Cognitive Science Program

arts education; computation; computer science education; constructionism; constructionism creativity; design; DIY (do it yourself); e-textiles; gaming; informal learning; interest-driven learning; maker culture; new media; scratch programming

• 2016 NSF Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award Recipient, the National Science
• Foundation’s most prestigious awards in support of junior faculty who exemplify the role of
• teacher-scholars through outstanding research, excellent education and the integration of
• education and research within the context of the mission of their organizations.
• 2016 University of Otago Research Fellowship, 2016-2017
• 2016 MIRA Tech Educator of the Year, (April 23, 2016) from TechPoint. Honored as one of
• Indiana’s best educators for technology excellence and innovation.
• 2016 Ziro.io is Finalist in the Best of CES 2016 (ziro.io)
• 2016 Water Bears 3D Puzzle App wins Purdue University’s Engineering Gift Guide Selection
• 2016 Water Bears 3D Puzzle App wins Balefire Labs Top Selection
• 2016 Water Bears 3D Puzzle App wins TECHwithKIDS.com Best Pick App
• 2015 Water Bears 3D Puzzle App wins “Best of Show” in Serious Games Competition in 2015
• 2015 Water Bears 3D Puzzle App selected as Serious Play Awards Gold Medal Winner
• 2015 Water Bears 3D Puzzle App Children’s Technology Review Editors Choice for Excellence in Design
• 2014 Outstanding Junior Faculty Award from Indiana University. The awards, presented by the Office of the Vice Provost for Research and the Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty and Academic Affairs, honor tenure-track faculty who have begun to develop nationally recognized research or scholarship programs and devoted productive time to teaching and service, but who have not yet achieved tenure.
• 2012 “Be Great!” Award Recipient from the Boys and Girls Clubs of Bloomington in recognition for volunteer work technology lab work (2012).
• 2011 American Educational Research Association (AERA) Highest Ranked Paper Submission Award in the Peace Education Special Interest Group (SIG) (2011).
• 2011 American Educational Research Association (AERA) Best Emerging Media Paper in the Media, Culture & Curriculum (MCC) Special Interest Group (SIG).
• 2009 Indiana Governor’s Award for Tomorrow’s Leaders. Top Award given to outstanding young leaders in the state of Indiana that have shown exemplary leadership under the age of 30.
• 2008 Honorable Mention in Prixars Electronica in Community Art for work on the Scratch Online Community (www.scratch.mit.edu) (2008). One of the highest international awards in the digital arts community.
• 2008 Group Volunteer of the Year (2008) at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Bloomington for outstanding service to the organization.
• 2008 Top Paper at the Special Interest Group on Computer Science Education (SIGCSE) Conference (2008).
• 2007 UC Presidential Postdoctoral Fellowship (2007-2008).
• 2006 Spencer Dissertation Fellowship for Research Related to Education (2006-2007).
• 2004 Hoyt Foundation Fellowship. Graduate Fellowship awarded to recipients within the University of California schools