School of Education & Social Policy
 
PhD - Learning Sciences

Learning Sciences

Degrees Included: Ph.D. in Learning Sciences

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The alumni web pages shown below represent only those alumni who have chosen to make their web pages
public.


Abrahamson, Dor
PhD, Learning Sciences , Northwestern University, 2004
Dissertation: Keeping Meaning in Proportion: The Multiplication Table as a Case of Pedagogical Bridging Tools 2004
Dor is assistant professor of cognition and development at the University of California–Berkeley.
Baher, Julie
PhD, Learning Sciences , Northwestern University, 2000
Dissertation: Constructing Teaching Practices Around Novel Technology: A Case Study of Three Instructors 2000
Bang, Megan
PhD, Learning Sciences (Learning Sciences) , Northwestern University, 2007
Baumgartner, Eric
PhD, Learning Sciences , Northwestern University, 2000
Dissertation: Science by Design: How Teachers Support Scientific Inquiry Through Design Projects 2000
Eric spent three years as a researcher at the University of California at Berkeley prior to joining Inquirium. He has designed and studied the use of varying visualization and modeling technologies to support learning science in middle and high school settings. His research interests focus on design and the related processes of designing innovative, techology-rich curricula and adapting innovative materials to meet local needs and constraints
Berland, Matthew
PhD, Learning Sciences (Learning Sciences) , Northwestern University, 2008
Dissertation: VBOT: Motivating Computational and Complex Systems Fluencies with Constructionist Virtual/Physical Robotics 2008
Paulo Blikstein
Blikstein, Paulo
M. Eng., University of Sao Paulo, 2000
Engineer, University of Sao Paulo, 1998
Masters, MIT Media Lab, 2002
Visiting Scholar, MIT Media Lab, 2003
PhD, Learning Sciences (Learning Sciences) , Northwestern University, 2008
Bouillion, Lisa
B.A., St. Olaf College, 1992
PhD, Learning Sciences , Northwestern University, 2001
Dissertation: Teachers' Locally-Mediated Sensemaking of an Instructional Design for "Real World" Learning: The Nature and Implication of Variation in Implementation 2001
Lisa is currently at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign where she has a cross appointment in the College of Education and University of Illinois Extension. Her research focuses on the opportunities and challenges related to youth-adult and school-community partnerships within learning environments. She is particularly interested in issues of culture, equity and voice within programs that target underserved and minority youth. Through her work in extension, she serves as the campus specialist for youth programs in science, engineering and technology across the state. Under the umbrella of 4-H, these initiatives are engaging youth as leaders in their communities, using technology such as video, podcasting, and GIS/GPS to address real world issues in their communities. Lisa also serves on an advisory board for Native American student recruitment and retention at the University of Illinois. 

Matthew Brown
Brown, Matthew
BA, History (High Honors, Phi Beta Kappa), Brown University, 1993
PhD, Learning Sciences , Northwestern University, 2002
Dissertation: Teaching by Design: Understanding the Intersection Between Teacher Practice and the Design of Curricular Innovations 2002
Matt is director of Inquirium, LLC, a software design firm in Chicago.
D'Amico, Laura
PhD, Learning Sciences , Northwestern University, 1999
Dissertation: The Role of Assessment Infrastructures in Crafting Project-based Science Classrooms 1999
Laura is a research associate at Simon Fraser University.
Julia Eksner
Eksner, Julia
Magistra Artium, Free University of Berlin, Department of Anthropology, 2001
Visiting Scholar, University of Chicago, Department of Anthropology, 1998
PhD, Learning Sciences , Northwestern University, 2007
Dissertation: Self-Regulation in Context. An Ecocultural Perspective on Self-Regulation during Problem-Solving 2007
Fishman, Barry
PhD, Learning Sciences , Northwestern University, 1995
Dissertation: High-End High School Communication: Tool Use Practices of Students in a Networked Environment 1995
Barry is an Associate Professor of Learning Technologies at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
Ravit Golan Duncan
Golan Duncan, Ravit
PhD, Learning Sciences , Northwestern University, 2005
Dissertation: Reasoning in Molecular Genetics: From a Cognitive Model to Instructional Design 2005
Dissertation: Reasoning in molecular genetics: From a cognitive model to instructional design. 2005
Ravit is an assistant professor of science education in the Graduate School of Education at Rutgers University.
Gordon, Douglas
PhD, Learning Sciences , Northwestern University, 1997
Dissertation: Scientific Visualization as an Expressive Medium for Project Science Inquiry 1997
Doug works at IBM T.J. Watson Research Center.
Richard Halverson
Halverson, Richard
PhD, Learning Sciences , Northwestern University, 2001
Dissertation: Representing Phronesis: Supporting Instructional Leadership Practice in Schools 2001
Rich Halverson is a PhD alumnus of the Learning Sciences and an Assistant Professor in the Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis Department at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Rich's work develops ideas and methods to access, document and communicate the practical wisdom of K-12 school leaders. A co-author of the Distributed Leadership framework paper, his research explores the situational distribution of leadership, that is, how school leaders develop and deploy artifacts to influence instructional practice. He recently received an National Science Foundation Early Career grant to study how school leaders create local systems of practice that help teachers use data to shape classroom teaching.
Joseph, Diana
PhD, Learning Sciences , Northwestern University, 2000
Dissertation: The Passion Curriculum Design Approach: A Framework for the Design of Interest-Centered Curricula 2000
Diana is the lead research professional at the Center for School Improvement at the University of Chicago.
Kalathil, Radha
PhD, Learning Sciences , Northwestern University, 2004
Dissertation: Investigating the Structure of Discourse for Reform-Based Mathematics Classrooms 2004
Kay, Heather
PhD, Learning Sciences , Northwestern University, 2000
Moshe Krakowski
Krakowski, Moshe
PhD, Learning Sciences (Learning Sciences) , Northwestern University, 2008
Dissertation: Isolation and Integration: Education and Worldview Formation in Ultra-Orthodox Jewish Schools 2008
Moshe Krakowski has a BA in philosophy from the University of Chicago and is currently in his third year as PhD candidate in the department of Learning Sciences. He has a strong interest in ultra-Orthodox Jewish education and is in the process of developing a research program that investigates the nature of elementary schooling in the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community. He is examining how secular knowledge is presented in a curriculum that devotes the overwhelming majority of the day to religious knowledge. He is also looking at how successful schools are at teaching secular knowledge in such an environment. He hopes that this course of research will be more generally interesting in the way that it sheds light on how subcultures that have radically different epistemologies than the dominant culture interact with that dominant culture.

Moshe's other graduate work involves Bruce Sherin’s conceptual dynamics project. This work is an effort to understand what it is that kids learn when they are engaged in science classes. In particular, it is looking at the ways in which the learning is different in traditional and project-based science curricula.
Leema Kuhn
Kuhn, Leema
PhD, Learning Sciences (Learning Sciences) , Northwestern University, 2008
Dissertation: Understanding the Composite Practice that Forms when Classrooms Take up the Practice of Scientific Argumentation 2008
Samuel Kwon
Kwon, Samuel
BS, Electrical Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1994
MS, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1994
PhD, Learning Sciences , Northwestern University, 2003
Dissertation: Promoting Social Skill Development in a Community of Practice 2003
Samuel Kwon is a research assistant professor at the School of Education and Social Policy at Northwestern University.
Kyza, Eleni
Ed.M., Technology in Education , Harvard Graduate School of Education, 1996
B.Sc. Education, with a concentration in Educational Media & Technology, Boston University, 1993
Teacher's Diploma, Pedagogical Academy of Cyprus, 1991
PhD, Learning Sciences (Learning Sciences) , Northwestern University, 2004
Dissertation: Understanding Reflection-in-Action: An Investigation into Middle-School Students' Reflective Inquiry Practices in Science and the Role That Software Scaffolding Can Play 2004
Eleni is a Lecturer (Assistant Professor) of Information Society in the Department of  Communication and Internet Studies at the Cyprus University of Technology.
Victor Lee
Lee, Victor
BS Cognitive Science with specialization in Human Computer Interaction, University of California, San Diego, 2001
BA Mathematics/Applied Science, University of California, San Diego, 2001
PhD, Learning Sciences , Northwestern University, 2008
Dissertation: Getting the Picture: A Mixed-Methods Inquiry into How Visual Representations are Interpreted by Students, Incorporated Within Textbooks, and Integrated into Middle-school Science Classrooms 2008
Victor is an assistant professor of Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences at Utah State University.
Loh, Ben
PhD, Learning Sciences , Northwestern University, 2003
Dissertation: Using Articulation and Inscription as Catalysts for Reflection: Design Principles for Reflective Inquiry 2003
Ben is working with Inquirium, LLC, a software design firm in Chicago.
Ma, Joyce
PhD, Learning Sciences , Northwestern University, 2001
Dissertation: Perceptions of Feedback Systems: Learning an Expert Model through Comparison and Design 2001
Joyce is working at the Exploratorium in San Francisco, California.
MacPherson, Kimberli
PhD, Learning Sciences (Human Development and Social Policy) , Northwestern University, 2006
Dissertation: From Cases to Courses: A Methodology for Live Goal-based Scenario Design, and Design Principles for Creating Effective Live Goal-Based Scenarios 2006
Gabrielle Matese
Matese, Gabrielle
PhD, Learning Sciences , Northwestern University, 2005
Dissertation: A Cognitive Framework to Inform the Design of Professional Development Supporting Teachers' Classroom Assessment of Inquiry-Based Science 2005
Gabrielle is a postdoctoral fellow at Arizona State University.
Steven McGee
McGee, Steven
M.B.A., Wheeling Jesuit University, 2000
PhD, Learning Sciences , Northwestern University, 1995
Dissertation: Designing Curricula Based on Science Communities of Practice 1995
Murata, Aki
PhD, Learning Sciences , Northwestern University, 2002
Dissertation: A Descriptive Analysis of Japanese Grade 1 Students Learning to Add by Making Tens: 9 + 4= 10 & 3 2002
Aki is an assistant professor in the School of Education at Stanford University.
O'Neill, Kevin
PhD, Learning Sciences , Northwestern University, 1997
Dissertation: Engaging Science Practitioners, Engaging Science Practice: Design Experiments in K-12 Telementoring 1997
Kevin is an assistant professor of education and technology at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, British Columbia.
Nichole Pinkard
Pinkard, Nichole
PhD, Learning Sciences , Northwestern University, 1998
Dissertation: Leveraging Background Knowledge: Using Popular Music to Build Beginning Readers' Reading Skills 1998
Nichole is a senior researcher and research faculty member at the University of Chicago Center for Urban School Improvement.
Polman, Joseph
PhD, Learning Sciences , Northwestern University, 1997
Dissertation: Guided Science Expeditions: The Design of a Learning Environment for Project-Based Science 1997
Joe is an assistant professor and associate director at E. Desmond Lee Technology & Learning Center.
Radinsky, Josh
PhD, Learning Sciences , Northwestern University, 2000
Dissertation: Making Sense of Complex Data: A Conceptual Framework for Studying Students' Development of Reflective Inquiry Dispositions 2000
Josh is a program associate in the College of Education at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Reimer, Todd
PhD, Learning Sciences , Northwestern University, 2003
Dissertation: Examining High School Students' Patterns of Visible Participation in a Political Community of Learners 2002
Ken Rose
Rose, Ken
PhD, Learning Sciences , Northwestern University, 2004
Dissertation: Using Assessment Conversations to Promote Teacher and Student Learning 2004
Ken is a Research Associate in the School of Education and Social Policy at Northwestern University.
Rosenfeld Halverson, Erica
PhD, Learning Sciences , Northwestern University, 2004
Dissertation: Telling, Adapting and Performing Personal Stories: Understanding Personality Development and Literacy Learning for Stigmatized Youth 2004
Erica is a postdoctoral fellow in the School of Education at the University of  Wisconsin–Madison.
Sandoval, William
PhD, Learning Sciences , Northwestern University, 1998
Dissertation: Inquire to Explain: Structuring Inquiry Around Explanation Construction in a Technology-Supported Biology Curriculum 1998
Bill is an associate professor in the School of Education & Information Studies at the University of California–Los Angeles.
Schwarz-Ballard, Jennifer
PhD, Learning Sciences , Northwestern University, 2005
Dissertation: Content and Curriculum Coherence in Middle School Science 2005
Jennifer is the Manager of the Center for Teaching and Learning, at the Chicago Botanic Garden.
Pratim Sengupta
Sengupta, Pratim
M.S., Physics, Northwestern University, 2003
PhD, Learning Sciences (Learning Sciences) , Northwestern University, 2009
Dissertation: Designing Across Ages: Multi-Agent Based Models and Learning Electricity 2009
I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning. at Vanderbilt University

I completed my PhD (2009) in Learning Sciences with Prof. Uri Wilensky at the CCL.
Gregory Shrader
Shrader, Gregory
BS, Education, Villanova University, 1990
MS, Communication, Cornell University, 1995
PhD, Learning Sciences, Northwestern University, 2000
PhD, Learning Sciences , Northwestern University, 2000
Dissertation: Design Research for the Living Curriculum 2000
Greg Shrader's research has focused on the design of on-line environments to support teacher learning. Current project include the National Science Foundation sponsored Living Curriculum Project as well as the DOE funded Illinois Professional Learners' Partnership (IPLP). The Living Curriculum is designed to support teachers' learning to implement project-based science by indexing video based examples of teaching and learning to project-based science curricula. Dr. Shrader's IPLP research focuses on the use of similar video cases to support learning for pre-service teachers.
Smith, Brian
PhD, Learning Sciences , Northwestern University, 1998
Dissertation: Making Movies: Explaining Behavior Using Video as Data 1998
Brian is an associate professor of information technology at Pennsylvania State University.
Stieff, Mike
PhD, Learning Sciences , Northwestern University, 2004
Dissertation: A Localized Model of Spatial Cognition in Chemistry 2004
Mike is an assistant professor in the School of Education at the Unversity of California–Davis.
Tabak, Iris
PhD, Learning Sciences , Northwestern University, 1999
Dissertation: Unraveling the Development of Scientific Literacy: Domain-Specific Inquiry Support in a System of Cognitive and Social Interactions 1999
Iris is an assistant professor at Ben Gurion University of the Negev.
Carrie Tzou
Tzou, Carrie
PhD, Learning Sciences , Northwestern University, 2005
Dissertation: Inquiry Science as a Discourse: New Challenges for Teachers, Students, and the Design of Curriculum Materials. 2005
Carrie is a postdoctoral fellow at the Learning in Informal and Formal Environments (LIFE) Center, a Science of Learning center at the University of Washington.
Walker, Lisa
PhD, Learning Sciences , Northwestern University, 2003
Dissertation: From Science Fair to Project-Based Science: A Study of the Implementation of an Innovation through an Existing Activity System 2003