has been featured in Wired magazine, the Wall Street Journal, and Training magazine (as an Editor's Choice). He has been a regular speaker at both industry and academic events since 1991. He is also the author of the recent book How Organizations Can Make the Most of Online Learning.

David is the current President and CEO of Kaleidoscope Learning. He is also the current president of the International E-Learning Association; founder and chair of The Learning Ideas Conference; Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal on Advanced Corporate Learning; Chair of the International E-Learning Awards; and an Adjunct Professor at Columbia University.

 

Jenny Pange, Ph.D.
Professor and Former Dean of the School of Education
University of Ioannina
Ioannina, Greece

About Dr. Jenny Pange


Jenny (Polyxeni) Pange is a Professor at the University of Ioannina, in the field of Information Technology and Applied Mathematics with an emphasis on educational programs. She is also the former Dean of the university's School of Education and the Director of its Laboratory of “New Technologies and Distance Learning”, at the School of Education. Dr. Pange is a Legal Representative of Greece, on the Board of Advisors of the UNIADRION (Universities of Adriatic and Ionian Basin Association), and is the representative of the University of Ioannina in EUCEN (European Universities Continuing Education Network).

She holds a diploma in Mathematics, an M.Sc. in Statistics, and a Ph.D. in Biometry. Dr. Pange is currently teaching classes at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels in Greece and abroad. Her scientific research includes books and more than 170 publications in journals and conference proceedings. Dr. Pange is a Scientific Coordinator and member of scientific committees of many EEC-funded programs. She has participated in several conferences nationally and internationally, as a keynote or invited speaker, and she has organized national and international conferences and summer schools.

 

Gila Kurtz, Ph.D.
Dean, Faculty of Instructional Technologies
Holon Institute of Technology (HIT)
Holon, Israel

About Dr. Gila Kurtz


Dr. Kurtz is the Dean of the Faculty of Instructional Technologies at the Holon Institute of Technology (HIT) in Israel. She has a wealth of experience, having served as the Academic Vice President at a company specializing in e-learning solutions for the corporate sector for several years.

Before joining HIT, she developed and managed an ICT and a Learning M.A. program at the College for Academic Studies in Israel. Dr. Kurtz has served as an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland University College (UMUC) Graduate School in the Master of Distance Education and E-learning Program, where she co-developed and co-taught online courses.

Dr. Kurtz's other positions were head of interactive television satellite-based unit at the Open University of Israel (OUI) and director of an e-learning center at Bar-Ilan University in Israel. She was also the academic vice president of a company that provided e-learning solutions for the corporate industry. She served as a director and the secretary of The International Board of Standards for Training, Performance, and Instruction, (IBSTPI) where she was a co-author of a book titled "Online Learner Competencies: Attitudes, Knowledge, and Skills for Successful Learning."

For several years Dr. Kurtz was a member of the Steering Committee of the European Distance and E-Learning Network (EDEN). She serves as a member on the Peer Review Board of The Journal of Educators Online and The European Journal of Open and Distance Learning. For several years, Dr. Kurtz was the Editor-in-Chief of The Interdisciplinary Journal of E-Skills and Lifelong Learning (IJELL). She has been a visiting scholar at several academic institutions, including the University of California, Berkeley's School of Education and at Syracuse University.

 

Eran Gal, Ph.D.
Head of Graduate Program, Faculty of Instructional Technologies
Holon Institute of Technology (HIT)
Holon, Israel

About Dr. Eran Gal


Dr. Eran Gal is a digital learning and learning innovation expert with over 25 years of experience applying cross-company technology-based learning solutions.

Dr. Gal heads the graduate program at the Instructional Technologies Faculty, HIT. The program offers students a unique certification track in AI for learning applications in addition to M.A. in Instructional Technologies.

Dr. Gal teaches learning design using AI and learning innovation. He also oversees the research initiatives of the program focusing on empirical research of organizational and technologically enhanced learning.

Since January 2023, Dr. Gal's research and studies have been focused on successful implementation of GenAI services in academic and organizational learning.

 

Antonella Poce, Ph.D.
Full Professor in Experimental Pedagogy
University of Rome Tor Vergata
Rome, Italy

About Dr. Antonella Poce


Antonella Poce is a full professor in Experimental Pedagogy in the Department of History, Heritage, Education and Society at the University of Roma Tor Vergata, where she teaches Experimental Pedagogy, Educational Research Methodology, and Museum Education.

Before joining the University of Roma Tor Vergata, Dr. Poce was a full professor in the same subjects in the Department of Education and Humanities at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, also in Rome, where she started and chaired the INTELLECT International Research Centre for Research into Heritage and Museum Education, Well-being and Teaching Technology.

She currently chairs the following joint (TOR VERGATA/UNIROMATRE) postgraduate degrees: the annual "Empirical Studies in Museum Education" program and a biennial postgraduate course of study in "Advanced Studies in Heritage Education."

Dr. Poce also coordinates a number of national, international, and European projects, and has chaired international academic committees focused on evaluation and distance learning. Her research centers on innovative teaching practices in higher education at both national and international levels.

 

Patrick Blum, Ph.D.
CEO, Blum Consulting
Founder, Vysor.ai
Aachen, Germany

About Dr. Patrick Blum


Dr. Patrick Blum is a learning and AI enthusiast, consultant for corporate learning, EdTech Investor, and the founder of Vysor.ai.

In 1995, he founded "inside," one of the first EdTech companies in Germany, which he grew into one of the country’s top 10 e-learning providers.

For three decades, he has partnered with mid-sized companies and global corporations across industries, driving growth through innovative learning strategies.

As a learning and AI enthusiast, he is convinced that the personal development of each individual contributes to writing an organization’s success story. His goal is to integrate learning and AI as an inherent part of the workflow, thereby enhancing individual performance, business outcomes, and the recognition of education as a core value within organizational culture.