Guido Makransky

Guido Makransky is a Professor of Educational Psychology at the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Copenhagen. He serves as the leader of the Virtual Learning Lab (VLL) and heads the SCOPE (Social, Cultural, Organisational, Personality and Educational Psychology) section within the department. His academic journey includes positions as Associate Professor at the University of Copenhagen (2018-2022) and at the University of Southern Denmark (2014-2017), and Assistant Professor at the University of Southern Denmark (2012-2014).

Makransky earned his PhD in Psychology/Psychometrics from the University of Twente in 2012, an MSc in I/O Psychology from San Diego State University in 2004, and a BA in Psychology from the University of Georgia in 2000. His research focuses on how emerging technologies influence learning and behavioral change, with particular emphasis on virtual and extended reality, immersive simulations, and generative AI.

His research interests span educational psychology, educational technology, virtual reality applications in learning, behavioral change interventions, and environmental psychology. Makransky's work combines controlled laboratory studies with real-world experiments in classrooms and organizations, integrating theories from educational psychology with contemporary measurement methods. His research aims to generate evidence-based insights that can guide educators, instructional designers, and policymakers in developing better learning experiences.

Analysis of Makransky's recent publications reveals a strong focus on the theoretical foundations of immersive learning, particularly examining how embodiment, interactivity, and collaboration in virtual environments affect learning outcomes. His work spans multiple disciplines including educational psychology, health communication, environmental psychology, and human-computer interaction, demonstrating the interdisciplinary nature of his research on emerging technologies.

Makransky has secured significant research funding from various prestigious sources including the Tryg Foundation, EIT Health, Data+, Innovation Fund Denmark, and Eurostars. His grants focus on diverse applications of virtual reality in education, health communication, and behavioral change interventions.

As leader of the Virtual Learning Lab, Makransky directs a research team investigating the mechanisms of collaboration, learning, and behavioral change when using emerging technologies. His lab combines theoretical development with empirical testing to create evidence-based guidelines for educational technology implementation.