Distance Education · Learning Analytics · Instructional Design

Alper Tolga Kumtepe

Professor of Distance Education and Dean of the Vocational School of Information Technologies at Anadolu University. Former Vice Rector responsible for the Open Education System serving 1.2 million learners.

Ph.D., Curriculum & Instruction (Educational Technology), Florida State University · Member, National Distance Education Policy Board, Turkish Council of Higher Education (YÖK)

30+years in education research & practice
30funded projects with UNDP, ILO, EU, GIZ, TÜBİTAK
45+refereed articles, books and chapters
9doctoral and master's theses supervised

About

I study how people learn at a distance and how institutions can design, deliver and evaluate digital learning at scale. My work sits at the intersection of instructional systems design, measurement and evaluation, motivation theory and learning analytics.

Over the past two decades I have led the production of open-education materials for more than a million adult learners, coordinated blended-learning programmes for refugees and host communities across Türkiye, and advised national policy on distance education after the pandemic. I teach research methods, measurement and evaluation, project management in distance education, and learning theory at undergraduate and graduate levels, and I supervise doctoral research on learner profiling, volition and analytics-based feedback.

Research interests

Learner–content interaction · motivational design (ARCS-V) · volition · transactional distance · learning analytics and early-warning systems · gifted identification and scale validation.

Practice

Blended and open learning design at institutional scale · integrated training management systems · e-learning quality assurance · monitoring and impact evaluation for international development programmes.

Service

National Distance Education Policy Board (YÖK), since 2020 · Board, Center for Computer Research and Applications, Anadolu University · reviewer and editor for open and distance learning journals.

Education

DegreeInstitutionFieldYear
Ph.D.College of Education, Florida State University, USACurriculum and Instruction (minor in Educational Technology)2005
M.S.College of Education, Florida State University, USACurriculum and Instruction2000
B.A.College of Communication Sciences, Anadolu University, TürkiyeEducational Communication1995

Professional Experience

Academic appointments and leadership roles at Anadolu University and Florida State University.

  • 2025 – 2026

    Dean, Vocational School of Information Technologies

    Anadolu University, Eskişehir

    Coordinating the foundation of the School; academic and administrative leadership; curriculum development, faculty recruitment, strategic planning, budgeting and quality assurance aligned with industry and technological change.

  • 2024

    Vice Rector

    Anadolu University

    Responsible for the Open Education System, Human Resources and Public Relations.

  • 2025 – present

    Board Member, Center for Computer Research and Applications

    Anadolu University

    Strategic oversight, research impact and institutional collaboration for innovative computer applications.

  • 2020 – present

    Board Member, National Distance Education Policy Board

    Turkish Council of Higher Education (YÖK), Ankara

    Twelve-expert board established in September 2020 to provide policy revisions and good practice on distance education to all universities in Türkiye.

  • 2019 – present

    Professor, College of Distance Education

    Anadolu University

    Undergraduate and graduate teaching in measurement and evaluation, learning technologies, learning theory and research approaches; supervision of master's and doctoral dissertations; externally funded project leadership.

  • 2018 – 2019

    Associate Dean, College of Distance Education

    Anadolu University

    Directed the Center for Research and Development in eLearning: preparation and delivery of textbooks, videos, synchronous sessions, e-books, online quizzes and interactive content for 1.2 million adult distance learners; managed the Online Turkish Language Program; supervised 120 staff; LMS analytics for continuous improvement and evaluation reporting to university leadership.

  • 2016 – 2018

    Assistant Director, Center for Research and Development in eLearning

    Anadolu University, College of Distance Education

    Research design and leadership of junior academic staff; learning analytics on LMS data; visual analytics of social, cognitive and environmental variables in the learning process; evaluation reporting.

  • 2014 – 2019

    Associate Professor, College of Distance Education

    Anadolu University
  • 2006 – 2014

    Assistant Professor, College of Distance Education

    Anadolu University
  • 2004 – 2005

    Researcher, Florida Center for Reading Research

    Florida Department of Education, Tallahassee

    Evaluation of reading programmes in elementary and secondary public schools; state data analysis.

  • 2001 – 2005

    Research and Graduate Assistant

    Florida State University

    Concurrent and predictive validity of the Gifted Rating Scales; Learning Resources Center, College of Education.

  • 1995 – 1998

    Research and Teaching Assistant

    Department of Educational Communications, Anadolu University

Projects

Thirty funded projects since 2006 — coordination, instructional design, research and external evaluation. Select an entry to read the scope.

Current

2025 – 2027Today's Youth, Future Jobs Project Coordinator · UNDP Türkiye & EU Delegation · Anadolu University
Design, development and implementation of a Community and Learning Management System (CLMS) for the Digi Youth Vocational Education and Training Centers. Supervision of instructional designers, ICT specialists and content developers; platform development cycle from technical design to piloting and QA; alignment with international digital-learning and accessibility standards; learner-engagement analytics; reporting to UNDP, the Union of Municipalities of Türkiye and the EU Delegation.
2025 – 2027Skill Development for Improved Employability (INSURE) Project Coordinator · Facility for Refugees in Türkiye III · Anadolu University
A 36-month project building an Integrated Training Management System of 98 modules on Turkish language and employability skills for Syrians under Temporary Protection and Turkish citizens. Supervision of a 78-person multidisciplinary team; production schedule and QA; training of subject-matter experts; pilot programmes for MoNE teachers; LMS analytics; field monitoring and reporting to MoNE, İŞKUR and UNDP.
2023 – 2025Learning Analytics-Based Performance Evaluation and Feedback System Researcher · Anadolu University Scientific Research Board, SBA-2023-131
Design and impact assessment of an analytics-based performance evaluation and feedback system: methodology and instruments, data collection and analysis, interim and final reports, publications and IRB compliance.

International development & adult learning

2022 – 2024Improvement of Legal Aid Practices for Access to Justice for All, Phase II Project Coordinator · UNDP / Union of Turkish Bar Associations · ANATEK
Integrated Training Management System for five legal-aid themes; material-development training for lawyer content experts; e-learning content and pilot trainings; a 40-person team; LMS analytics and stakeholder reporting to UTBA and UNDP.
2024Impact Evaluation of EPALE National Support Services Türkiye Project Coordinator · Ministry of National Education
Evaluation plan and instruments; site visits to Public Education Centers in nine cities and online interviews; results reported to the Ministry of National Education.
2024Reintegration of School-Age Open Education Students into Formal Education — Impact Evaluation Project Coordinator · Ministry of National Education
Evaluation plan, instruments, site visits in eight cities and online interviews; reporting to the Ministry.
2022 – 2023Blended Courses at Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University Project Coordinator · Stichting SPARK
Instructional and technical support for faculty designing blended courses; multidisciplinary production team; LMS analytics; field monitoring.
2022Monitoring of Actions Financed under the Facility for Refugees in Turkey (PIKTES II) Consultant, Co-Monitor · ECORYS Nederland
External evaluation of Promoting Integration of Syrian Kids into the Education System (PIKTES) II through interviews and site observations with students, parents, teachers, principals and MoNE executives.
2021 – 2022Employability in the Renewable Energy Sector for Syrian Refugees and Host Communities Project Coordinator · UNDP Turkey
Blended-learning system for MoNE Public Education Centers on solar panel and photovoltaic system installation, maintenance and repair; production team leadership, LMS analytics, field monitoring.
2021 – 2022Cooperatives' Needs Assessment for a Self-Learning Platform Project Coordinator · International Organization for Migration (IOM)
Evaluation plan and instruments; site visits to local cooperatives; reporting to IOM.
2021 – 2022More and Better Jobs for Women Senior Online Education Content Design Expert · International Labour Organization (ILO)
E-learning materials for adult participants; production team supervision; LMS analytics and reporting to ILO.
2020 – 2021Blended Courses at Gaziantep University Project Coordinator · Stichting SPARK
Guidance for faculty designing blended courses; production team, LMS analytics, field monitoring and reporting to SPARK.
2020Early Childhood Education for Syrian and Vulnerable Turkish Children Short-Term Expert · GIZ / German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development
Desk study and strategy report on the professional development of pre-school teachers and educators in Türkiye.
2018 – 2021Turkey Resilience Project in Response to the Syria Crisis (TRP) Project Coordinator · UNDP Turkey, FTI-EUTF
Blended Turkish language programme (A1–B2) for 52,000 Syrian adult refugees; production team leadership; LMS analytics; reporting to UNDP and MoNE.
2018 – 2021E-Learning Curriculum for Entrepreneurship Trainings Senior Instructional Designer · KOSGEB
Course-design training for content experts; supervision of e-learning material development and participant learning; reporting to KOSGEB.
2012 – 2014Civic Training for Conscripts Adult Training Expert · UNDP Turkey
Instructional scheduling, site visits, qualitative and quantitative monitoring; reporting to UNDP and the Turkish Armed Forces.

Research grants

2019 – 2021Learner Profiles, Achievement Prediction and Early Intervention in LMS Principal Investigator · TÜBİTAK 1001, No. 118K100
Predicting factors affecting achievement and interaction with e-learning materials on the LMS; research team supervision; data-collection tools; interim and final reports.
2018 – 2021TEFL-ePAL: e-Learning for English Teaching in Palestinian HEIs Researcher · European Commission
Supervision of e-learning material development; e-learning QA consulting; internal evaluation report.
2017 – 2019TeSLA: Adaptive Trust-based e-Assessment System for Learning Researcher · Horizon 2020 ICT
Consulting on e-learning material development; internal evaluation report.
2014 – 2015Transactional Distance in Synchronous Learning Environments Principal Investigator · Anadolu University
Factors predicting students' transactional distance in distance education.
2013 – 2015ARCS-V Motivational Design: Motivation, Self-Regulation, Attitude and Achievement Principal Investigator · Anadolu University
Effects of the ARCS-V motivational design model on distance learners.
2010 – 2012Networked Curricula (NetCU) Researcher · EU Lifelong Learning Programme, EADTU
Local-partner evaluation plan, data collection and reporting to the coordinating partner.
2007 – 2009Eliminating Language Barriers in European Prisons through Distance Education (ELBEP) Internal Evaluator · Grundtvig Multilateral Project
Evaluation plan for the coordinating partner; quality monitoring with project partners; reporting to the EU funding agency.
2006 – 2008Teaching Turkish as a Second Language / as Mother Tongue in Europe via Distance Education Instructional Designer · Anadolu University Research Development Fund
Two companion projects: consulting on instructional strategies and learning material development.

External evaluation

2018 – 2021Innovative Thinking and Entrepreneurship Project External Evaluator · SOCAR & LearnERA, İzmir
Monitoring and impact evaluation for vocational high school students of İzmir Directorate of National Education; interviews, classroom observations and surveys.
2012Evaluation Framework for the FATIH Project External Evaluator · Ministry of National Education
Evaluation proposal and assessment tools for students, administrators, teachers and classrooms.
2011 – 2013One Computer per Child and One-to-One Learning Initiative, Kocaeli External Evaluator · Intel Turkey
Two consecutive evaluations: plans, school site visits and reporting to Intel and the Mayor's office.

Publications

Refereed articles, books and chapters, and supervised theses. Index abbreviations follow the source list.

  1. Erdoğan, S., Parpucu, N., Akyıldız, M., Karademir, A., & Kumtepe, A.T. (2025). Anadolu preschool mathematics skills scale: A validity and reliability study. Anadolu Journal of Educational Sciences International, 15(1), 25–54. doi:10.18039/ajesi.1429133TR Dizin
  2. Öztürk, A., & Kumtepe, A.T. (2023). Relationship between learner profiles and learner–content interaction in online learning: Exploring implications for learning experience design. Distance Education, 44(3), 425–457. doi:10.1080/01587919.2023.2226627SSCI
  3. Uğurhan, Y.Z.C., Kumtepe, E.G., Kumtepe, A.T., & Saykılı, A. (2021). From media literacy to new media literacy: A lens into open and distance learning context. Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education, 21, 135–151.Scopus · ESCI
  4. Uçar, H., & Kumtepe, A.T. (2020). Effects of the ARCS-V-based motivational strategies on online learners' academic performance, motivation, volition, and course interest. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 1–15.SSCI
  5. Keller, J.M., Uçar, H., & Kumtepe, A.T. (2020). Development and validation of a scale to measure volition for learning. Open Praxis, 12(2), 161–174.ESCI
  6. Uçar, H., Bozkurt, A., Öztürk, A., & Kumtepe, A.T. (2020). Investigation of distance learners' volitional competence. Anadolu Journal of Educational Sciences International, 10(1), 303–323.TR Dizin
  7. Öztürk, A., & Kumtepe, A.T. (2019). Öğrenme yönetim sisteminde öğrenen profillerinin belirlenmesi, akademik başarının tahmin edilmesi ve öneri sisteminin etkilerinin belirlenmesi. Açıköğretim Uygulamaları ve Araştırmaları Dergisi, 5(4), 4–8.
  8. Uçar, H., & Kumtepe, A.T. (2019). Be motivated and motivate: An interview with John M. Keller. eLearn Magazine.
  9. Kumtepe, A.T., Atasoy, E., Kaya, Ö., Uğur, S., Dinçer, D., Erdoğdu, E., & Aydın, C.H. (2019). An interaction framework for open and distance learning: Learning outcomes, motivation, satisfaction, and perception. AJIT-e, 10(36), 7–26.TR Dizin
  10. Genç Kumtepe, E., Kaya, S., Erdoğan, S., Alan, U., & Kumtepe, A.T. (2017). Early childhood science education trends in Turkey: Where from? Where to? PEOPLE: International Journal of Social Sciences, 3(2), 398–411.TR Dizin
  11. Kumtepe, A.T., Büyük, K., Öztürk, A., Tuna, G., Gümüş, S., Atak, O.N., & Güneş, İ. (2017). Kitlesel uzaktan eğitimde öğrenen-içerik etkileşimi: Anadolu Üniversitesi Açıköğretim Sistemi örneği. Açıköğretim Uygulamaları ve Araştırmaları Dergisi, 3(2), 9–36.
  12. Karadağ, N., Akyıldız, M., Kumtepe, A.T., & Akgün, H.R. (2017). Experiences of item developers on professional development at Anadolu University. AUAd, 3(3), 9–46.
  13. Uçar, H., & Kumtepe, A.T. (2016). Uzaktan eğitimde ARCS-V motivasyon tasarımı modelinin kullanımı. Açıköğretim Uygulamaları ve Araştırmaları Dergisi, 2(4), 37–54.
  14. Taşcı, D., Aydın, C.H., Kumtepe, E.G., Kumtepe, A.T., Kıcır, G.K., & Dinçer, G.D. (2015). Eskişehir'de yaşam boyu öğrenme başlığı altında yetişkin eğitiminin analizi. Selçuk Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, 34, 197–211.TR Dizin
  15. Bozkurt, A., Genç Kumtepe, E., Kumtepe, A.T., Aydın, İ.E., Bozkaya, M., & Aydın, C.H. (2015). Research trends in Turkish distance education: A content analysis of dissertations, 1986–2014. European Journal of Open, Distance and e-Learning, 18(2), 1–21.
  16. Genç Kumtepe, E., Kumtepe, A.T., & Batmaz, B. (2013). The convergence of perceived efficacy beliefs and sciencing in early childhood classrooms. Mustafa Kemal Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, 10(21), 85–99.TR Dizin
  17. Barkan, M., Toprak, E., Kumtepe, A.T., Genç Kumtepe, E., Ataizi, M., Pilancı, H., Mutlu, M.E., Kayabaş, İ., & Kip Kayabaş, B. (2011). Eliminating language barriers online at European prisons (ELBEP): A case-study. Educational Media International, 48(3), 235–248.Scopus · ESCI
  18. Taşcı, D., Gökalp, E., Genç Kumtepe, E., Kumtepe, A.T., & Toprak, E. (2011). The city's perception of university: The case of Anadolu University and Eskişehir. TODAİE's Review of Public Administration, 5(2), 167–186.SSCI
  19. Kumtepe, A.T. (2010). The effects of computers on kindergarten children's social skills. The Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology, 5(4), 52–57.
  20. Li, H., Lee, D., Pfeiffer, S.I., Kamata, A., Kumtepe, A.T., & Rosado, J. (2009). Measurement invariance of the Gifted Rating Scales–School Form across five cultural groups. School Psychology Quarterly, 24(3), 186–198.
  21. Genç Kumtepe, E., Kaya, S., & Kumtepe, A.T. (2009). The effects of kindergarten experiences on children's elementary science achievement. Elementary Education Online, 8(3), 978–987.TR Dizin
  22. Pfeiffer, S.I., Petscher, Y., & Kumtepe, A.T. (2008). The Gifted Rating Scales–School Form: A validation study based on age, gender and race. Roeper Review, 30(2), 140–146.
  23. Li, H., Pfeiffer, S.I., Petscher, Y., Kumtepe, A.T., & Mo, G. (2008). Validation of the Gifted Rating Scales–School Form in China. Gifted Child Quarterly, 52(2), 160–169.SSCI
  24. Pfeiffer, S.I., Kumtepe, A.T., & Rosado, J. (2006). Gifted identification: Measuring change in a student's profile of abilities using the Gifted Rating Scales. School Psychologist, 60(3), 106–111.

Teaching

Undergraduate and graduate courses at Anadolu University, and visiting courses at partner universities.

Courses taught

Research Methods in Social Sciences · Measurement and Evaluation in Distance Education · Project Management in Distance Education · Theories of Learning and Teaching · Learning Technologies · Instructional Systems and Educational Psychology.

Skills & certification

Advanced: SPSS, Mplus, LISREL, HLM, NVivo · online course material development · LMS-based teaching · learner analytics. Certificate of Project Management (FABE, 2008). Languages: Turkish (native), English (advanced).

Active courses

Students of this semester's courses: readings, videos, in-class activities and quizzes are in the course room. Enter with your name and the class code announced in class.

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Invited Talks

  • 13 Feb 2025Digital Transformation in EducationLifelong Education Summit II · Ministry of National Education, General Directorate of Lifelong Learning, Ankara
  • 12 Nov 2024EPALE Türkiye Evaluation ReportEPALE 2024 International Conference · Ministry of National Education, Ankara
  • 16 May 2022Pandemics Ended! What About Distance Education?Ankara Hacı Bayram Veli University, Research Center for Distance Education
  • 19 Aug 2020Design and Development of Online Learning MaterialsEge University, College of Medicine, İzmir
  • 7 Jul 2020Effective Classroom Management in Online ClassesPIKTES Project Annual Meeting · Ministry of National Education, Ankara

Contact

Email
atkumtepe@anadolu.edu.tr
Office
Anadolu University, Open Education Faculty
Yunus Emre Campus, Tepebaşı, 26470 Eskişehir, Türkiye

Students

For course questions, use the course room first — every week's materials and announcements are there. For thesis supervision and appointments, email with your programme and topic in the subject line.

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