Bio

I am an Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland, College Park. I work in both the College of Information Studies (tenure home) and the College of Education. My main interest is in the use of technology to improve education and learning. Currently, my research interests fall under two broad areas. (Click here for info on my current and past projects).

Social Computing, Youths, and Education

My current work focuses on understanding the different uses and affordances of social computing platforms for personal and social learning.  I define learning broadly, and for me it includes learning about self (individual identity) and others (peer and networked interactions), in addition to the traditional sense of learning content (things about the world).

In this area, I’ve done several studies that look at the relationship between young people’s use of social network sites and social outcomes such as literacy skills and social capital.  I’m currently leading an NSF-funded project to understand how a youth, social network site can be designed around science storytelling to help middle school students identify with STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) ideas.  I’m also working on a project (CTArcade) with Dr. Benjamin Bederson to explore how to design simple online games to help young children understand computational thinking patterns.

These projects ground me in several scholarly communities including: Information Sciences, Digital Media & Learning, Computer Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL), and Human Computer Interaction (HCI).

Education Informatics, Policy, & Reform

Designing and understanding technology is only half of the equation.  The use of technology, and it’s ultimate impact on people is highly dependent on local contexts.  Thus, I am also interested in informatics, or how educational contexts (e.g. home, libraries, after-school programs, online communities and schools etc.) interact with technology to create new learning environments.  My original academic background was in educational technology, leadership, and policy.  So I am keenly interested in how different factors ranging from policy to organizations and peer-to-peer platforms shape how individuals mobilize, collaborate, and learn.

My Background

Education:
PhD Urban Education, University of Southern California (Los Angeles, CA)
MA Computing and Education, Teachers College – Columbia University (New York, NY)
AB Computing in Education, Brown University (Providence, RI)

Professional Experience:
Director of Technology, The Mayfield Junior School (Pasadena, CA)
High School Computer Science Teacher, The Lincoln School for Girls (Providence, RI)
6th Grade Math Teacher, The Breakthrough Collaborative (Providence Summerbridge, Providence, RI)