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Learning Environments at CTL

Our research examines the design and use of technologies that have the potential to dramatically improve pedagogy and content learning. We target centrally important and conceptually difficult topics in math, science, and other subjects, primarily in K-12 schools and related settings.

We apply research methods from cognitive and social sciences to elucidate productive roles for technology in teaching and learning (e.g., providing insightful representations of complex concepts, engaging in collaborative inquiry, and tracking what has been learned). We additionally test the effectiveness of such innovations in classroom settings and investigate the factors that influence successful implementation and large-scale adoption within educational systems.

To these ends, we develop, lead, and coordinate projects with local, national, and international reach, resulting in publications in leading learning sciences and technology journals, featured presentations at national and international conferences, and the production of services and products for learners and teachers in partnership with universities, government agencies, and leading commercial firms.

People

Jeremy Roschelle (Leader) Frank Adamson Marie Bienkowski John Brecht Britte Haugan Cheng Valerie Crawford Ed Dieterle Gucci Estrella Mingyu Feng Judith Fusco Tom Gaffney Larry Gallagher Christopher Harris Angela Haydel DeBarger Jennifer Knudsen

Melissa Koch Hannah Lesk Patrik Lundh Vera Michalchik Charles Patton Bill Penuel Margaret Riel Liliana Ructtinger Patti Schank Linda Shear Nicole Shechtman Corinne Singleton Willow Sussex Phil Vahey Sarah Zaner

Current Projects

• Build IT: Girls Building Information Technology Fluency Through Design
• Catalyzing Network Expertise
• Chemistry Facets: Formative Assessment to Improve Student Understanding in Chemistry
• Contingent Pedagogies for Conceptual Teaching and Learning
• Cyber-Enabled Design Research to Enhance Teachers' Critical Thinking Using a Major Video Collection on Children's Mathematical Reasoning
• Data-driven Inquiry in Geoscience Environmental Restoration Studies (DIGERS)
• Developing a New National Educational Technology Plan
• Domain-Specific Assessment: Bringing the Classroom into Community College Accountability
• InnovaTE³ Girls Innovating with Technology as Entrepreneurial Environmental Engineers
• Intel^® Getting Started Course Program Evaluation
• Intel® Learn Program Evaluation
• OPerETTA Initiative: Optimizing Performance & Enhancing Teaching with Technology & Assessment
• Scenario-Based Learning
• ScribbleProv: Supporting disciplined improvisation during face-to-face discussion
• SimCalc
• Strategic Learning Consulting: Apple Computer
• Strategic Learning Consulting: Intel Education
• Strategic Learning Consulting: Scholastic, Inc.
• SunBay Digital Mathematics
• Tapped In^®
• The Universally Designed Science Notebook: An Intervention to Support Science Learning for Students with Disabilities
• Thinking With Data
• Universal Design of Inquiry-based Middle and High School Science Curricula
• Wireless Internet Learning Devices (WILD)

Selected Publications

• Yarnall, L., Vahey, P. and Swan, K. (in preparation). Designing Geospatial Exploration Activities to Build Hydrology Understanding in Middle School Students. To appear in Teaching Science and Investigating Environmental Issues with Geospatial Technology: Designing Effective Professional Development for Teachers.
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• Cheng, B. H., Villalba, S., Schwartz, D. L., Chin, D. B. Lundh, P, & Joshi, A. (2009). Bridging School and Home: Students' Engagement with Technology-Rich Activities. In Proceedings of CSCL ‘09 Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
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• Fishman, B., Penuel, W., Hegedus, S., Moniz, R., Dalton, S., Brookstein, A., Beaton, D., Tatar, D., Dickey, M., & Roschelle, J. (2009). What happens when the research ends? Factors related to the sustainability of a research-based innovation. (SimCalc Technical Report 04). Menlo Park, CA: SRI International.
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• Levin, H. M. & Belfield, C. R. (2009). Some Economic Consequences of Improving Mathematics Performance. Menlo Park, CA: SRI International.
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• Means, B., Padilla, C., DeBarger, A., & Bakia, M. (2009). Implementing Data-Informed Decision Making in Schools--Teacher Access, Supports and Use. Report prepared for U.S. Department of Education, Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development. Prepared by SRI International, Menlo Park, CA.
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• Penuel, W. R., Frank, K. A., Fishman, B. J., Sabelli, N., & Cheng, B. (2009). Expanding the Scope of Implementation Research in Education to Inform Design. Menlo Park, CA: SRI International.
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• Schlager, M., Farooq, U., Fusco, J., Schank, P., & Dwyer, N. (2009). Analyzing online social networking in professional learning communities: Cyber networks require cyber-research tools. Journal of Technology Education, 60(1), 86-100.
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• Swan, K., Vahey, P. Kratcoski, A., van ‘t Hooft, M., Rafanan, K., and Stanford, T. (2009). Challenges to Cross-Disciplinary Curricula: Data Literacy and Divergent Disciplinary Perspectives. Presented at the Annual Conference of the American Educational Research Association, April 2009, San Diego, CA
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• Vahey, P., Lara-Meloy, T., Knudsen, J. (2009). Meeting the needs of diverse student populations: Findings from the Scaling Up SimCalc project. In Swars, S. L., Stinson, D. W., & Lemons-Smith, S. (Eds.). Proceedings of the 31st annual meeting of the North American Chapter of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education. Atlanta, GA: Georgia State University. pp. 416-424.
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• Crawford, V. M., Schlager, M., Penuel, W. R., & Toyama, Y. (2008). Supporting the art of teaching in a data-rich, high performance learning environment. In E. B. Mandinach & M. Honey (Eds.), Linking data and learning (pp. 109-129). New York: Teachers College Press.
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• Denner, J., Kareem, Z., Koch, M., & Peterson, K. (2008 March,). Girls and information technology: Innovative approaches to narrowing the gender gap. The Build IT portion of the presentation at AERA 2008. New York City, NY.
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• Dieterle, E., & Clarke, J. (2008). Multi-user virtual environments for teaching and learning. In M. Pagani (Ed.), Encyclopedia of multimedia technology and networking (Second ed.). Hershey, PA: Idea Group, Inc.
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• Gallager, L., Means, B., & Padilla, C. (2008). Teachers' Use of Student Data Systems to Improve Instruction: 2005 to 2007. Report prepared for U.S. Department of Education, Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development, Policy and Program Studies Service. Prepared by SRI International, Menlo Park, CA.
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• Koch, M. "Build IT Poster." (2008 February). ITEST Poster Session. Presented at NSF's ITEST PI Meeting. Washington, DC.
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• Koch, M. (2008 February). Build IT data summary. Presented at NSF’s ITEST PI Meeting, Washington, DC.
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• Koch, M., & Gorges, T. (2008 February). Scaling Build IT. Presented at NSF’s ITEST PI Meeting, Washington, DC.
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• Means, B. (2008). Levers for Improving Mathematics Learning in High-Poverty High Schools. Menlo Park, CA: SRI International.
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• Ranney, M. A., Rinne, L. F., Yarnall, L., Munnich, E., Miratrix, L., & Schank, P. (2008). Designing and assessing numeracy training for journalists: Toward improving quantitative reasoning among media consumers. Paper in the proceedings of the Eighth International Conference of the Learning Sciences. Utrecht, Netherlands. Accessed 11/18/2008 from
  http://morenumerate.org/downloads/RanneyEtAlICLS08Preprint.pdf
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• Roschelle, J., Tatar, D., Shechtman, N., & Knudsen, J. (2008). The role of scaling up research in designing for and evaluating robustness. Educational Studies in Mathematics. 68(2).
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• Vahey, P., Knudsen, K. (2008). Can a Technology-enhanced Curriculum Improve Student Learning of Important Mathematics? Presented at the National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics. April 2008, Salt Lake City, UT.
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• Vahey, P., Lara-Maloy, T. (2008). Using a Technology-Enhanced Curriculum to Improve the Learning of Important Mathematics for English Language Learners. Invited presentation to the 2008 CREATE conference, October 2008, Minneapolis, MN.
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• Vahey, P., Lara-Meloy, T. (2008). Supporting All Students in Learning Advanced Math: Findings From a Technology-enhanced Curriculum Study. Presented at the 40th Annual National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics Conference. April 2008, San Jose, CA
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• Yarnall., L., Johnson, J. T., Rinne, L., & Ranney, M. A. (2008). How post-secondary journalism educators teach advanced CAR data analysis skills in the digital age. Journalism & Mass Communication Educator, 63(2), 146-164.
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• Belk, J.J., Cormia, R., Dang, V., Drane, D., Krajcik, J., Richey, M., Sabelli, N., & Stevens, S. (2007). A System View of Nanoscience Education.
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• Brecht, J., DiGiano, C., Patton, C., Tatar, D., Chaudhury, R., Roschelle, J., & Davis, K. (2007). Coordinating networked learning activities with a general-purpose Interface. International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning.
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• Bryan, M., Nemes, O., & Koch, M. (2007 February). Girls in Build IT. Presented in Reaching and Teaching the New Learner at NSF’s ITEST PI Meeting. Washington, DC.
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• Cormia, R., Dang, V., Drane, D., Krajcik, J., Richey, M., Sabelli, N., & Stevens, S. (2007). Nanoscience: A Vehicle for a Goals-Oriented Science Education, Final Report.
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• Courneya, J., & Koch, M. (2007 February). Sharing best practices in youth development. Presented at NSF’s ITEST PI Meeting. Washington, DC.
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• Crawford, V. M. (2007, June). Creating a powerful learning environment with networked mobile learning devices. Educational Technology Magazine: The Magazine for Managers of Change in Education, 47(3), 47-50
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• DiGiano, C. (2007). "TRAILS Final Report." Menlo Park, CA: SRI International. August 2007.
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• DiGiano, C., Bienkowski, M., Chorost, M., & Estrella, G. (2007). "Choosing Outreach Strategies to Increase Interest in IT Careers: An SRI International white paper from the TRAILS project." Distributed at SIGCSE, Covington, KY, March 2007.
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• Gallager, L., Means, B., & Padilla, C. (2007). Teachers' Use of Student Data Systems to Improve Instruction. Report prepared for U.S. Department of Education, Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development, Policy and Program Studies Service. Prepared by SRI International, Menlo Park, CA.
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• Koch, M. & Penuel, W.R. (2007 April). Designing for design learning. In CHI 2007 Conference Proceedings. Workshop on Converging on a Science of Design through the Synthesis of Design Methodologies. Reading, MA: ACM Press.
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• Koch, M. & Fusco, J. (2007, in press). Designing for Growth: Enabling Communities of Practice to Develop and Extend Their Work Online. In C. Kimble & P. Hildreth (Eds.) Communities of Practice: Creating Learning Environments for Educators. Greenwich, CT: Information Age Publishing Inc.
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• Koch, M. et al. (August, 2007). Build IT: Girls Developing Information Technology Fluency through Design. Annual Report Year 2. Menlo Park, CA: SRI International.
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• Koch, M., & Nemes, O. (2007 October). Introduction to Build IT workshop. Presented at Girls Incorporated Region III Conference 2007. Providence, Rhode Island.
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• Penuel, W. R., Korbak, C., Sussex, W., & Frank, K. A. (2007). Catalyzing Network Expertise: Year 1 Report. Menlo Park, CA: SRI International.
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• Remold, J. (2007). Educational Technologies and Social Inequality in Brazilian Public Schools. Rio de Janeiro; The Edelstein Center Editions. (also printed in Portuguese with the title Desigualdade Social e as novas tecnologias no sistema escolar)
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• Roschelle, J. (2007). Can Technology-Based Representations Deepen Math Learning and Close the Gap? Research Findings from a Large Scientific Study. Featured speaker session presented at the annual meeting of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, Atlanta, GA.
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• Roschelle, J. (2007). Scientifically-Based Research Studies Examining the Use of Technology in Mathematics Education. Presentation at the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN), 12th Annual K-12 School Networking Conference, San Francisco, CA.
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• Roschelle, J., Tatar, D., Shechtman, N., Hegedus, S., Hopkins, B., Knudsen, J., & Dunn, M. (2007). Extending the SimCalc approach to grade 8 mathematics (SimCalc Technical Report 02). Menlo Park, CA: SRI International.
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• Roschelle, J., Tatar, D., Shechtman, N., Hegedus, S., Hopkins, B., Knudsen, J., & Stroter, A. (2007). Can a technology-enhanced curriculum improve student learning of important mathematics? (SimCalc Technical Report 01). Menlo Park, CA: SRI International.
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• Roschelle,J., Tatar, D. , Shechtman, N., Hegedus, S., Hopkins, B., Knudsen, J., Stroter, A. (2007). Can a Technology-enhanced Curriculum Improve Student Learning of Important Mathematics? (SimCalc Technical Report 1). Menlo Park, CA: SRI International.
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• Schank, P., Krajcik, J., & Yunker, M. (2007). Can Nanoscience Be a Catalyst for Education Reform? In F. Allhoff, P. Lin, J. Moor, J. Weckert (Eds.), Nanoethics: The ethical and social implications of nanotechnology. Hobeken, NJ: Wiley Publishing.
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• Vahey, P., Tatar, D., & Roschelle, J. (2007). Using handheld technology to move between private and public interactions in the classroom. In M. van 't Hooft & K. Swan (Eds.). Ubiquitous computing in education: Invisible technology, visible impact (pp. 187-210). Mahway, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
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• Vahey, P., Tatar, D., & Roschelle, J. (2007). Using Handhelds to Link Private Cognition and Public Interaction. Educational Technology Magazine, v47(3) pp 13 - 16.
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• Yarnall, L., Toyama, Y., Gong, B., Ayers, C., & Ostrander, J. (2007). Adapting scenario-based curriculum materials to community college technical courses. Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 31(7), 583-601.
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• Koch, M. (2006) Build IT curriculum. Featured in Consumers Guide to After School Science Resources at http://www.sedl.org/cgi-bin/mysql/afterschool/science.cgi?location=search&show_resource_id=45
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• Koch, M. (April, 2006). Build IT: Girls Building Information Technology Fluency Through Design In M. Koch, J. Denner, D. Emery, & R. London (presenters) BayCHI-Kids Event: Developing girls' technology fluency. Menlo Park, CA: SRI International
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• Koch, M. (October, 2006) Infusing IT/STEM skill standards in informal ITEST learning ITEST Webcast
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• Shechtman, N., Roschelle, J., Haertel, G., Knudsen, J., & Vahey, P. (2006). Measuring middle school teachers’ mathematical knowledge of teaching rate and proportionality. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, San Francisco, CA.
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• SRI International. (2006). Review of Evaluation Findings for the Intel® Learn Program. Menlo Park, CA: SRI International.
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• Bransford, J., Barron, B., Pea, P., Meltzoff, A., Kuhl, P., Bell, P., Stevens, R., Schwartz, D., Vye, N., Reeves, B., Roschelle, R., & Sabelli, N. "Foundations and opportunities for an interdisciplinary science of learning" (2005). In. K. Sawyer (Ed.) Cambridge Handbook of the Learning Sciences.
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• Bransford, J., Vye, N., Stevens, R., Kuhl, P., Schwartz, D., Bell, P., Meltzoff, A., Barron, B., Pea, R., Reeves, B., Roschelle , J. & Sabelli , N. "Learning Theories and Education: Toward a Decade of Synergy" (2005). In P. Alexander & P. Winne (Eds.), Handbook of Educational Psychology (Second Edition). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.
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• Chen, E., Howie, J., Leon, S., & O'Neil, (2005). The Effects of Feedback on Performance on a Computer Negotiation Task. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association. Montreal, Canada.
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• Schlager, M. S. & Fusco, J. (2004). Teacher professional development, technology, and communities of practice: Are we putting the cart before the horse? In S. Barab, R. Kling, and J. Gray (Eds.), Designing Virtual Communities in the Service of Learning. Cambridge University Press.
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• Chen, E., Aten, H., Nambiar, V., & Howie, J. (2003). The Impact of the KidZLit Program on Elementary School Students. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Chicago, Illinois.
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• Chen, E., Burnam, B., Aten, H., Howie, J., & Nambiar, V. (2003). Predicting Teachers' Computer Use in the Classroom. CSE technical report.
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• Hoadley, C., Foley, B., Agarwal, R., Chorost, M., Gaffney, and T., Lewis, S. et al. (2003). Collaborative learning in immersive audio engineering: Evaluation report for Year II. University Park , Pennsylvania: Penn State University.
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• DiGiano, C., Yarnall, L., Patton, C., Roschelle, J., Tatar, D. G., & Manley, M. (2002). Collaboration design patterns: Conceptual tools for planning for the wireless classroom. In Proceedings of WMTE 2002 (pp. 39-47).
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• Hoadley, C., Gaffney, T., Lewis, S., and Foley, B. (2001). Collaborative learning in immersive audio engineering: Evaluation report for year I. Menlo Park , California: SRI International.
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• Slotta, J. D., Clark, D., & Cheng, B. H. (2002). Integrating Palm Technology into WISE Inquiry Curriculum: Two School District Partnerships. In Proceedings of CSCL ‘02 Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
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• Tatar, D., Gray, J. & Fusco, J. (2002) Rich Social Interaction in an Online Community for Learning. In Electronic Proceedings of the Conference on Computer-Supported Cooperative Work. January, 2002 (Bloomington CO)
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• Vahey, P. & Crawford, V. (2002). Palm Education Pioneers Program Final Evaluation Report. Menlo Park, CA: SRI International.
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• Sabelli, N., & Dede, C. (2001). Integrating educational research practice: Reconceptualizing goals and policies: How to make what works, work for us?
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• Roschelle, J., Kaput, J., & Stroup, W. (2000). SimCalc: Accelerating students' engagement with the mathematics of change. In M. J. Jacobson & R. B. Kozma (Eds.), Innovations in science and mathematics education: Advanced designs for technologies of learning (pp. 47-75). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.
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• Roschelle, J., DiGiano, C., Koutlis, M., Repenning, A., Jackiw, N., & Suthers, D. (1999). Developing educational software components. IEEE Computer, 32(9), 50-58.
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• Roschelle, J., Mills, M., & Stillman, P. (1998). DataGotchi Deep Dive. Menlo Park: SRI International.
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