Anderson, Eleanor
- B.A. Linguistics, Yale University, 2006
Research Interests
How do educational innovations developed by university researchers get implemented, institutionalized and scaled up in K-12 schools? How do micro-level social interactions constitute, facilitate or obstruct these processes?
Andrews, Jessica
- B.S. Elementary Education, Winston-Salem State University, 2009
Research Interests
I am interested in how various collaborative interactions impact individual cognitive processing
Bancroft, Elizabeth
- BA Psychology, Denison University, 2007
Research Interests
early childhood education, early second language learning and education, alternative educations (i.e. Montessori, Reggio Emilia)
Barber, Michael
- M.Ed., Harvard University Graduate School of Education, 2000
- B.A., Colby College, 1997
Boxerman, Jonathan
- M.S. Applied Geosciences, San Francisco State University, 2006
- B.S. Earth Sciences, University of California, San Diego, 1999
Research Interests
I'm interested in designing learning environments that can support sensemaking about wonderful and powerful ideas. My research interests focus on how students represent knowledge about scientific practices, and I'm particularly interested in understanding how people think and learn about scientific phenomena that change over extreme spans of time over vast spatial scales. I situate my research in urban classrooms as well as outdoors in nature.
Buckingham, Brandy
- M.A.Ed. - Curriculum & Instruction - Gifted Education, College of William & Mary, 2005
- S.B - Brain & Cognitive Sciences and Theater Arts, MIT, 2002
Research Interests
Design of informal learning environments, high ability learners, science and math education, humane education
Colestock, Adam
- B.A. Mathematics, Williams College, 2002
Davis, Pryce
- BA, Literature, University of California, Santa Cruz, 2002
- MA, Learning Sciences, Northwestern University, 2009
Research Interests
Public understanding of science; informal learning (particularly through media); scientific thinking and communication; models of cognition and epistemology; and the social and contextual nuances of learning.
Dobie, Tracy
- A.B. Psychology, Princeton University, 2007
Research Interests
Mathematics education, math learning in informal environments.
Duarte Olson, Izabel
- BA in Pedagogy, UERJ (Brazil), 2008
- BA in Language Studies, UNESA, 2004
- PhD, Learning Sciences, Northwestern University, 2016
- MA, Learning Sciences, Northwestern University, 2010
Research Interests
I have had a lifelong commitment to education, becoming a teacher at 18 years old and continuing to work in the profession for 10 years. I have always been interested in the education of low-income youth, and when I lived in Brazil I voluntereed with a non-governmental organization that aimed at providing child and after school care to the children of the Brazilian favelas. This experience was a cornerstone to my research interests today. Recently, I have focused my research within the favelas of Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, exploring whether living in complex and challenging places such as the Brazilian favelas might help them comprehend complexity in other environments, despite their lack of education in a more traditional setting. I believe my findings might translate to other low-income environments and plan to extend my research to low-income Latinos in the Chicago area.
Dyer, Elizabeth
- B.A. Mathematics & Astrophysics, UC Berkeley, 2007
Research Interests
Mathematics teacher education and learning; practice-based professional development, mathematical reasoning and proof
Haschka, Christina
- BS, Learning & Organizational Change, Northwestern University, 2007
Research Interests
Education reform, adult and workplace learning, professional development
Hjorth, Arthur
- MSc Educational Studies, Oxford University, 2009
- MSc Video Games Analysis and Design, IT-University of Copenhagen, 2008
- BA Communication and Computer Science, Roskilde University, 2005
Research Interests
Agent-based modeling (ABM), politics, and cognition; more specifically, exploring the relationship between ideology as cognition and the ways in which different people will construct ABMs on the same issues in different ways — and how those different models reflect the modelers' understanding of the world.
Holbert, Nathan
- MAEd Instructional Process, Washington Univeresity, 2007
- BS Chemistry Education, Greenville College, 2003
Research Interests
I am interested in understanding the key components of game design that impact cognition. Specifically I am interested in how players interpret existing game representations and in exploring novel designs that might make content already embedded in popular commercial games more explicit. This work draws heavily on the knowledge-in-pieces theory of cognition and the constructionist design philosophy.
Hubbard, Aleata
computational thinking, computer science, computer-mediated learning environments, mobile learning environments
- B.S. in Computer Science, French and Francophone Studies, Carnegie Mellon University, 2006
Research Interests
computational thinking, computer science, computer-mediated learning environments, mobile learning environments
Johnson, Heather
Curriculum Development Specialist
- MT in K-8 Education, University of Virginia, 1998
- BA in Environmental Science, University of Virginia, 1998
Research Interests
Currently, my interests involve looking at supports for teacher learning and how these supports affect teacher practice and ultimately student learning. Specifically, I am looking at a yearlong professional development opportunity for teachers working with a reform science curriculum. I am interested in what the teachers learn from PD, how they incorporate their new knowledge or beliefs into the enactment of the curriculum, and what effect this has on student factors, such as engagement and learning.
Ko, Mon-Lin
- B.A. Biological Sciences, Neuroscience, Northwestern University , 2005
Research Interests
Science education; teacher thinking and learning; policy sensemaking and implementation; school reform; urban schools; educational inequality.
Krist, Christina
- BA, Biology, Grinnell College, 2009
Lerner, Reuven
- SB, Computer Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1993
Research Interests
Online communities -- their design, and automatic methods for their evaluation. I'm particularly interested in online learning communities, especially those created outside of formal school contexts., Agent-based modeling (e.g., NetLogo), Homeschooling (and other alternatives to traditional schools), Constructionism
Levine, Sarah
- M.A.T., University of Chicago, 1997
- B.A., Cornell University, 1992
Lo, Abraham
- M.S.Ed., Secondary Science Education, University of Pennsylvania, 2003
- BA, Biology, University of Pennsylvania, 2002
Research Interests
Science education, scientific practices, teacher education and professional development, teacher quality and evaluation
Luna, Melissa
- MS Environmental Education, Lesley University, 2001
- BS Elementary Education, Valparaiso University, 1992
Lupu, Adam
Learning Architect, Code Academy
Director of Learning and Development, Global Playground
- BA, Physics and Literature, University of California, Santa Barbara, 2002
- MA, Learning Sciences, Northwestern University, 2012
Research Interests
I am interested in the teaching and learning of computer programming, understanding global cultural differences in education and learning, exploring best practices in workplace learning, social learning, mentorship, parent education, and teacher training/coaching, as well as developing innovative techniques in mobile learning and job skills training.
Marin, Ananda
MPES 2 Cohort 1
- Master in Public Policy, Harvard University, 2002
- B.A. Sociology, Yale University, 1998
Mattoo, Shalinee
- Exec. MBA , Indian Institute of Management, Indore, 2010
- BA in English(Hons.), University of Delhi, 2005
Research Interests
Virtual learning, workplace learning, social learning, informal learning, education and improv
Mawyer, Kirsten
Overview of Dissertation Research:
Titile: Literacy Strategies in the Science Classroom: The Influence of Beliefs, Knowledge and Goals on Implementation
Committee: Daniel C. Edelson (Chair); Miriam G. Sherin; Carol D. Lee
This study examines how teachers use literacy strategies in high school science classrooms as they implement reform-based earth and environmental science curricula. In particular, this qualitative comparative case study explores how cognitive resources such as beliefs, knowledge and goals influence teachers as they make design decisions during planning and enactment of curricula. Data includes extensive teacher interviews and yearlong observations in teachers’ classrooms.
- B.A. Geology & English, Amherst College, 1995
Research Interests
Professional development, teacher learning and curriculum design and use, Teacher thinking and learning; literacy in the science classroom; design of professional developmentOverview of Dissertation Research:
Titile: Literacy Strategies in the Science Classroom: The Influence of Beliefs, Knowledge and Goals on Implementation
Committee: Daniel C. Edelson (Chair); Miriam G. Sherin; Carol D. Lee
This study examines how teachers use literacy strategies in high school science classrooms as they implement reform-based earth and environmental science curricula. In particular, this qualitative comparative case study explores how cognitive resources such as beliefs, knowledge and goals influence teachers as they make design decisions during planning and enactment of curricula. Data includes extensive teacher interviews and yearlong observations in teachers’ classrooms.
Penney, Lauren
- BS Computer Science, University of Colorado, Boulder, 2001
Peshkam, Annie
- M.A. Educational Psychology, University of Minnesota, 2006
- B.A. Sociology, UC Irvine, 2003
Research Interests
Media literacy, disciplinary literacy, reading comprehension, updating prior knowledge
Petry, Hisham
MPES Cohort 4
- MSc Computer Science, McGill University, 1997
- BSc Physics, McGill University, 1995
Research Interests
I spend a lot of time thinking about peer networks and the influence peers have on academic engagement. I believe that students choose their friends based on similar meaning systems around school. For example, I believe that some students view school as a means to an end such as getting a good job, while other students view school as a necessary evil that must be endured. I think that these different interpretations around the role and meaning of school have a significant impact on the performance and engagement of students. Further, I believe that students select friends with a similar view of school which serves to reinforce that view of school.
I am researching these hypotheses using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods to first identify student peer groups and then interview them about social norms and meaning systems.
Phelan, Pete
- BS, History and Philosophy, Northern Illinois University, 2005
Research Interests
Group dynamics in informal learning settings, metacognitive strategies to improve study skills and critical thinking abilities, student motivation, teacher training, student argumentation schema development
Ramey, Kay
- MA, Social Sciences, University of Chicago, 2010
- BA, Psychology and Art Theory & Practice, Northwestern University, 2007
Schrementi, Laurel
- BA, Child Development, Tufts University, 2008
Research Interests
I’m interested in looking at what formal educators can learn from the way museums structure their exhibits and environments. I’m curious about how the arrangement and design of classroom spaces impacts learning outcomes.
Sparks, Jesse
MPES 2 Cohort 1
- BS Psychology, BA Journalism, Drake University, 2007
Research Interests
Learning and memory, reading comprehension, discourse processing, memory updating, causal reasoning
Umphress, Jessica
- BA, Oberlin College, 1999
Research Interests
Folkbiology, The influence and effect of family on children's learning, Museum exhibit development, design, and evaluation, Informal science learning across contexts
Wagh, Aditi
- MA, Educational Psychology, University of Iowa, 2008
- BA, Psychology, St. Xavier's College, Mumbai, 2005
Research Interests
Walkoe, Janet
- MS- Pure Mathematics, University of Illinois at Chicago, 2008
- BA- Mathematics, The University of Chicago, 1994
Research Interests
I am interested in the ways people use their current understanding of mathematical ideas to incorporate new ideas and how teachers can best support this process.
Wang, Ellen
Research Interests
Adolescent literacy across school and out-of-school settings, literacy and identity, Asian American studies.
Weintrop, David
- BS Computer Science, University of Michigan, 2005
Research Interests
Computational Thinking; Representations of Computational Knowledge; Computer Science Education; Computer based learning environments
Yang, Christine K.
MPES 2 Cohort 2
- MEd , Harvard University, 2008
- MS Applied Mathematics, University of British Columbia, 2007
- BS Mathematics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2005