BIOGRAPHY
Joe Michaelis is an Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois Chicago in Computer Science and Learning Sciences. He has a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology – Learning Sciences from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After six years as a science educator and FIRST robotics coach in urban middle and high schools, he returned to Madison to pursue research interests in STEM education that focus on improving STEM interest and learning through technological support. Joe's current research focuses on designing learning companion robots and social robotics curriculum to support learning and interest in STEM fields and is supported through several NSF grants.
Education
PhD: Educational Psychology - Learning Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
MS: Science Education Leadership, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL
BS: Philosophy, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
Research Interests
My research involves studying interest development and its impact on learning in STEM education, focusing on the role of learning environments, feedback, cognitive development and influence of social constructs and identities. This work examines designing scaffolded instruction from teachers, other students, and educational technologies to best meet the needs of students at different phases of interest development. This work is conducted in lab studies as well as in classrooms, homes, and out-of-school STEM education settings, using a mixed methods approach to data analysis via observation, interview, survey, and eye-tracking.
Research Lab Experience
UIC Learning + Interest + Technology (LIT) Lab
Director and Principle Investigator
2019 - present
Human Computer Interaction Lab
Graduate Research Assistant
PI - Bilge Mutlu
2014 - 2019
Mathematical Action & Gesture in Instruction and Cognition
Graduate Research Assistant
PI - Mitchell Nathan
2016-18
Learning, Representations, and Technology Lab
Graduate Research Assistant
PI - Martina Rau
2013-2017
National Center for Cognition and Mathematics Instruction
Graduate Research Assistant
PI - Mitchell Nathan
2014 - 2016