My primary research focus is on Competency-Based Education (CBE). Within this framework, I am particularly interested in the role of dispositions—how individuals enact their knowledge and skills in authentic contexts. I believe dispositions are often overlooked yet essential in preparing students to thrive in academic and professional settings.
As a researcher, I argue that fostering dispositions requires the ability to assess them meaningfully. Without reliable assessment, it is difficult to understand where learners stand or how best to support their development. Currently, I am working on designing tools for assessing dispositions—especially in computing and engineering education contexts—through my work with the Data-Driven Employer-Academia Partnership (DEAP) and the Educating Character Initiative (ECI).
With ECI, our goal is to integrate character trait development into STEM education, focusing on traits such as ethical behavior, perseverance, and collaboration. The tools I have developed for DEAP are already being used—or are planned to be used—in both computing and engineering technology courses, helping educators support character development through measurable, research-based practices.
In addition to my work in CBE and dispositions, I am also passionate about the intersection of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and learning design. One of my emerging research interests explores how learners interact with Generative AI (GAI) as a digital network for learning—how they use these tools, what kinds of support they seek, and how AI shapes their learning processes.
To explore these questions, I have launched a new research study (in progress) focused on student-AI interaction. I believe the results of this study will offer exciting insights into how GAI tools can be designed to better support self-directed, inquiry-based learning. My interest in this area is rooted in extensive hands-on experience: I have developed multiple AI-powered tools for instructional and professional contexts, including custom-trained GPT models for Purdue’s Ti-BOT program and the Virtual World Institute.
Research Experience
Research Assistant – Educating Character Initiative (ECI)
Purdue University – West Lafayette, IN, USA
2024–Present
Supervisor: Dr. Marisa Exter
Contribute to the Wake Forest-funded Institutional Impact Grant project, "Integrating Character Development in Engineering and Computing Undergraduate Courses."
Support the development of instructional materials and teaching tools aimed at integrating character trait development (e.g., ethical behavior, perseverance, collaboration) into undergraduate computing and engineering curricula.
Collaborate with faculty across partner institutions to create and adapt disposition-based educational resources for use in STEM classrooms.
Assist in advancing the project's broader goal of fostering holistic character development and measurable dispositions within formal STEM education.
This work has informed cross-disciplinary teaching practices and contributed to scalable educational models for integrating character education in higher education.
Research Assistant – DEAPening Employer Academic Partnerships (DEAP) Project
Purdue University – West Lafayette, IN, USA
2022–Present
Supervisor: Dr. Marisa Exter
Collaborate with the Data-Driven Employer-Academia Partnership (DEAP) team on projects focused on aligning computing education with industry needs.
Contributed to a $3 million NSF-funded project (2022–2024) identifying key skills and dispositions for computing professionals and informing curriculum redesign in four-year degree programs.
Currently support follow-up efforts, including the design and implementation of an assessment tool for evaluating teamwork and dispositions in Tuskegee University’s Computer Science program.
Designed and developed multiple Open Educational Resources (OERs) published on the DEAP website, supporting educators with research-based instructional materials.
Engage in weekly team meetings to report progress, align on tasks, and ensure successful project coordination—strengthening my project management and collaboration skills.
Participate in monthly faculty meetings, gaining experience in faculty collaboration and instructional material design for higher education contexts.
Fostered a strong sense of teamwork and collegiality, consistently supporting colleagues and embracing a disposition of willingness to help and commitment to shared success.
Through this experience, I developed key competencies in research collaboration, team communication, academic publishing, and producing constructive, real-world outcomes.
Acquired strong qualitative research skills, including proficiency in data analysis software such as Dedoose and NVivo.
Built expertise in literature review and reference management using Zotero, and developed a personal system for literature synthesis using Obsidian.
Published Research Papers
Note: In the realm of Computing Education Research, peer-reviewed conference proceedings hold greater significance than publications in journals.
Tagare, D., Janakiraman, S., Exter, M., Duan, S., Sabin, M., & Tavakoli, J. (August, 2023). Dispositions that Computing Professionals Value in the Workplace: Systematic Literature Review and Interviews with Professionals. In Proceedings of the ACM Conference on International Computing Education Research (ICER '23). Association for Computing Machinery, Chicago, IL, USA. https://doi.org/10.1145/3568813.3600118
Tagare, D., Tavakoli, J., Exter, M., Sabin, M., & Frezza, S. (2023). Beyond the Cognitive: Educator Readiness for Fostering Dispositions. Proceedings Frontiers in Education Conference. College Station, Texas: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, October, 2023.
Conference Presentation
Tavakoli, J., Dadashipour, F. (2025). Learning Python Programming with ChatGPT: A Comparative Study. 2025 AGSERS. Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States.
Tavakoli, J. (2024, March). Integrating Dispositions into Higher Education Course Design: Perspective, Strategies, and Assessment Methods. 2024 AGSERS. Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States.
Tavakoli, J., Kotangale, A., Exter, M., Tagare, D., & Sabin, M. (2023, October, 15-19). Dispositions in Computing and Implications for Instructional Design Education. 2023 Association for Educational Communications and Technology International Convention. Orlando, FL, United States
Kotangale, A., Tavakoli, J., & Janakiraman, S.(2023, October, 15-19). Exploring pedagogical practices in environmentally sustainable education in university engineering courses: A literature review. 2023 Association for Educational Communications and Technology International Convention. Orlando, FL, United States
Tavakoli, J., & Kotangake, A. (2023, April). Dispositions in Instructional Designing. 2023 AGSERS. Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States
Tavakoli, j. (2015, December). Introducing RWSkills application on Android OS as a new technique in reading, writing and online scaffolding. The Third Student Symposium on English Language Teaching and Translation. Allameh Mohaddes University, Nour, Mazandaran, Iran
Work Under Review
Tavakoli, J., Exter, M., & Kotangale, A., (under review). Integrating dispositions in instructional design: An exploratory study in higher education. Instructional Design.
Work in Progress
Koehler, A., Richardson, J., Ilobinso, A., Vilarinho-Pereira, D. R., Baydar, S., Dufault, K., Dong, L., Ramoutar, S., Song, J., Tavakoli, J., Yan, W., Yu, W., & Zhang, Y. (In progress). Examining the Design and Development of a Competency-Based Educational Technology Preparation Program [Manuscript in preparation]. Department of Curriculum and Instruction, Purdue University.
Tavakoli, J., Exter, M. (in progress). The missing link between competence and action: A literature review on dispositions. [Unpublished manuscript].
Tavakoli, J., Exter, M., & Dadashipour, F. (in progress). Initiating learning in the age of AI: A study of human-AI interaction in practice. [Manuscript in preparation].
Tagare, D., Tavakoli, J., Exter, M., Sabin, M., & Frezza, S. (In progress) Engineering educators’ readiness to foster dispositions.
Explanation: In this work in progress, we are at the second round of data analysis to capture educators readiness regarding integrating dispositions in their teaching practices.
Kotangale, A., Tavakoli, J., & Janakiraman, S. (In progress) Investigating teaching methods in environmentally sustainable education within university engineering courses: A review of existing literature.
Explanation: In this literature review work in progress, we try to explore pedagogical approaches used by engineering educators in environmental sustainability.