معرفی
Jill M Castek is Professor of Literacy, Technology & Bi/multilingual Learners & STEM Education in the Department of Teaching, Learning, and Sociocultural Studies at the University of Arizona's College of Education. As Graduate Advisor for the Second Language Acquisition and Teaching (SLAT) program and Co-Director of the Digital Innovation and Learning Lab (DIALL), she bridges research and practice in digital literacy development.
Dr. Castek earned her PhD in Education Psychology (Cognition and Instruction) from the University of Connecticut as a Neag fellow in the New Literacies Research Lab, followed by postdoctoral work at UC Berkeley's Lawrence Hall of Science. Her research examines how digital, visual, and audio storytelling fosters literate capacities across print and digital forms in classrooms and community spaces.
Her work centers on digital problem solving, critical media literacy, and equity-centered making practices in STEM education. She investigates intersections of disciplinary literacy, new media, and learning for bi/multilingual students, with strong emphasis on community-based applications through libraries and non-profits like Literacy Connects where she serves on the board.
Recent publications (2022-2025) reveal growing focus on AI-era teacher education, digital health literacy, and misinformation challenges, while maintaining core commitments to collaborative problem solving and expansive literacies frameworks. Her scholarship consistently addresses K-12 and adult learning contexts through interdisciplinary lenses.
Scientific recognition includes:
- Neag fellowship during doctoral studies
As Principal Investigator on NSF and IMLS grants, Dr. Castek advances digital equity through projects like the Making Equity Network (broadening STEM participation for underrepresented groups) and library-focused digital problem-solving initiatives serving economically vulnerable adults. Her leadership in the Technology Enhanced Language Learning (TELL) cluster hire demonstrates institutional impact.
Through DIALL, she cultivates innovations connecting digital storytelling with self-expression at individual and community levels, promoting workforce readiness via creative problem-solving approaches. Her board membership with Literacy Connects extends this community-engaged scholarship to Tucson-based literacy initiatives.
