Soroush Sabbaghan
Affiliations
Associate Professor
Werklund School of Education, Specialization, Language and Literacy
Educational Leader in Residence, Generative AI
Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning, TI Academic and Research Team
Area Chair
Werklund School of Education, Specialization, Language and Literacy
Contact information
Web presence
Phone number
Office: 403.220.2702
Location
Office: EDT1008
For media enquiries, contact
Clayton MacGillivray
Content and Media Specialist
Email: clmacgil@ucalgary.ca
Twitter: @UCalgaryEduc
I'm looking for...
Funding
I am seeking funding to build a GenAI in Education Lab that supports research, tool development, teacher partnerships, student training, and knowledge mobilization.
Research partners
I am looking for research partners in education, computer science, school systems, policy, ethics, and industry who share interest in human-centred AI.
Background
Educational Background
PhD Curriculum and Learning, University of Calgary, 2015
PhD English Lang & Or Literature, Tehran Azad University, 2011
Biography
Dr. Soroush Sabbaghan is an Associate Professor in the Werklund School of Education and the inaugural Generative AI Educational Leader in Residence at the Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning at the University of Calgary. Recognized nationally for his contributions to educational innovation, Dr. Sabbaghan’s research focuses on the intersection of artificial intelligence and education in Canada , examining the ethical integration, governance, and pedagogical implications of Generative AI (GenAI) in K-12 and higher education. His work centres on GenAI critical literacy, human-centred educational design, and the co-creation of AI-powered tools that support teacher agency, academic integrity, and inclusive learning environments. He is the editor of Navigating Generative AI in Higher Education: Ethical, Theoretical, and Practical Perspectives, and his applied research is actively supported by national funding bodies including SSHRC and Mitacs.
Research
Areas of Research
Dr. Soroush Sabbaghan’s scholarly program sits at the intersection of artificial intelligence, educational ethics, and human-centred learning design. As an Associate Professor in the Werklund School of Education and the inaugural Generative AI Educational Leader in Residence at the Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning, his work shapes institutional standards, pedagogical policy, and classroom practice in Canada’s post-secondary landscape.
Key Areas of Scholarly Contribution:
- Generative AI Literacy & Governance: Research investigating how students and educators conceptualize and utilize generative AI as a learning support, emphasizing critical literacy, professional judgment, and student agency over simple automation.
- Pedagogical Ethics & Assessment: Scholarship examining how generative AI disrupts traditional, artifact-based assessment, exploring the reshaping of academic integrity, learner accountability, and pedagogical ethics in AI-augmented environments.
- Applied Educational Technology & Design: The conceptualization and development of AI-powered applications designed to foster inclusive, accessible, and efficient educational environments.
- National & International Leadership: Serving as the editor of the volume Navigating Generative AI in Higher Education: Ethical, Theoretical and Practical Perspectives (Edward Elgar Publishing), which compiles global insights on educational governance, teaching practice, and policy. Research and applied design initiatives are supported by national funding bodies, including the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and Mitacs.
Participation in university strategic initiatives
Courses
| Course number | Course title | Semester |
|---|---|---|
| EDER 619.70 | Foundations of Generative AI in Educational Contexts | Summar 2026 |
| EDER 619.70 | Foundations of Generative AI in Educational Contexts | Summar 2025 |
| EDER 600 LEC 04 04 | Research Methodology Education | 2021 |
| EDER 604 LEC 07 07 | Collaboratory of Practice | 2021 |
| EDER 604 LEC 09 09 | Collaboratory of Practice | 2020 |
| EDER 66920 LEC 02 02 | Aspect of Secd Lang & Culture | 2021 |
| EDER 66927 LEC 04 04 | Aspect of Secd Lang & Culture | 2021 |
| EDER 66950 LEC 04 04 | Aspect of Secd Lang & Culture | 2021 |
| EDER 66973 LEC 01 01 | Aspect of Secd Lang & Culture | 2020 |
| EDUC 456 SEC 20 S20 | Assessment | 2021 |
Projects
I developed SMARTIE, the Strategic Module Assistant for Rubrics, Tasks, and Inclusive Education, an AI-powered course design tool that supports instructors in creating more inclusive, accessible, and pedagogically aligned course outlines. SMARTIE helps educators develop learning outcomes, assessments, rubrics, learning activities, and equity-informed course components. The project reflects my broader research interest in generative AI in education, AI literacy, human-centred educational technology, and responsible AI integration in higher education.
Awards
- Experiential Learning Initiatives, University of Calgary. 2025
- Teaching in Online Environments, University of Calgary. 2021
Publications
- Examining Canadian Undergraduates’ Perspectives with Using GenAI for Learning. Grenz, A.-K., Sabbaghan, S., & Jacobsen, M.. Canadian Journal of Learning and Technology. 1-20. (2026)
- Navigating Generative AI in Higher Education Ethical, Theoretical and Practical Perspectives. Edgar. (2025)
- Navigating the Ethical Frontier: Graduate Students’ Experiences with Generative AI-Mediated Scholarship. Sarah Elaine Eaton. International Journal of Artificial Intelligence in Education. (2025)
- The Role of AI-Powered Personas in Developing Graduate Interviewing Skills. Soroush Sabbaghan and Barbara Brown. International Journal on Innovations in Online Education. (2024)
- None of the Above: Integrity Concerns of Standardized English Proficiency Tests. Sabbaghan, S., Fazel, I. . Springer. (2023)
- The Multimodal Effects of Voice-Based Asynchronous Technology-Mediated Communication on EAP Speaking Performance. Sabbaghan, S., Peglar, M., Tweedie, G.. TESL Canada Journal. 36(3), 82 - 109. (2019)
- Transcending contemporary obsessions: The development of a model for teacher professional development. Preciado-Babb, A. P., Metz, M., Davis, B., & Sabbaghan, S. In S. Llinares & O. Chapman (Eds.), Tools and Processes in Mathematics Teacher Education, Volume 2 of The International Handbook of Mathematics Teacher Education (2nd Ed). SENSE|Brill Publishers. (2019)
- The role of continuous assessment and effective teacher response in engaging All Students. Preciado-Babb, P., Metz, M., Sabbaghan, S., & Davis, B. In M. Civil (Author) & R. Hunter, B. Herbel-Eisenmann, N. Planas, & D. Wagner (Eds.), Mathematical discourse that breaks barriers and creates space for marginalized learners (pp. 101-120). Rotterdam: Sense. (2018)
- Enhancing student assessment through veedback. Sabbaghan, S. In A.P. Preciado Babb, L. Yeworiew, & S. Sabbaghan (Eds.) Selected Proceedings of the IDEAS Conference 2017: Leading Educational Change (pp. 93-103). Calgary, Canada: Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary. (2017)
- Juxtaposing Mathematical Extensions with Cognitively Loaded Questions in the Mathematics Classroom. Sabbaghan, S., Preciado Babb, P., Metz, M., Pinchbeck, G., Aljarrah, A., & Davis, B. In M. Takeuchi, A.P. Preciado Babb, & J. Lock. IDEAS 2016: Designing for Innovation Selected Proceedings. Paper presented at IDEAS 2016: Designing for Innovation, Calgary, Canada. Calgary, Canada: Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary. 213-223. (2016)
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