Seiji Isotani is the faculty director of the Learning Analytics and Artificial Intelligence master’s program at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education.
Dr. Isotani is renowned for his contributions to artificial intelligence in education (AIED) and the gamification of learning. For over 15 years, he has led significant advancements in understanding how people learn with interactive and intelligent educational technologies. His work also focuses on the design and implementation of public policies to ensure that every student receives the personalized support they need for fulfilling and meaningful educational experiences. Among his key accomplishments, Dr. Isotani has pioneered methodologies that integrate AI into resource-constrained educational environments (namely, AIED Unplugged) and has been instrumental in developing tools and procedures to personalize gamification in educational settings.
His work is highly regarded for its potential to create better learning environments and make education more accessible and effective globally. In recognition of his contributions to the field, Dr. Isotani was elected President of the International Artificial Intelligence in Education Society the 2025–2027 term. Since 2017, he has served as a technical and scientific advisor to the Brazilian Ministry of Education, contributing to projects and policies related to educational technologies. Dr. Isotani was a key contributor to the development of Brazil's K–12 Computer Science Curriculum and played a major role in shaping educational policies that have significantly impacted over 40 million students nationwide. He holds a Ph.D. in Information Engineering from Osaka University in Japan and completed postdoctoral research at Carnegie Mellon University. Before joining the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Isotani held professorship positions at Harvard University and the University of São Paulo.
