Academic Research

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Research Topics

Learning Experience Design

Static versus interactive learning platforms, usability and success metrics, longitudinal performance tracking, synchronous versus asynchronous learning, multimedia design best practices

Notetaking

Notetaking strategies and outcomes, effects of note-taking versus note-having, notetaking modality (digital, handwritten, drawn, etc.), notetaking software and assistant technology

Psycholinguistics

Monolingual versus bilingual effects on brain and cognition, reading strategies and text comprehension, automated text analysis methods, language and cultural influences on cognition

Cognitive Biases

Heuristics, metacognition (judgments, accuracy), metacognition as a training tool, overconfidence effects, cue overload effects

Information Architecture

Mental model formation, categorization, propositional network modeling, semantic network formation

Individual Differences

Diversity, equity, & inclusivity, accessibility, learners' background knowledge, cultural influences, individual value systems

Awards

I was terrified at the start of my very first poster competition. I was presenting research over the testing effect and text comprehension, both of which required a combination of qualitative (e.g., content analysis transforming participants' long-form free responses into quantitative 'idea units,' interviewing participants about their behaviors/perspectives) and quantitative (time on task, survey data, multiple choice scores, etc.) data. But after about 10 minutes, I realized that talking about the research was one of THE most exciting things I'd ever done. Instead of waiting for people to approach my poster, I started calling them over. I asked them questions and turned it into a fun exercise. Apparently the judges liked this, so I won third place in Arts and Sciences.

The following year I was much more confident from the outset. I was presenting data from my Master's project, which I was scheduled to finalize a few months out. In contrast to the first year, I was surrounded by other PhD students from my department. And they were VERY good presenters. I enjoyed competing with them, but more than anything, I was thrilled that they got first and third place (and I took second!). They mentored me throughout the whole process and are continuously earning awards in their careers.

Graduate Research Poster Competition award recipients

Scholarship

My research is qualitative and quantitative, applied, and targets current issues in digital learning environments. My primary topics include text analysis, content comprehension modeling and hierarchical organization (main ideas vs details, cognitive architecture), cognitive biases, working memory capacity, cognitive load, transcription fluency, verbal fluency, natural language processing, aesthetics, memory and learning, and accessibility.

Dissertation

Master's Thesis

Presentations

*denotes junior researcher project with my mentorship

Snapshots