People

Meet the Augmented and Mobile Learning Team 

Heather Toomey ZimmermanLead Researcher: Heather Toomey Zimmerman

Heather, a Professor of Education, is a  learning scientist who studies how multiple learning experiences contribute to the development of knowledge, practices, and identity towards (or away) from science. Her interests include everyday science learning, parent-child interactions, designing for learning in informal institutions, technology to support learning across settings, and gender issues that intersect with STEM disciplines. Her prior work experience involved designing and implementing museum programs for families, youth, and community organizations—including the Storybook Science early childhood science/reading program and camp programs for rural and urban youth in their communities. She has published in Journal of Research in Science Teaching, Science Education, International Journal of Science Education, Research in Science Education, Journal of Museum Education, Environmental Education ResearchMuseums & Social Issues, and the 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, and 2014 Proceedings of the International Conference of the Learning Sciences. Heather is active in AERA’s Learning Sciences and Informal Learning Environments Research (ILER) SIGs and in NARST’s Science Learning in Informal Contexts Strand.

Link to website: sites.psu.edu/heatherzimmerman
Link to Google Scholar profile: Heather’s Google Scholar profile

Susan M. LandLead Researcher: Susan M. Land

Susan is a Professor in the Learning, Design, and Technology Program at Penn State University, University Park, since 1997. She earned a doctorate in Instructional Systems from the Florida State University. Previously, she worked as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Georgia’s Learning and Performance Support Laboratory and held a faculty position at the University of Oklahoma in the Instructional Psychology and Technology Program. Before that time, she worked on instructional design projects with organizations such as the U.S Air Force Academy, Citibank, and Hewlett Packard. Land’s research emphasizes frameworks for the design of open-ended, technology-rich learning environments. A common thread of her research involves how to better understand and support the processes whereby learners more deeply and meaningfully engage learning with technology in student-centered learning contexts. Land’s current research group is investigating the design of learning environments afforded by new media in everyday, informal, or classroom contexts that utilize technologies such as social media and mobile devices. Recent research projects have studied the use of digital photography and mobile devices to capture everyday experiences that connect home-school learning; context-sensitive, place-based mobile learning in outdoor informal environments; and frameworks for design of mobile, augmented reality leaning.

Link to website: sites.psu.edu/susanland
Link to Google Scholar profile: Susan’s Google Scholar profile.

Graduate Researchers

Charles Keith is a doctoral student in Learning, Design, and Technology. He received his B.A. in Anthropology from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and his M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from University of Nevada, Las Vegas. His research interests include the influence of STEM based mobile learning opportunities on learning conversations, mobile learning technologies, and informal learning environments.

Stephanie Bowles is a doctoral student in Learning, Design and Technology. She received her B.A. in International Relations with a minor in Asian Studies from Florida International University, and her M.S. in Foreign Language Education with a graduate certificate in Asian Globalization from the same school. Stephanie has over 7 years of TESOL experience in higher education and academies, and is certified in iOS Development and Computer Science by the Bloomtech Institute of Technology. Her research interests include designing immersive technologies for learning and informal learning in online spaces.
Lillyanna Faimon
Lillyanna Faimon is a doctoral student in Learning, Design and Technology. She received her B.S. in Cognitive Science from Indiana University. Her research interests include creativity, motivation and the intersection of STEM and the arts to support learning in informal settings.

Past Lab Manager

Katie GrillsKatie Grills

Alumni

Yu-Chen ChiuYu-Chen Chiu
Jeff WilliamsJeff Williams

 

Jessica
Jessica Briskin
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Gi Woong (Josh) Choi
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Jaclyn Dudek
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Sam Fecich
Chris Gamrat
Chris Gamrat
Brittany Groff
Brittany Groff
Yong Ju Jung
Yong Ju Jung
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Soo Hyeon (Sue) Kim
Lucy R. McClaine
Lucy R. McClain
Michael Mohney
Michael Mohney

Brian J. Seely
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Huihui Zhang