Heather Toomey Zimmerman, Professor of Education at Penn State University, is a learning scientist who studies how multiple learning experiences contribute to the development of knowledge, practices, and identity towards (or away) from science. She uses video-based ethnography and design-based research methods in her projects. Her interests include designing for informal institutions, technology to support learning across settings, environmental education, STEM learning in rural communities, learning and tinkering in makerspaces, and family learning. She has published in the Journal of Research in Science Teaching, Science Education, International Journal of Science Education, Research in Science Education, Journal of Museum Education, Environmental Education Research, International Journal of Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning, and Museums & Social Issues.
At Penn State, Heather brings together the learning sciences, informal science education, and learning with mobile computers in her service, teaching, and research.
Heather’s projects are related to:
- families and youth in museums, science center, and nature centers
- mobile computers as learning tools
- identity, interest, and expertise related to science learning.
To learn more, click on the links below:
To learn more about mobile computing research that Heather conducts with colleague Susan Land, visit: http://sites.psu.edu/augmentedlearning/.
