Jafar Tavakoli

I'm Jafar Tavakoli, currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Learning Design and Technology at Purdue University. My passion lies in transforming education through Competency-Based Education (CBE), with a particular emphasis on dispositions—how individuals enact their knowledge and skills in authentic contexts.

As a tech-savvy educator and developer, I apply my programming skills to create educational applications that enhance learning in innovative and meaningful ways.

In addition to my background in instructional design, I have a strong interest in invention and innovation. My portfolio includes a range of tools and devices designed to address everyday challenges and support user-friendly solutions in both education and daily life.

I am also deeply passionate about Artificial Intelligence, especially the role of Generative AI in education. I’ve designed and trained custom GPT models to support student learning in instructional and professional development settings. One of my most exciting projects involved developing a 367-page instructional framework to train a custom GPT for Purdue’s Ti-BOT Program. The AI assistant provides scaffolded, inquiry-based guidance to help students navigate a competency-based learning environment.

In addition to my academic and research endeavors, I served as Vice President of Marketing for PALDT (Purdue Association of Learning Design and Technology) during the 2023–2024 academic year.

I also served as Vice President of the Purdue Student Chapter of NORD (National Organization for Rare Disorders). In this role, I helped raise awareness about rare diseases and organize events that foster collaboration among students, researchers, and healthcare professionals.

Finally, I contribute to the broader educational community through my voluntary role as Director of IT and Technology at the Virtual World Institute. I oversee the institute’s IT strategy and infrastructure, and support its mission to revolutionize learning through immersive technologies and AI. My work includes designing digital learning tools, developing online courses, and facilitating training to advance the adoption of innovative educational practices.

Life is all about learning:
To live is to learn, and to learn is to grow — and that’s the path we’re called to follow.