Short presentation

Office hours: Mondays 9:00-10:00

I am the leader of the Virtual Learning Lab (https://psychology.ku.dk/vll/), and head of the SCOPE (Social, Cultural, Organisational, Personality and Educational Psychology; https://scope) section at the Department of Psychology.

My main research interests are in educational psychology, educational technology, and related fields. I investigate how emerging technologies such as virtual and extended reality, immersive simulations, and generative AI influence learning, collaboration, and behavioral change. My current projects combine controlled laboratory studies with real world experiments in classrooms and organizations, integrating theories from educational psychology and related disciplines with contemporary measurement methods.

Current research

My current research centers on understanding the mechanisms of collaboration, learning, and behavioral change when using emerging technologies such as virtual and extended reality, immersive simulations, and generative AI. I draw on and further develop theories from educational psychology, educational technology, and related fields, together with contemporary research methods. Ultimately, the aim of my work is to generate evidence-based insights that can guide stakeholders such as educators, instructional designers, decision makers, and researchers in developing better and more engaging learning experiences and educational practices, and to inspire more rigorous research and better policy decisions in this field.

Selected publications

Makransky, G., Shiwalia, B.M., Herlau, T. et al. Beyond the “Wow” Factor: Using Generative AI for Increasing Generative Sense-Making. Eductionial Psychology Review 37, 60 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-025-10039-x

Makransky G., Petersen, G. B. (2023). The Theory of Immersive Collaborative Learning (TICOL). Educational Psychology Review. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-023-09822-5

Petersen, G. B., Stenberd, V. A., Mayer, R. E., Makransky, G. (2023). Collaborative Generative Learning Activities in Immersive Virtual Reality Increase Learning. Computers & Education. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2023.104931 

Makransky, G., Mayer, R., E. (2022). Benefits of Taking a Virtual Field Trip in Immersive Virtual Reality: Evidence for the Immersion Principle in Multimedia Learning. Educational Psychology Review. https://doi.org/1007/s10648-022-09675-4

Plechatá, A., Makransky, G., & Böhm, R. (2022). Can extended reality in the metaverse revolutionise health communication? NPJ Digital Medicine. doi.org/10.1038/s41746-022-00682-x

Petersen, G. B., Petkakis, G., & Makransky, G. (2022). A study of how immersion and interactivity drive VR learning. Computers & Education, 179. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2021.104429

Makransky, G., & Petersen G. B. (2021). The Cognitive Affective Model of Immersive Learning (CAMIL): A Theoretical Research-Based Model of Learning in Immersive Virtual Reality. Educational Psychology Review, 33, 937-958. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-020-09586-2

Makransky, G., Andreasen, N. K, Baceviciute S., & Mayer R. E. (2020). Immersive Virtual Reality Increases Liking but Not Learning with a Science Simulation and Generative Learning Strategies Promote Learning in Immersive Virtual Reality. Journal of Educational Psychology, 113(4), 719-735. https://doi.org/10.1037/edu0000473

Selected grants

2024: Pi for grant from the Tryg Foundation: Shedding New Light on Curiosity in Children and Adults (7,351,000 DKK)

2020: Co-pi for grant from EIT Health with Rober Bohm: Communicating Herd Immunity using Virtual Reality to Decrease Vaccine Hesitancy (500.000 Euros)

2019: Grant from Data+: Quantifying Body Ownership in Virtual Reality: Bridging Experimental Psychology and Data Science (1,850,000 DKK)

2017: Grant from Marked Development Fund: Revolutionary science teaching tools based on Virtual Reality (5,000,000 DKK)

2016-2020: Grant from Innovation Fund Denmark: SIPROS: Virtual Laboratory Simulations for Increased Productivity and Occupational Standards in the Biotechnology Industry (23,500,000 DKK)

2014-2017: Grant from Innovation Fund Denmark: Advanced Technology Foundation: Next-generation adaptive medical laboratory simulations based on educational measurement research (9,184,000 DKK).

2014-2016: Grant from Eurostars: Novel technology for automatic detection of emotions for cutting-edge adaptive learning solutions (1,175,000 Euros).

CV

Education:

Doctor degree (Ph.D.), Psychology/Psychometrics  

March 2012, University of Twente, Holland

Master of Science, I/O Psychology                         

August 2004, San Diego St. University, USA

Bachelor of Arts, Psychology                               

August 2000, University of Georgia, USA

Work Experience:

Professor of Educational Psychology

2022 – Present, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen DK

Associate Professor, Department of Psychology                              

2018 – 2022, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen DK

Associate Professor, Department of Psychology                              

December 2014 – December 2017, University of Southern Denmark, Odense DK

Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology                               

August 2012 – December 2014, University of Southern Denmark, Odense DK