Gi Woong Choi

Gi Woong Choi is an Assistant Professor of Instructional Design and Technology in the School of Education at the University of Cincinnati. He previously held a faculty position at SUNY Oswego in Human-Computer Interaction. His academic training includes a Ph.D. in Learning, Design, and Technology from Penn State University, an M.S. in Cognitive Science and Engineering (HCI) from Yonsei University, and a B.S. in Bio and Brain Engineering from KAIST.

• Ph.D.: Learning, Design, and Technology, Penn State University, 2018
• M.S.: Cognitive Science and Engineering (HCI), Yonsei University, 2009
• B.S.: Bio and Brain Engineering, KAIST, 2007

Dr. Choi's research is centered on the integration of technology in learning environments, particularly focusing on AI in education, mobile and game-based learning, informal STEM learning, and makerspaces. His work explores how emerging technologies can support problem-solving, deepen engagement, and democratize access to learning, especially in underserved rural communities. He is particularly interested in the educational affordances of technologies and how they shape learning experiences in both formal and informal settings.

His recent publications reflect a strong trend in designing and evaluating technology-enhanced learning in libraries and informal spaces, with a growing emphasis on equity, accessibility, and the role of generative AI in education. Themes such as inclusive design, computational thinking, and online learning environments are recurrent across his work, often involving co-design with communities and practitioners.

Dr. Choi is the Principal Investigator of a federally funded grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services titled Family Makers: Online STEM Program Model to Support Rural Libraries, which supports the co-design of online engineering programs for rural children and families. His research has been published in leading journals including TechTrends, Computers in Human Behavior, and Information and Learning Science.

He advises graduate students, including doctoral candidate J. H. Kang, and has professional experience in game user experience design and GUI research, which enriches his academic perspective. Starting in Fall 2025, he will join Florida State University as an Assistant Professor in Instructional Systems and Learning Technologies.

His lab, the Family Makers Project, is a research-practice partnership with rural libraries and community engineers aimed at strengthening rural libraries as hubs for engineering learning and creativity. The project emphasizes culturally relevant curriculum design, community collaboration, and sustainable dissemination through workshops and toolkits.