Hongxin Yan

I am Hongxin Yan, working with Centre for Learning Design and Development at Athabasca University since February 2008 as a Learning Designer.

Currently I am also in a Ph.D program (part-time) of educational technology in computer science offered by University of Eastern Finland, my research field is Personalized and Adaptive Learning.

As a learning designer, I am very enthusiastic on exploring how to design learning environments for online courses in effectiveness; how computer and online technologies facilitate students’ learning; and what can best motivate and engage students online. I am very interested in personalized and adaptive learning, competency-based education, learning analytics, and intelligent technologies. I believe education, rather than being a knowledge transmitter, should be a path of discovering and nurturing individual's talents and good natures.

I had once worked as a programmer for 7 years, and then an educational media analyst (multimedia producing, Flash and web programming) for 3 years.

I have a B.E. in Mechanics, and a M.E. in Mechanics (computer aided design), both from China. I also have a M.A. in educational technology from Concordia University in Montreal.