Events
ScratchJr’s 10th Birthday Party at DevTech
We’re throwing a birthday party! Join the DevTech Research Group at from 12-3 PM EST on Sunday, March 16th, 2025 to celebrate 10 years of ScratchJr! For this free, in-person event at the DevTech lab on Boston College’s campus, children (of all ages!), families, educators, and more are invited to learn about and play with ScratchJr. The event will include tutorials, arts and crafts, games, storytelling, educator and family resources, all designed for ScratchJr. Attendees will leave with a ScratchJr project they love, some ScratchJr swag, and a smile on their face. Light refreshments will be provided.
Complete this google form to officially register for the event.
All registrants will be sent an email about parking and finding the DevTech space one week prior to the event. Additionally, stay tuned to our socials for sneak peaks at some brand new ScratchJr activities!
DevTech Beit Midrash Events
Virtual Reality Prayer – How does WHERE you pray affect HOW you pray?
by Oren Kaunfer, Jewish Community Day School
Wednesday 4/2/2025 from 11:00am to 12:00pm at the DevTech Lab, Carney Hall Room 306
VR Makom is a spiritual experiment and experience designed to increase middle school students’ sense of awe and wonder. Integrating Virtual Reality into Jewish prayer can create positive student experiences that have a lasting and transformative impact on their attitudes to prayer and spirituality. Oren will share data and anecdotes from his work and answer questions.
Oren Kaunfer is Madrich Ruchani (Spiritual Educator) at JCDS Boston’s Jewish Community Day School. Drawing on a diverse background ranging from Camp Ramah to the Institute for Jewish Spirituality to producing animation at MTV, Oren’s creativity, energy, and spirit elevate and energize the community, and infuse JCDS with genuine ruach (spirit). In 2018, Oren received The Covenant Foundation’s prestigious Pomegranate Prize for emerging Jewish educators and received a grant for his groundbreaking work bridging virtual reality and prayer. Oren is particularly interested in creating innovative and engaging t’fillah (prayer), and fostering meaningful connections to Judaism.
A potential dialogue between traditional Yeshiva learning and progressive pedagogies
by Prof. Zvi Beckerman, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Tuesday 5/27/2025 at 4:00pm at the DevTech Lab, Carney Hall Room 306
A socio-historical analysis of the development of yeshivas and their conversational practices, focusing on systematic evaluations of dialogues within traditional study pairs (Chavruta) and groups (Chabura). We explore these practices’ contributions to modern educational objectives, such as knowledge creation, dialogical and collaborative learning, and fostering critical thinking. Additionally, we discuss the degree of autonomy in yeshiva textual studies. This examination also considers whether Western educational traditions might benefit or find solutions to their challenges through these ancient learning methodologies.
Dr. Zvi Bekerman teaches anthropology of education at the School of Education, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and is a research fellow at The Harry S. Truman Research Institute for the Advancement of Peace in the same university. His main interests are in the study of cultural, ethnic and national identity, including identity processes and negotiation during intercultural encounters and in formal/informal learning contexts. He is particularly interested in how concepts such as culture and identity intersect with issues of social justice, intercultural and peace education, and citizenship education. In addition to publishing multiple papers in a variety of academic journals, Bekerman is the founding editor of the refereed journal Diaspora, Indigenous, and Minority Education: An International Journal.
Among his most recent books: Bekerman, Z., & Zembylas, M. (2017). Psychologized language in education: Denaturalizing a regime of truth, Palgrave Macmillan – Springer; Bekerman, Zvi (2016), The Promise of Integrated and Multicultural Bilingual Education: Inclusive Palestinian-Arab and Jewish Schools in Israel, Oxford University Press, 2016; Bekerman, Zvi & Michalinos Zembylas (2012), Teaching Contested Narratives Identity, Memory and Reconciliation in Peace Education and Beyond. London, Cambridge University Press; and Bekerman, Zvi; Geisen, Thomas (Eds.) (2012) International Handbook of Migration, Minorities and Education Understanding Cultural and Social Differences in Processes of Learning. New York: Springer. Claire McGlynn, Michalinos Zembylas, & Zvi Bekerman (Eds.) (2013) Integrated Education in Conflicted Societies. Palgrave, Mcmillan.
Past Events
BC Undergraduate Pizza Social at the DevTech Lab (9/27)
Join Us at the DevTech Research Lab!
BC undergrads, we’re excited to welcome you to the DevTech Research Group’s lab for a special pizza social on September 27th! DevTech is an interdisciplinary research lab that designs, implements, and studies computational tools, pedagogies, and approaches for promoting young children’s learning. Swing by to meet our director, Professor Marina Bers, get to know our team of graduate and undergraduate researchers, play with our educational technologies, and/or grab some free pizza! Whether you’re interested in research opportunities, learning more about what we do, or just having pizza with friends on a Friday, we’d love to have you!
Boston College’s Make-A-Thon: April 6-7, 2024
The DevTech Research Group has partnered with MakeBC, a student-led engineering club, to help host Boston College’s first Make-A-Thon. Similar to the concept of a hackathon, a make-a-thon challenges students to create a physical object in 24 hours. Students in the Boston College Make-a-thon will be given a choice of 4 tracks to compete in: Sustainability, Entrepreneurship, Developmental Technologies (DevTech), and Art. Along the DevTech track, students will be encouraged to design a learning tool for young children, and are welcome to draw inspiration from DevTech’s technologies and pedagogies. This is an opportunity for students to integrate their knowledge of education, human development, and psychology with engineering and technological design. No prior engineering experience is required: students of all academic backgrounds are encouraged to join!
Prizes will be awarded to the winners of each track. The event will run from April 6th to April 7th, with free meals and training workshops provided throughout.
Fun Sessions at the Discovery Museum: Sunday, October 25th 2023
Join the DevTech Research Group at the Discovery Museum for a series of Fun Sessions with ScratchJr! ScratchJr is a free programming language for children ages 5-7 which utilizes block programming to allow children to create their own interactive stories and games. Fun Sessions will consist of a one hour engaging activity and testing of a new adaptive game designed by the DevTech Research Group. Visit their website for tickets and more! If you are interested in assisting with this event, please email Ghaida Alrawashdeh for more information.
CreatedBy Festival @ Boston Children’s Museum: Sunday, October 22nd 2023
Join the DevTech Research Group at the CreatedBy Festival (hosted by Boston Children’s Museum) for a series of Fun Sessions with ScratchJr! ScratchJr is a free programming language for children ages 5-7 which utilizes block programming to allow children to create their own interactive stories and games. Fun Sessions will consist of a one hour engaging activity and testing of a new adaptive game designed by the DevTech Research Group. Visit their website for tickets and more! If you are interested in assisting with this event, please email Ghaida Alrawashdeh for more information.
Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month at the Museum of Science: Oct. 14th, 2023
Join the DevTech Research Group at the Museum of Science to celebrate Hispanic and Latinx Heritage Month for fun science and cultural offerings in English and Spanish! Programming will include featured speakers, family activities, enlightening live presentations, a special community storytelling event, and Boston-area performance and community groups. Check out their website for tickets and details! If you are interested in assisting with this event, please email Francisca Carocca Penailillo for more information.
Boston College’s Make-A-Thon: April 15-16, 2023
The DevTech Research Group has partnered with MakeBC, a student-led engineering club, to help host Boston College’s first Make-A-Thon. Similar to the concept of a hackathon, a make-a-thon challenges students to create a physical object in 24 hours. Students in the Boston College Make-a-thon will be given a choice of 4 tracks to compete in: Sustainability, Entrepreneurship, Developmental Technologies (DevTech), and Art. Along the DevTech track, students will be encouraged to design a learning tool for young children, and are welcome to draw inspiration from DevTech’s technologies and pedagogies. This is an opportunity for students to integrate their knowledge of education, human development, and psychology with engineering and technological design. No prior engineering experience is required: students of all academic backgrounds are encouraged to join!
Prizes will be awarded to the winners of each track. The event will run from April 15th to April 16th, with free meals and training workshops provided throughout.
Classes with Prof. Marina Bers
Prof. Bers teaches interdisciplinary courses focused on the design and use of learning technologies. These courses have a strong hands-on, project-based component. The current course offerings by semester are as follows:
Spring 2025
FORM 6150/CSCI2265: Tech Tools for Playful Learning
Students served: Undergraduate and Master’s students
Time: Thursdays 9:30 – 11:50 am
Location: DevTech Lab, Carney Hall Room 306
This course explores the design and use of new technologies for learning and engages students in current debates around educational technologies, computational thinking, coding and robotics. Students will learn how to develop, implement, and evaluate technology-rich curriculum and will design their own computational meaningful projects. They will visit K-2 classrooms to implement technology-rich curricula, will learn how to use video to document their experiences, and will become researchers to assess the thinking and learning fostered by the different tools.
FORM 8840: Design of Formative Experiences
Students served: Doctoral Students
Time: Wednesdays 10:00 am -12:20 pm
Location: DevTech Lab, Carney Hall Room 306
This is a PhD level seminar in which we will discuss relevant literature and focus on design aspects for learning settings that aim to help people engage in self actualization, community building, and growth.
Fall 2025
FORM 7210: Design, Innovation and Formative Experiences
Students served: Master’s and Doctoral Students
Time: Wednesdays 10:00 am -12:20 pm
Location: DevTech Lab, Carney Hall Room 306
This course explores the role that design and innovation can play in the development and implementation of technology-rich formative learning experiences in different settings such as schools, non-formal educational environments, community-based organizations, museums, etc. Students will read materials from a variety of disciplines such as design thinking, entrepreneurship, developmental psychology, learning sciences and artificial intelligence and will be exposed to expert guest speakers. In addition, students will gain design skills. Students will work on a final project of their choice to be determined in consultation with the professor, and will create a prototype, test it, evaluate it and revise it to meet the needs of the identified setting.
Spring 2026
FORM 6150: Tech Tools for Playful Learning
Students served: Undergraduate and Master’s students
Time: Thursdays 9:30 – 11:50 am
Location: DevTech Lab, Carney Hall Room 306
This course explores the design and use of new technologies for learning and engages students in current debates around educational technologies, computational thinking, coding and robotics. Students will learn how to develop, implement, and evaluate technology-rich curriculum and will design their own computational meaningful projects. They will visit K-2 classrooms to implement technology-rich curricula, will learn how to use video to document their experiences, and will become researchers to assess the thinking and learning fostered by the different tools.
FORM 7360: Applied Experiences in Learning, Design, and Technology
Students served: Doctoral Students
Time: Wednesdays 10:00 am -12:20 pm
Location: DevTech Lab, Carney Hall Room 306
Fall 2026
FORM 7210/8840: Design, Innovation and Formative Experiences
Students served: Master’s and Doctoral Students
Time: Wednesdays 10:00 am -12:20 pm
Location: DevTech Lab, Carney Hall Room 306
This course explores the role that design and innovation can play in the development and implementation of technology-rich formative learning experiences in different settings such as schools, non-formal educational environments, community-based organizations, museums, etc. Students will read materials from a variety of disciplines such as design thinking, entrepreneurship, developmental psychology, learning sciences and artificial intelligence and will be exposed to expert guest speakers. In addition, students will gain design skills. Students will work on a final project of their choice to be determined in consultation with the professor, and will create a prototype, test it, evaluate it and revise it to meet the needs of the identified setting.
Spring 2027
FORM 6150/CSCI2265: Tech Tools for Playful Learning
Students served: Undergraduate and Master’s students
Time: Thursdays 9:30 – 11:50 am
Location: DevTech Lab, Carney Hall Room 306
This course explores the design and use of new technologies for learning and engages students in current debates around educational technologies, computational thinking, coding and robotics. Students will learn how to develop, implement, and evaluate technology-rich curriculum and will design their own computational meaningful projects. They will visit K-2 classrooms to implement technology-rich curricula, will learn how to use video to document their experiences, and will become researchers to assess the thinking and learning fostered by the different tools.
FORM 7360: Applied Experiences in Learning, Design, and Technology
Students served: Doctoral Students
Time: Wednesdays 10:00 am -12:20 pm
Location: DevTech Lab, Carney Hall Room 306
Fall 2027
FORM 7210/8840: Design, Innovation and Formative Experiences
Students served: Master’s and Doctoral Students
Time: Wednesdays 10:00 am -12:20 pm
Location: DevTech Lab, Carney Hall Room 306
This course explores the role that design and innovation can play in the development and implementation of technology-rich formative learning experiences in different settings such as schools, non-formal educational environments, community-based organizations, museums, etc. Students will read materials from a variety of disciplines such as design thinking, entrepreneurship, developmental psychology, learning sciences and artificial intelligence and will be exposed to expert guest speakers. In addition, students will gain design skills. Students will work on a final project of their choice to be determined in consultation with the professor, and will create a prototype, test it, evaluate it and revise it to meet the needs of the identified setting.
Spring 2028
FORM 6150: Tech Tools for Playful Learning
Students served: Undergraduate and Master’s students
Time: Thursdays 9:30 – 11:50 am
Location: DevTech Lab, Carney Hall Room 306
This course explores the design and use of new technologies for learning and engages students in current debates around educational technologies, computational thinking, coding and robotics. Students will learn how to develop, implement, and evaluate technology-rich curriculum and will design their own computational meaningful projects. They will visit K-2 classrooms to implement technology-rich curricula, will learn how to use video to document their experiences, and will become researchers to assess the thinking and learning fostered by the different tools.
FORM 7360: Applied Experiences in Learning, Design, and Technology
Students served: Doctoral Students
Time: Wednesdays 10:00 am -12:20 pm
Location: DevTech Lab, Carney Hall Room 306
Fall 2028
FORM 7210/8840: Design, Innovation and Formative Experiences
Students served: Master’s and Doctoral Students
Time: Wednesdays 10:00 am -12:20 pm
Location: DevTech Lab, Carney Hall Room 306
This course explores the role that design and innovation can play in the development and implementation of technology-rich formative learning experiences in different settings such as schools, non-formal educational environments, community-based organizations, museums, etc. Students will read materials from a variety of disciplines such as design thinking, entrepreneurship, developmental psychology, learning sciences and artificial intelligence and will be exposed to expert guest speakers. In addition, students will gain design skills. Students will work on a final project of their choice to be determined in consultation with the professor, and will create a prototype, test it, evaluate it and revise it to meet the needs of the identified setting.
Spring 2029
FORM 6150: Tech Tools for Playful Learning
Students served: Undergraduate and Master’s students
Time: Thursdays 9:30 – 11:50 am
Location: DevTech Lab, Carney Hall Room 306
This course explores the design and use of new technologies for learning and engages students in current debates around educational technologies, computational thinking, coding and robotics. Students will learn how to develop, implement, and evaluate technology-rich curriculum and will design their own computational meaningful projects. They will visit K-2 classrooms to implement technology-rich curricula, will learn how to use video to document their experiences, and will become researchers to assess the thinking and learning fostered by the different tools.
FORM 7360: Applied Experiences in Learning, Design, and Technology
Students served: Doctoral Students
Time: Wednesdays 10:00 am -12:20 pm
Location: DevTech Lab, Carney Hall Room 306
Relevant Degree Programs
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Formative Education
Drawing faculty from the diverse disciplinary traditions of history and philosophy, anthropology and humanistic psychology, design thinking and the learning sciences, this program prepares future scholars and practitioners to examine the normative dimensions of formal and informal education, the development of the whole human being in sociocultural context, and the grand social challenges that now demand a fuller educational response.
Master of Arts (M.A.) in Learning, Design, and Technology
Design the future of learning
Today’s evolving world calls for researchers and practitioners who can help schools, nonprofits, companies, and governments design engaging, learning experiences that draw on the most current learning technologies and pedagogies. Led by DevTech Director, Professor Marina Bers, under the Department of Formative Education at the Lynch School of Education, the M.A. in Learning, Design, and Technology (LDT) will equip you with the hands-on design experience, interdisciplinary knowledge, and technical skills you’ll need to respond to that call.
To learn more about volunteer and paid opportunities at DevTech for students, visit our Join Us page for information.