Higher Education Institutions
Design an intelligent learning system for a university course
0102030407
Applied Research · University Teaching · Measurable Impact
From Research to Practice:
Knowledge That Builds Better Learning
I investigate educational technology, AI in education, instructional design, and e-learning quality—then translate findings into teaching practice, course development, and digital solutions that can be evaluated and improved.
Research focus areas
- AI in Education
- Instructional Design & E-learning
- Learning Analytics & Measurement
- E-learning Quality & Governance
Academic & Applied Perspective
Research and Teaching That Turn Knowledge into Educational Impact
In educational technology, AI in education, e-learning, and digital transformation.
This pathway integrates research in educational technology and AI with university teaching, professional development, and the design of educational solutions tested in real institutional contexts.
Research informs course and practice design, while field experience generates new questions that return to investigation, analysis, measurement, and continuous improvement.
Research
Investigating learning, interaction, AI, and the quality of digital environments.
University Teaching
Turning knowledge into courses, experiences, activities, and assessments that support deep learning.
Professional Development
Enabling faculty, teachers, and trainers to apply effective practices and tools.
Institutional Practice
Testing solutions in universities and educational organizations and measuring impact before scale.
Resulting value
Institutional Value in Practice
- Evidence-informed decisions
- Continuously improved courses
- Solutions tested before scale
- Impact measured and improved
Seven Research Themes Shaping Responsible Digital and Intelligent Learning
My research focuses on the design, development, and evaluation of digital and intelligent learning systems, and on the responsible use of AI to improve educational quality, institutional effectiveness, and measurable learning outcomes across Arab and Islamic contexts.
Read the full research vision
This agenda connects instructional design, adaptation, analytics, assessment, quality, and capability building within an ethical governance framework. It moves beyond isolated tools toward integrated systems that generate interpretable evidence and support responsible educational and institutional decisions.
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Design
Intelligent Learning Environments
Designing flexible digital and hybrid environments centred on learners, their needs, and contexts.
Adaptive LearningLearning ExperienceAccessibilityMicrolearningExplore theme -
IntelligenceAdvanced research direction
Generative AI & Agents
Developing systems that understand course and learner context and provide personalised support under human oversight.
Generative AIAgentic AIRAGHuman OversightExplore theme -
Intelligence
Analytics & Interventions
Turning learning data into interpretable decisions and personalised interventions before learners struggle.
Learning AnalyticsPredictive InterventionMastery EstimationExplainable AIExplore theme -
Quality
Future of Assessment
Redesigning assessment to evaluate thinking, performance, and learning processes rather than final products alone.
Authentic AssessmentProcess EvidenceAI DisclosureDigital PortfolioExplore theme -
Quality
Quality & Governance
Extending quality assurance across courses, platforms, data, algorithms, privacy, and institutional impact.
Quality AssuranceAI GovernanceMaturity ModelsAlgorithmic AuditExplore theme -
Human
Digital & AI Competencies
Enabling educators and leaders to turn AI tools into responsible and measurable practices.
AI LiteracyFaculty DevelopmentCritical ThinkingTraining TransferExplore theme -
Human
Islamic & Human-Centered Ethics
Building an applied framework balancing innovation with justice, trust, privacy, accountability, and human dignity.
Islamic EthicsHuman DignityResponsible AIAccountabilityExplore theme
Explore the Research Themes
01Design and Evaluation of Digital and Intelligent Learning EnvironmentsView details
Designing flexible digital and hybrid environments centred on learners, their needs, and contexts.
Study topics
- Adaptive and personalised learning
- Microlearning and project-based learning
- Accessibility and learner experience
- Design impact evaluation
Proposed research questions
- Proposed: How do adaptation patterns affect persistence and motivation?
- Proposed: Which criteria best evaluate learner experience in intelligent environments?
Potential methods
Design-based researchMixed methodsUsability testing
Expected outputs
- Design models
- Evaluation criteria
- Measurement tools
- Prototypes
02Generative AI and Intelligent Educational AgentsView details
Developing systems that understand course and learner context and provide personalised support under human oversight.
Study topics
- Large language models and agents
- Retrieval-augmented generation
- Accuracy, hallucination, and explainability
- Human oversight and accountability
Proposed research questions
- Proposed: How does course-context awareness affect agent effectiveness?
- Proposed: What degree of autonomy is appropriate for each educational task?
Potential methods
Experimental studiesRAG evaluationHuman-in-the-loop studies
Expected outputs
- Educational agents
- Oversight frameworks
- Reliability criteria
03Adaptive Learning, Learning Analytics, and Predictive InterventionsView details
Turning learning data into interpretable decisions and personalised interventions before learners struggle.
Study topics
- Risk and dropout prediction
- Mastery and self-regulation
- Dashboards and recommendations
- Fairness and intervention impact
Proposed research questions
- Proposed: Which early signals produce useful and explainable interventions?
Potential methods
Predictive modellingLearning analyticsIntervention studies
Expected outputs
- Predictive models
- Dashboards
- Intervention protocols
04The Future of Assessment in the Age of AIView details
Redesigning assessment to evaluate thinking, performance, and learning processes rather than final products alone.
Study topics
- Authentic and performance assessment
- Learning-process evidence
- AI-use disclosure
- Portfolios and oral defence
Proposed research questions
- Proposed: How can process evidence distinguish human and AI contributions?
Potential methods
Assessment designRubric validationPerformance studies
Expected outputs
- Assessment models
- Performance rubrics
- Disclosure policies
05Quality Assurance, Accreditation, and AI GovernanceView details
Extending quality assurance across courses, platforms, data, algorithms, privacy, and institutional impact.
Study topics
- Institutional readiness and maturity
- Data governance and retention
- Algorithmic auditing
- Responsible accreditation of AI systems
Proposed research questions
- Proposed: Which governance maturity indicators support responsible accreditation of educational AI?
Potential methods
Delphi studiesMaturity modellingPolicy analysis
Expected outputs
- Quality frameworks
- Maturity models
- Audit tools
06Digital and AI Competencies for Educators and FacultyView details
Enabling educators and leaders to turn AI tools into responsible and measurable practices.
Study topics
- AI literacy
- Output and bias verification
- Activity and assessment design
- Training transfer
Proposed research questions
- Proposed: What explains the transfer of AI competencies from training to practice?
Potential methods
Competency modellingTraining evaluationLongitudinal studies
Expected outputs
- Competency frameworks
- Development programmes
- Evaluation tools
07Islamic and Human-Centered Ethics of AI in EducationView details
Building an applied framework balancing innovation with justice, trust, privacy, accountability, and human dignity.
Study topics
- Justice and non-discrimination
- Trust and privacy
- Accountability and human oversight
- Public benefit and learner dignity
Proposed research questions
- Proposed: How can Islamic and human-centred principles become auditable governance controls?
Potential methods
Normative analysisFramework developmentExpert validation
Expected outputs
- Ethical framework
- Risk matrix
- Governance guidance
Integrated Research Direction
From Isolated Tools to Responsible, Measurable Systems
Ethics and governance provide the frame connecting design, intelligence, data, assessment, quality, and competencies.
- From tools to integrated systems
- From satisfaction to measurable impact
- From chatbots to context-aware agents
- From descriptive analytics to proactive interventions
- From product assessment to process evidence
- From individual use to institutional governance
- From imported ethics to an applied Arab-Islamic framework
Priority Application Contexts
Contexts where themes become models, trials, and institutional evidence.
Learning Management Systems
Integrate a contextual agent and predictive interventions
0102030405
Training and Professional Development Centres
Measure transfer from training to practice
010306
Teacher and Faculty Development
Build an AI competency pathway
040607
Quality and Accreditation Systems
Develop an AI maturity and audit model
040507
AI-Enabled Learning Platforms
Evaluate reliability, fairness, and human oversight
02030507
Education and Training in Saudi Arabia and the Arab Region
Adapt models to language, context, and culture
01050607
Publications
Selected Research & Publications
Selected examples of academic work. Official sources and personal academic profiles are added only after verification.
Effectiveness of an AI-Based Adaptive Learning Environment in Developing Creative Thinking Skills Among University Students
Publisher: Journal of Educational Sciences — Experimental Studies
Keywords: AI, Adaptive Learning, Creative Thinking
View APA citation
El-Mahdi, M. (2024). Effectiveness of an AI-Based Adaptive Learning Environment in Developing Creative Thinking Skills Among University Students. Journal of Educational Sciences, 32(2), 145-178.
Ethics of Deploying Large Language Models in Higher Education: A Proposed Framework from an Islamic Perspective
Publisher: Research in Education and AI
Keywords: AI Ethics, LLMs, Higher Education, Islamic Perspective
View APA citation
El-Mahdi, M. (2025). Ethics of Deploying Large Language Models in Higher Education: A Proposed Framework from an Islamic Perspective. Research in Education and AI, 14(1), 89-112.
Research Projects
Research Projects
Applied research projects in partnership with educational institutions, testing digital solutions and AI tools in real educational contexts.
1+Active Research Project
RAGCore Technology
2023–25Project Cycle
AppliedReal Institutional Context
In Progress
2023 — 2025
Developing a Smart Assessment System Using RAG
The project explores a smart assessment system using Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) over course content to provide personalized learner feedback, with emphasis on accuracy, explainability, and human oversight. Sample details and quantitative findings remain unpublished until the evidence register is complete.
GoalAssessment system generating course-grounded feedback
ApproachDesign-based research · Field testing · Impact analysis
OutputsWorking prototype · Assessment framework · Publishable evidence
Teaching
University Teaching
I teach courses in Educational Technology, Digital Instructional Design, E-Learning, and AI in Education at both undergraduate and graduate levels. My methodology integrates theory with practice through real-world projects.
2Core Courses
2Academic Levels
9+Learning Modules
100%Applied Projects
Undergraduate
Educational Technology & E-Learning
Educational Technology Department · Undergraduate Level
A foundational course building learners' understanding of digital learning systems from design through assessment and analytics.
- 01Fundamentals of Educational Systems Design
- 02Learning Management Systems (LMS) Administration
- 03Interactive Digital Content Design
- 04E-Assessment and Learning Analytics
Graduate
AI in Education
Master's in Educational Technology · Graduate Level
An advanced course exploring AI applications in personalization, analytics, and ethics — culminating in an applied project.
- 01AI Applications in Personalizing Learning Paths
- 02Large Language Models (LLMs) in Education
- 03Predictive Learning Analytics
- 04Ethics of AI Deployment in Education
- 05Designing an Educational AI Assistant (Applied Project)
Professional Training
Training Programs & Professional Workshops
I deliver training programs and professional workshops for teachers, faculty members, and e-learning managers, particularly in AI in Education and Digital Transformation. Programs are practical, culminating in applied projects.
40Training Hours
5Intensive Days
5Curriculum Modules
1Applied Project
Training Program
Leveraging AI in Education: From Theory to Practice
40Hours · 5 Days
BeneficiarySaudi Electronic University
Target AudienceFaculty & Instructional Designers
FormatWorkshops + Capstone Project
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AI Fundamentals for Educators
Core AI concepts in pedagogical language — no programming required — with examples from university settings.
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LLMs in Educational Content Design
Using LLMs to generate activities, assessments, and learning content with reviewable quality.
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Building an Educational AI Assistant Using RAG
Designing a course-grounded assistant with accuracy controls and human oversight.
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Ethics of AI Deployment in Education
Practical framework for fairness, privacy, disclosure, and accountability in AI use.
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Applied Project: AI-Enhanced Learning Unit
Design and deliver a complete learning unit integrating content, activities, assessment, and AI assistant.
The program ends with an applied project participants can transfer directly to their courses or training programs.
Transferable Output
Conferences
Conference Participation & Events
Research papers and lectures at international and regional conferences specializing in Educational Technology and AI in Education.
Conference Pending verification
E-Learning and Artificial Intelligence Conference
Event: E-Learning and Artificial Intelligence Conference · Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia · Year: 2025 · Role: Participation role pending verification
Conference Pending verification
International Educational Technology Conference
Event: International Educational Technology Conference · Location: Cairo, Egypt · Year: 2024 · Role: Participation role pending verification
Symposium Pending verification
Digital Transformation in Higher Education Symposium
Event: Digital Transformation in Higher Education Symposium · Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates · Year: 2023 · Role: Participation role pending verification
Thesis Supervision
Thesis & Dissertation Supervision
I supervise Master's and PhD theses in Educational Technology and AI in Education, providing methodological and research support throughout all thesis stages.
Thesis supervision details will be added soon — for co-supervision inquiries, contact me directly.
Research, Teaching, and Academic Collaboration Questions
Practical answers about supervision, research collaboration, programme development, peer review, and academic events.
SupervisionDo you supervise theses or joint research projects?
I consider supervision or co-supervision when the study aligns with educational technology, AI in education, e-learning, learning analytics, quality, or governance. Participation depends on three factors:
- How closely the topic aligns with the field.
- Availability and the scope of support required.
- The university’s or academic institution’s formal requirements.
Research CollaborationWhat forms of research collaboration are available?
Possible forms include joint studies, measurement-tool development, educational interventions, intelligent agents or platforms, learning-data analysis, and quality or governance reports, subject to a clear scope and agreed roles.
Programme DevelopmentCan joint courses or programmes be developed across institutions?
Yes, when learning outcomes, institutional roles, accreditation, content ownership, and the measurement and assessment plan are clear. Work normally starts with diagnosis and a jointly defined scope.
Peer ReviewDo you participate in peer review or academic committees?
I may participate in peer review and academic committees covering educational technology, e-learning, AI in education, instructional design, and digital-course quality, depending on scope and availability.
Events & TrainingDo you deliver talks or workshops at conferences and events?
I deliver applied talks and workshops on AI in education, educational agents, instructional design, authentic assessment, digital transformation, and e-learning quality, subject to the event scope, audience, and availability.
Ask a Question or Explore a Collaboration Opportunity
Choose the path that best matches your needs, from an academic inquiry to a joint research, training, or institutional project.
Have a Question That Wasn’t Answered?
Send an inquiry related to research, teaching, academic supervision, peer review, or conference participation.
- Academic inquiry
- Supervision or review
- Academic invitation
Have an Idea for Collaboration?
Discuss a joint research project, course development, professional training programme, or an intelligent educational solution.
- Joint research
- Course or programme development
- Intelligent learning solution