Nitzan Koren

Tagline:PhD candidate (dissertation successfully defended Dec 2025, graduation expected in May 2026). Studies and designs with communities and the information practitioners serving them, to create equitable, quality educational content for young people to thrive.

Maryland, USA

personal photo of Nitzan Koren

About Me

I conduct community design research with young immigrants and organizations (public libraries, nonprofits) that provide them with access, opportunities, and guidance to navigate political information and the intersection between related literacies.

I use participatory design, and asset-based community development approaches. I build partnerships and relationships to conduct research that centers the voices of young people in acquiring multiliteracies, especially political information literacy to engage in informed political participation.

Click to learn more about NatureFind: A civic engagement week that is an experiential learning program created as part of my dissertation research study.

Research Areas

  • Youth
  • Information Literacy
  • Political Information
  • Civic Engagement
  • Communities
  • Participatory Design

Education

  • Doctor of Philosophy

    from: 2020, until: present

    Field of study:Information ScienceSchool:College of Information, University of Maryland, College Park

  • Master of Arts

    from: 2015, until: 2018

    Field of study:Science EducationSchool:The School of Education, Tel Aviv University

  • Bachelor of Arts

    from: 2010, until: 2014

    Field of study:PsychologySchool:School of Psychology, Bar Ilan University

Selected Publications

  • Centering community: Library staff responding to crisis—A field guide.

    ReportDate:2026
    Authors:
    Mega SubramaniamLinda W. BraunNitzan KorenSandra Hughes-Hassell
    Field Guide

  • Centering Youth’s Contexts to Acquire Political Information Literacy

    Conference PaperPublisher:Proceedings of the 18th International Conference of the Learning Sciences - ICLS 2024Date:2024
    Authors:
    Koren, N

  • Using Design-Based Implementation Research approach to create CT assessment tools for youth programs in public libraries

    Journal ArticlePublisher:Library and Information Science ResearchDate:2023
    Authors:
    Koren, NWeintrop, DSubramaniam, M

  • Conceptualizing political information literacy among young people: A systematized review of the literature

    Journal ArticlePublisher:Education, Citizenship and Social JusticeDate:2023
    Authors:
    Koren, N

  • Funds of Identity in Co-Design

    Conference PaperPublisher:Interaction Design and Children (IDC ’23)Date:2023
    Authors:
    Iriarte, MKoren, NBlinder, EBonsignore, E

  • The state of computational thinking in libraries

    Journal ArticlePublisher:Technology, Knowledge and LearningDate:2022
    Authors:
    Weintrop, DSubramaniam, MMorehouse, SKoren, N

  • Capturing Computational Thinking in Public Libraries: An Examination of Assessment Strategies, Audience, and Mindset

    Journal ArticlePublisher:Journal of Librarianship and Information ScienceDate:2022
    Authors:
    Subramaniam, MKoren, NMorehouse, SWeintrop, D

  • Pushing boundaries of co-design by going online: Lessons learned and reflections from three perspectives

    Journal ArticlePublisher:International Journal of Child-Computer InteractionDate:2022
    Authors:
    Fails, JRatakonda, DKKoren, NElsayed-Ali, SBonsignore, EYip, J

Selected Grants, Awards & Fellowships

  • ALISE Doctoral Student Poster Competition (honorable mention)

    date: 2025-10-08

    Issuer:Association for Library and Information Science Education (ALISE)

  • ALISE Emerging Scholars Program

    date: 2025-09-22

    Issuer:Association for Library and Information Science Education (ALISE)

  • Grant: Ready Now - Supporting youth and families during crisis (Co-PI)

    date: 2023-07-31

    Issuer:Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)

  • Best paper award: International Journal of Child-Computer Interaction (IJCCI)

    date: 2023-06-14

    Issuer:IJCCI

    Description:

    Paper titled: Pushing boundaries of co-design by going online: Lessons learned and reflections from three perspectives

  • Dean Fellowship

    date: 2023-05-10

    Issuer:College of Information, University of Maryland, College Park

  • ProQuest Methodology Paper Award

    date: 2022-10-06

    Issuer:Association for Library and Information Science Education (ALISE)

  • Outstanding Graduate Assistant Award

    date: 2021-05-20

    Issuer:University of Maryland, College Park

Teaching

  • INST 490 Integrated Capstone for Information Science

    From: 2025, Until: 2025

    Organization:College of Information, University of MarylandField:Information Science

  • INST 490 Integrated Capstone for Information Science

    From: 2024, Until: 2024

    Organization:College of Information, University of MarylandField:Information Science

Service

  • Education venues: Computers and Education; Education, Citizenship and Social Justice; Discover Education

    From: 2023

    To: 2025

    Reviewer