Shani Evenstein Sigalov

Short Bio

Shani Evenstein Sigalov is an educator, lecturer, researcher and Free Knowledge advocate, with a special interest in bridging gender, language and social gaps. Her academic research explores the intersection between Education, Technology, Innovation and Openness.

She is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Faculty of Education in Science and Technology, Technion; a Postdoctoral Fellow at the School of Education, Technology & Learning program, Tel Aviv University; and a Visiting Fellow at the Digital Humanities Research Hub (DHRH), University of London. In this capacity, she has led a variety of research projects: Exploring Generative AI (GenAI) adoption in Israeli academia via an online learning community; Examining organizational response to GenAI, focusing on the case study of the Wikimedia Movement, in partnership with the University of Cambridge; Investigating GenAI’s effect on knowledge consumption and production, with the DHRH, University of London; and researching the effect of Linked Open Data in Digital Humanities with TAU’s Center for AI & Data Science. She also engaged in designing a chatbot for 5th-8th graders, aimed at developing students’ Self-Regulated Learning (SRL) and Problem-Solving (PS) skills, funded by the Ministry of Education. Her research at the Technion focuses on exploring the new phenomenon of Critical Ignoring, in the context of digital curation.

Her PhD, chosen for funding by the Azrieli Foundation’s Research Fellows Program, explored the Semantic Web as a learning platform, focusing on Wikidata, a Linked Open Data (LOD) database accessible to humans and machines.

As an educator specializing in Technology & Learning, Shani’s work focuses on EdTech innovation, curriculum design and implementing Wikipedia and Wikidata into the academic curriculum. She has designed and led the first, for-credit, academic courses worldwide to feature Wikimedia projects as learning platforms that improve skills and literacies and promote social impact. She is currently leading courses on User Engagement in Online Environments and has initiated a new academic course on Generative AI to start this academic year.

As a Free & Open Knowledge advocate, Shani serves on the Board of Trustees of the Wikimedia Foundation, the non-profit that supports Wikipedia and its sister projects globally; as Chief Editor and Chairperson for Project Ben-Yehuda, the largest, free, digital library for Hebrew Writings; and a Board member at The Public Knowledge Workshop (Hasadna).

Contact info:

Email: shani.even@gmail.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shani-evenstein/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Shani.Evenstein

Publications:

 

Dissertation & Thesis

  • Evenstein Sigalov, S. (2023). Learning with the Semantic Web: the case of Wikidata as a learning platform. PhD Dissertation, School of Education, Technology & Learning Program, Tel Aviv University. Supervisor: Prof. Rafi Nachmias.
  • Evenstein Sigalov, S. (2016). The Benefits & Challenges of Designing an Academic Wikipedia Course and Implementing it in Higher Education. MA Thesis, School of Education, Technology & Learning Program, Tel Aviv University. Supervisor: Prof. Rafi Nachmias.

Published

  • Evenstein Sigalov, S., Cohen, A., Nachmias, R. (2024). Transforming Higher Education: A Decade of Integrating Wikipedia and Wikidata for Literacy Enhancement and Social Impact. Journal of Computers in Education. Springer Nature. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40692-024-00334-x
  • Evenstein Sigalov, S., Nachmias, R. (2023). ­­Investigating the Potential of the Semantic Web for Education: Exploring Wikidata as a Learning Platform. Education & Information Technologies. Springer Nature. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-023-11664-1
  • Evenstein Sigalov, S., Cohen, A., Nachmias, R. (2023). Open Educational Resources for Literacies, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: The Case of Integrating Wikidata into Higher Education. In: Olivier, J., Rambow, A. (eds) Open Educational Resources in Higher Education. Future Education and Learning Spaces (p.279-306). Springer Nature, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-8590-4_13
  • Evenstein Sigalov, S., Davis, L.L., Maljković, F., Peschanski, J.A. (2023). The Wikipedia Education Program as Open Educational Practice: Global Stories. In: Olivier, J., Rambow, A. (eds) Open Educational Resources in Higher Education. Future Education and Learning Spaces (p. 251-278). Springer Nature, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-8590-4_12
  • Evenstein Sigalov, S. & Cohen, A. (2022). Open Education, OERs and emerging technologies: the case of Wikipedia and Wikidata as learning platforms in higher education in Israel. In A. Cohen, M. Scheinfeld, G. Ravid, E. Shmueli (Eds.), Learning Technologies in Higher Education in Israel (pp. 163-188). Israel: IUCEL (Inter-University Center for E-learning). Download link: https://meital.iucc.ac.il/he/book/.
  • Mendes, T.B., Dawson, J., Evenstein Sigalov, S. et al. Wikipedia in Health Professional Schools: from an Opponent to an Ally. Med.Sci.Educ. (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40670-021-01408-6
  • Evenstein Sigalov, S. & Cohen, A. (2020). Integrating Wikipedia into Higher Education: A new Course Model for Social Impact. In Proceedings of the 2020 Virtual AERA Annual Meeting. https://doi.org/10.3102/1587275
  • Evenstein Sigalov, S., Nachmias, R. (2017). Wikipedia as a platform for impactful learning: A new course model in higher education. Education and information technologies, 22(6), 2959-2979.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-016-9564-z

Under Review

  • Evenstein Sigalov, S. (2024) From influences, through interactions: Examining the inter-relations that influence learning with Wikidata.
  • Evenstein Sigalov, S. (2024) Interacting with Wikidata: Exploring internal and external aspects that influence engagement and learning processes.
  • Evenstein Sigalov, S., Hershkovitz, A., Cohen, A., Nachmias, R. (2024). Trusting the data: an updated framework for teachers’ Data-Driven Decision-Making in higher education.
  • Evenstein Sigalov, S., Konieczny, (2023). Writing for the greater good: What do educators think about using Wikipedia as a teaching tool?
  • Evenstein Sigalov, S., Cohen, A. (2023). Empowering Academic Excellence and Community Impact: A Transformative Wikipedia Course Model in Higher Education.

 

Selected recent conferences