معرفی
Avi Kaplan serves as Professor in the Department of Psychological Studies in Education within the College of Education and Human Development at Temple University. His research examines motivation and identity development through complex dynamic systems theory, notably co-developing the Dynamic Systems Model of Role Identity (DSMRI) for applications in museums, teacher education, and medical training.
Dr. Kaplan investigates how environmental contexts shape identity and motivation. His current projects include a Smithsonian museum exhibit promoting inventiveness identity exploration, studies on social studies teachers' identity change, engineering students' design-thinking transfer, medical students' professional identity development, and community leaders' decision-making in uncertainty.
Recent publications (2023-2025) demonstrate a consistent application of complex dynamic systems theory across diverse educational settings. Key themes include identity exploration in informal learning environments, teacher professional development, motivation in STEM, and policy-relevant educational psychology research.
His distinguished honors include:
- Fellow of the American Educational Research Association
- Fellow of the Association of Psychological Science
- Fellow of Division 15 of the American Psychological Association
- Fellow of the Eastern Psychological Association
Although specific student advisees and grant details are not listed, his collaborative work with institutions like the Smithsonian indicates active research funding and mentorship.
Kaplan leads interdisciplinary teams, particularly with Dr. Joanna K. Garner on DSMRI, and partners with the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, schools, and medical institutions to design and evaluate identity-focused interventions.
