Ahmet Simsar
Assistant Professor, Department of Teacher Education, Sharjah Education Academy

Education
PhD, Early Childhood Education, Florida State University, Tallahassee, 2016
MSE, Early Childhood Education, University Dayton, Dayton, 2013
BA, Early Childhood Education, Marmara University, Istanbul, 2009

Experience
Dr. Ahmet Simsar has over 14 years’ experience in education. In the early years of his career Dr. Simsar worked as Pre-K teacher, director of kindergarten school, department chair in early childhood education studies, taught and advised undergraduate and graduate classes in the USA and Turkey. He taught several classes in online, on campus, and hybrid. He worked with UNICEF and other local municipalities for improving teachers’ understanding of inclusive education, STEM education, and children’s 21st century skills. He gave training and workshops to Somalian parents for understanding early childhood education in US by working United Way of Central Minnesota, USA and Turkish parents by working with UNICEF and Development Foundations of Turkey for improving understanding of early childhood education in Turkey. He edited several books about STEM education in early years, science education for parents and children, and 21st century skills for children. He also wrote book chapters about science education, international education, children’s problem-solving skills, and children at risk. He joined several national and international conferences and attended as keynote speaker in Turkey, USA, Greece, Finland, and Azerbaijan. He currently serves as an editorial board member and reviewer in different national and international journals. His three of published research were awarded by Turkish Higher Education Institution. His research interests include; STEM education in early years, technology education, science education in early years, inclusive education in early years, parents’ education, multicultural education, outdoor education in early years, qualitative researches, quantitative researches, and mixed method studies.

Recent Publications
Konca, A.S, Izci, B. & Simsar, A. (2023). Evaluating popular STEM applications for young children. European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, https://doi.org/10.1080/1350293X.2023.2221414
Mart, M., Simsar, A., & Uyanik, G. (2022). The playground perception of Syrian refugee children. Child Indicators Research, 15(1), 349–372. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12187-021-09869-2
Simsar, A. (2021). Young children’s ecological footprint awareness and environmental attitudes in Turkey. Child Indicators Research, 14(4), 1387–1413. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12187-021-09810-7
Simsar, A., Doğan, Y., & Sezer, G. (2021). The ecocentric and anthropocentric attitudes towards different environmental phenomena: A sample of Syrian refugee children. Studies in Educational Evaluation, 70(101005), 1–12. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.stueduc.2021.101005