School of Education & Social Policy
 
PhD Students

None

Jessica Andrews
Andrews, Jessica
B.S. Elementary Education , Winston-Salem State University , 2009
Barber, Michael
B.A. , Colby College , 1997
M.Ed. , Harvard University Graduate School of Education , 2000
Malayna Bernstein
Bernstein, Malayna
BA, English , Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT , 1997
MA, Learning Sciences , Northwestern University, Evanston, IL , 2002
Jonathan Boxerman
Boxerman, Jonathan
My research interests focus on how people represent knowledge of earth systems science and earth processes that change over extreme spans of time. How people acquire knowledge about the natural world through everyday cultural interactions, how this knowledge intersects classroom based learning experiences, and how to design learning environments to support communication and learning of big ideas is science are three related research questions that pique my interests.
Earth Sciences, B.S. , University of California, San Diego , 1999
Applied Geosciences, M.S. , San Francisco State University , 2006
Lawrence Brenninkmeyer
Brenninkmeyer, Lawrence
Ph.D. Candidate
leadership, organizational learning and innovation, leadership problem solving expertise
B.A. in Cognitive Science & Philosophy , Northwestern University , 2001
Danny Cohen
Cohen, Danny
PhD Candidate, Learning Sciences
  • Social constructions of genocide and implications for pedagogical theory
  • Informal education and youth program design
  • Educator and youth work training
  • Holocaust, genocide, and human rights education
  • The unsilencing of marginalized histories
  • LGBT rights education
  • Youth leadership and peer-led organizations
BSc, Hospitality Management , Manchester Metropolitan University , 2001
MA, Learning Sciences, Northwestern University, 2005
Adam Colestock
Colestock, Adam
B.A. Mathematics , Williams College , 2002
Pryce Davis
Davis, Pryce
BA, Literature , University of California, Santa Cruz , 2002
MA, Learning Sciences, Northwestern University, 2009
Evans Buckingham, Brandy
Design of informal learning environments, high ability learners, science and math education, humane education
S.B - Brain & Cognitive Sciences and Theater Arts , MIT , 2002
M.A.Ed. - Curriculum & Instruction - Gifted Education , College of William & Mary , 2005
Nathan Holbert
Holbert, Nathan
I am interested in understanding the key components of game design that impact cognition. Ultimately I am interested in creating a design framework that will subtly integrate effective design strategies for learning environments into popular video games. Research questions include: What video game designs already exist that facilitate a basic qualitative understanding of important scientific principles? How are these game designs utilized in popular commercial video games? What are the components of these designs? How do these design components impact cognition? How can we tweak these designs to encourage the transfer of game skills and knowledge to formal educational domains? What new designs could be easily and cheaply added?
MAEd Instructional Process , Washington Univeresity , 2007
BS Chemistry Education , Greenville College , 2003
Aleata Hubbard
Hubbard, Aleata

foreign language learning, second language learning
computer-mediated learning environments 
collaborative learning environments, social networking sites for learning

B.S. in Computer Science, French and Francophone Studies , Carnegie Mellon University , 2006
Heather Johnson
Johnson, Heather
Curriculum Development Specialist
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.
BA in Environmental Science , University of Virginia , 1998
MT in K-8 Education , University of Virginia , 1998
Danielle Keifert
Keifert, Danielle
B.A. Special Major Astronomy-Education , Swarthmore College , 2004
Mon-Lin Ko
Ko, Mon-Lin
Science education; teacher thinking and learning; policy sensemaking and implementation; school reform; urban schools; educational inequality.
B.A. Biological Sciences, Neuroscience , Northwestern University , 2005
Reuven Lerner
Lerner, Reuven
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
SB, Computer Science and Engineering , Massachusetts Institute of Technology , 1993
Levine, Sarah
M.A.T. , University of Chicago , 1997
B.A. , Cornell University , 1992
Melissa Luna
Luna, Melissa
MS Environmental Education , Lesley University , 2001
BS Elementary Education , Valparaiso University , 1992
Ananda Marin
Marin, Ananda
MPES 2 Cohort 1
B.A. Sociology , Yale University , 1998
Master in Public Policy , Harvard University , 2002
Camillia Matuk
Matuk, Camillia
Visual learning; Visual narratives; Narrative/folk understanding of science; Creativity in the practice and learning of science; Construction of models (drawn, built or imagined) as means for understanding and problem solving;  Interdisciplinary learning; Informal learning; Museum exhibit design; Multimedia design; Multimedia learning
M.Sc. Biomedical Communications , University of Toronto , 2004
B.Sc. Biological Sciences , University of Windsor , 2002
Ontario College Graduate Certificate in Computer Animation , The Sheridan Institute ofTechnology and Advanced Learning , 2004
A.R.C.T. Piano Performance , Royal Conservatory of Music , 2002
Kirsten Mawyer
Mawyer, Kirsten
Professional development, teacher learning and curriculum design and use
Teacher thinking and learning; literacy in the science classroom; design of professional development

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
Enrique Orlina
Orlina, Enrique
Ph.D. Candidate
MPES Cohort 1
Annie Peshkam
Peshkam, Annie
M.A. Educational Psychology , University of Minnesota , 2006
B.A. Sociology , UC Irvine , 2003
Hisham Petry
Petry, Hisham
MPES Cohort 4

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.

Methods survey: Please take 15 minutes to help me with my research.
New research interest
MSc Computer Science , McGill University , 1997
BSc Physics , McGill University , 1995
Enid Rosario Ramos
Rosario Ramos, Enid
Literacy education; critical pedagogy; youth activism
B.A. Psychology , Universidad de Puerto Rico , 2003
MA, Learning Sciences, Northwestern University, 2005
Pratim Sengupta
Sengupta, Pratim
M.S., Physics , Northwestern University , 2003
PhD, Learning Sciences, Northwestern University, 2009
Ryan (Ben) Shapiro
Shapiro, Ryan (Ben)
Ph.D. Candidate
Tiffany Simons
Simons, Tiffany
My interests lie at the intersection between human development and environmental education. My dissertation work focuses on the role of identity and personality in the development of long-term commitment to issues of ecological sustainability. I hope to better understand the factors that lead people to engage with various communities and types of environmental/social action, and to consider the implications for the design of learning environments (formal and informal) to promote sustainable action over time.
B.S. Cognitive Science , University of California, San Diego , 2001
Jesse Sparks
Sparks, Jesse
MPES 2 Cohort 1
B.S. Psychology, B.A. Journalism , Drake University , 2007
Elizabeth Stark Ketchum
Stark Ketchum, Elizabeth
 math and science education with respect to culture, gender, and identity
BS, Mathematics and Microbiology , University of Oklahoma , 2008
Su Swarat
Swarat, Su
Jessica Umphress
Umphress, Jessica
Folkbiology
The influence and effect of family on children's learning
Museum exhibit development, design, and evaluation
Informal science learning across contexts
BA , Oberlin College , 1999
Aditi Wagh
Wagh, Aditi

BA, Psychology , St. Xavier's College, Mumbai , 2005
MA, Educational Psychology , University of Iowa , 2008
Janet Walkoe
Walkoe, Janet
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. 
BA- Mathematics , The University of Chicago , 1994
MS- Pure Mathematics , University of Illinois at Chicago , 2008
Ellen Wang
Wang, Ellen
Adolescent literacy across school and out-of-school settings, literacy and identity, Asian American studies.
Michelle Wilkerson
Wilkerson, Michelle
MPES Cohort 3
I am primarily interested in the development and implementation of computer based learning environments for promoting mathematical, computational and scientific literacies, with special attention to constructionist theory and design. My work is heavily influenced by the work of my advisor Uri Wilensky and scholars such as James Kaput, Seymour Papert, Hans Freudenthal, Andi diSessa and others who seek to make the power of mathematical thinking, broadly conceived, accessible to all.
My other research interests include mathematics cognition and knowledge representation, and emerging visualization technologies for mathematics and science education.
BA Mathematics , University of San Diego , 2005
BA Diversified Liberal Arts (Elementary Education) , University of San Diego , 2005
Christine K. Yang
Yang, Christine K.
MPES 2 Cohort 2
math education in secondary and post-secondary levels; math pedagogy; mathematical cognition; international comparative education
BS Mathematics , Massachusetts Institute of Technology , 2005
MS Applied Mathematics , University of British Columbia , 2007
MEd , Harvard University , 2008