Prof. Dr. Douglas K. Hartman is a leading American scholar in the fields of educational technology and language learning. His research offers a vision of how educators can use AI effectively and ethically as the ‘GenAI Era’ unfurls.

Professor Hartman’s co-authored book “Anlama Stratejileri: Dijital Etkinlikler ile Dört Temel Dil Becerisi” (with Drs. Hayati Akyol & Özlem Baş) provides educators with a framework for using smart technologies as a thought partner, research assistant, learning designer, assessment developer, and co-writer. And his co-authored article “Can Artificial Intelligence Identify Reading Fluency and Level?” (with Drs. Mustafa Yıldız, Hasan Kağan Keskin, Saadin Oyucu, Murat Temur & Mücahit Aydoğmuş) examines the use of AI to assist with assessing children’s reading fluency.

During the 2023-2024 academic year, he was a visiting scholar at Gazi Üniversitesi. With support from TÜBİTAK, he partnered with Drs. Hayati Akyol, Mustafa Yıldız, and Serkan Düzgün to design and pilot an ‘AI for Academic Writing’ curriculum for graduate students at Turkish universities. He currently serves as advisor to a TÜBİTAK funded project directed by Prof. Dr. Dilek Altun of Bogazici University that equips preservice teachers for the AI era.

Dr. Hartman has been a keynote speaker at educational conferences across Europe, Asia, and North America for several decades. At Michigan State University, he has hosted several promising young educational researchers from Türkiye, collaborating on studies related to technology and language.

He has been a Visiting Professor at Columbia University (New York City) University of California (Berkeley), Gazi University (Türkiye), and Kazakh-American Free University (Kazakhstan), collaborating on projects that examine the innovative and ethical use of AI and ICTs in educational research. He recently was awarded the Doctorate of Humane Letters – Technological & Equity Innovation (honoris causa) for his scholarly and service contributions to education in Central Asia, MENA, Anatolia, and Thrace.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Özkan Çelik completed his primary, secondary, and high school education in the Acıpayam district of Denizli, Turkey. He earned his associate degree in Computer Programming from Ege University Tire Kutsan MYO in 2000 and his bachelor’s degree in Primary Education from Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University Faculty of Education in 2005. After working as a classroom teacher within the Ministry of National Education for a period of time, he continued his professional career in academia.
In 2010, he completed his master’s degree in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University, and in 2016, he received his Ph.D. in Primary Education from Gazi University with his dissertation titled “The Application of Creative Drama Method in Values Teaching Through Interdsciplinary Approach”. He was awarded the title of Associate Professor in 2021.
Dr. Çelik’s research interests include Life Studies education, creative drama education, and values education. He has served as a coordinator, researcher, and trainer in numerous projects supported by the European Union, TÜBİTAK (The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey), and university-based Scientific Research Projects (BAP).
After receiving his Creative Drama Leadership Certificate from the Ministry of National Education, Dr. Çelik began working as a Creative Drama Leader. Throughout this process, he has conducted workshops with children, teachers, and various adult groups. Additionally, he has served as an instructor in many in-service training seminars organized by the Ministry of National Education for teachers.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Özkan Çelik is currently a faculty member in the Department of Primary Education, Faculty of Education, Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University.