Lauren Herckis
1. Your research started over two years ago, and we have seen a few great headlines on its outcomes. One of the findings is that educators’ resistance to trying out new technology is linked to their ‘fear of looking stupid’ in front of their students.Can you tell us more about the background of the project, your research, and your expectations? Were there any surprises or any findings you did not anticipate?
I work at Carnegie Mellon University, where innovation is a way of life, and where learning science is a research focus for many faculty members. When I arrived on campus, some of my colleagues had been asking for years why proven, science-based educational technologies weren’t in wider use. Folks at Carnegie Mellon have developed tools and technologies that promote marked improvements in student achievement, supporting more students as they learn better and faster—so why aren’t these tools ubiquitous in higher ed?