Research
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I am interested
in helping people learn and reason better. My research is
in Interactive Learning and Reasoning. That is, in the
area of applied cognitive and learning sciences. It is about the design of external
tools and environments that support human mental and knowledge-based
activities. One of the most
important things that happened during the Industrial Revolution was the
invention of machines that enhanced the physical capabilities of human beings.
Whereas previously we needed to use our limbs to manipulate our environment
and perform tasks, machines extended and enhanced our physical capabilities
and transformed the nature of the physical tasks that were performed. They
allow us to do much more, in a more efficient and speedy manner. Now, we live
in the Knowledge Era. In this era, the ability to learn, produce knowledge,
and think and reason effectively are crucial. In addition to tools that
enhance physical capabilities, we now need tools that amplify and support our
mental activities. The par excellence machine to do this is the computer. Computers, due
to their malleable, interactive nature, can act as powerful extensions and
amplifiers of our mental activities. Since most of our learning and reasoning
is through interaction with external representations of information and
knowledge, I investigate how to design interactive software tools that
enhance and support people’s exploration and understanding of these
representations. My research is interdisciplinary, synthesizing models and
theories of knowledge, computational, cognitive, mathematical, and learning
sciences. The disciplines and a list of keywords describing different facets
of my research are listed below. 1) Cognitive and Learning Sciences (Keys: learning; thinking; reasoning; cognition; mind;
reflection; problem solving; cognitive tasks; cognitive activity; knowledge;
epistemology) 2) Cognitive Technologies (Keys:
e-learning; learnware; learning and knowledge
technologies; design of computer-supported learning and reasoning tools;
educational software; multimedia learning; interactive learning; educational
games; online learning tools; mindtools; cognitive
tools; research methodology and evaluation) 3) Human-Information Interaction (Keys: information artifacts; role of
representations in learning, reasoning and problem solving; knowledge
representation; information design; information presentation; information
architecture; message design; communication) 4) Human-Computer Interaction (Keys:
interface design; design of interactive software; interaction design;
interactivity; interactive representations; interactive reasoning;
implementation of tools; evaluation of tools) 5) Visualization Technologies (Keys:
design of mathematical visualization tools; information visualization; visual
representations; visual and diagrammatic reasoning; mental imagery) 6) Mathematical Learning (Keys:
mathematical representations and symbols; mathematical tools; psychology of
mathematical learning; mathematical reasoning; geometric structures and
concepts) Visit some of the cognitive tools we have
designed. For further information about my research, see my publications. |