Daniela (Ela) Castellanos Reyes

Bio

Dr. Castellanos-Reyes is an Assistant Professor in Learning, Design, and Technology at North Carolina State University. She received her PhD and Master’s degrees in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Learning Design and Technology from Purdue University. Dr. Castellanos-Reyes approaches her research with the belief that online and distance learning improve people’s lives, and ultimately society. She is an educational researcher within the fields of instructional design, online learning, and learning analytics. Her research focuses on supporting online learners’ social presence through network analysis. Specifically, Dr. Castellanos-Reyes is interested in how peer-influence shapes learning communities in online learning environments. Her recent work examines the application of large language models and AI in distance education. Dr. Castellanos-Reyes’ methodological expertise includes network analysis, machine learning, and hierarchical linear models. Her work has been published in Computers in Human Behavior, the Journal of Computing in Higher Education, and The Internet and Higher Education. Her work has been supported by National Academy of Education, the Spencer Foundation, and the Philanthropic Educational Organization (P.E.O.) and the Frank DeBruicker Graduate Award in Educational Technology. Prior to her doctoral studies, Ela earned her B.A. in English Philology and English Education from the Universidad Nacional de Colombia.

Area(s) of Expertise

Online learning | Social Presence | Learning Analytics | Evidence-informed practices | Educational Data Science | Meta-Analysis | Latina/o/e/x in Higher Education | Network Analysis | Culture in Online Learning

Publications

• A Systematic Review of Learning Analytics Research on the Community of Inquiry Framework , American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting (2025)
• Generative AI for Researching Cognitive Presence in Online Learning Environments , American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting (2025)
• Impact of Debt Avoidance on Retention and Completion Rates of Undergraduate Student , American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting (2025)
• Transforming Connections into Scholarly Collaborations: a Social Network Analysis of an Educational Research Institution , American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting (2025)
• Transforming online learning research: Leveraging GPT large language models for automated content analysis of cognitive presence , The Internet and Higher Education (2025)
• Creating Diverse Data Science Learning Pathways with the ADAPT Model , IUSE Summit (2024)
• Educational Leadership Beyond the Classroom: Charting Your Course , NC Annual Hispanic/Latino Professional Educators Summit (2024)
• Enhancing Open Educational Resources Sustainability and Impact: A Longitudinal Study Using Learning Analytics , American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting (2024)
• Generative AI for Content Analysis of Discussion Board Text Data , Association for Educational Communications and Technology Annual Meeting (2024)
• Impact of Debt Avoidance on Retention and Completion Rates of Bachelor’s Degree at 4-year public institutions , National Center for Education Statistics Data Institute (2024)