Mahnaz Moallem

Mahnaz Moallem is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Learning Technologies, Design & School Library Media at Towson University (Maryland). Formerly a Professor and Research/Grant Coordinator at the University of North Carolina Wilmington (1993–2018), she holds a Ph.D. in Instructional Systems Design from Florida State University. Her expertise centers on Problem-Based/Project-Based Learning (PBL), STEM education, and assessment of complex learning outcomes like problem-solving and critical thinking.

Education:

• Ph.D., Instructional Systems Design, Florida State University, 1993
• M.S., Educational Technology, School of TV and Cinema, Tehran, Iran, 1980
• B.A., English Translation, College of Translation, Tehran, Iran, 1976

Research Interests: Mahnaz specializes in applying PBL frameworks to STEM fields, integrating computational modeling/simulation into curricula, and evaluating learning outcomes. She emphasizes technology-enhanced learning environments and has pioneered programs using PBL for skill development. Her work bridges theory and practice, addressing both K-12 and higher education contexts.

Grants & Projects:

• Principal Investigator for Maryland Center for Computing Education grants ($49,736)
• Co-PI for NSF-funded initiatives like the IDEA-STEM program ($188,061)
• Lead on projects advancing teacher training in computational thinking and STEM integration

Awards: Recipient of multiple teaching, research, and mentorship awards. Served as a Rotating Scientist at the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Labs/Initiatives: Collaborates internationally on STEM education projects and serves on editorial boards for journals like TechTrends and Malaysian Journal of Learning and Instruction.