Learning Sciences & Technologies

WPI’s Learning Sciences & Technologies Master's and Ph.D. program gives students and their teachers in K-12 schools the tools and techniques to make STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and English teaching more effective.

Our world-renowned faculty work collaboratively with WPI students to use a scientific and social approach that blends technology, psychology, cognition, and education practices to reach K-12 students in real classrooms and have them think about subjects in a new way. Our research identifies techniques that measure and reflect individual learning styles and help us understand how students learn, given various social, emotional, cultural, and scientific influences.

The revolution we seek is global—elevating U.S. students’ competitive edge in a connected world. Getting there requires applying what we understand about learning to transform the current U.S. educational system, classroom by classroom. 

For More Information: https://sites.google.com/view/wpi-lst

 

CONTACT
Location: Unity Hall
Phone: 508-831-5569
Fax: 508-831-5776
Degree is also offered online.
Area of Study Master PhD
Learning Sciences & Technologies master phd

Professors Neil Heffernan & Joe Beck Hosting a 2023 Summer REU

Applications are now open for the 2023 NSF REU in Learning Sciences and Technology

Leveraging The Learning Sciences & Technologies to Address Achievement Gaps for Secondary School Students

May 24, 2023- July 31, 2023

Student Application
Faculty Recommendation

LS&T Course Information

Programmatic courses we recommend for 2022-23 academic year:

  • Fall 2022

    • CS565 User Modeling / Mon/Thurs from 4:00-5:20 (Dr. Neil Heffernan)

    • PSY590 Alternative Research in Learning Science / Tues from 6:00-8:50 (Dr. Stacy Shaw)

    • MA511 Applied Statistics for Engineers and Scientists / Time TBD

    • A student can always petition the department for permission to satisfy the program requirements in alternative ways. For instance, we have had graduate students take CS1005 to learn Python and also do some extra project work applying writing a python program to reform learning science data sets. The program looks kindly upon students who want to challenge themselves by learning programming skills, and recognizes there are not many good "on-ramps" to CS courses. 

  • Spring 2023

    • CS541 Deep Learning / Mon/Thurs 4:00-5:20 (Dr. Jacob Whitehill)

    • MA590 Special Topics: Causal Inference / Thursdays 5:30-8:20 (Dr. Adam Sales)

    • PSY506 Learning and Creativity / Wednesdays 4:00-6:50 (Dr. Stacy Shaw)

Additional Courses of Interest for LST Students

  • Spring 2023

STEM FOR ALL VIDEO SHOWCASE: RESEARCH & DESIGN FOR IMPACT

171 NSF and other Federally funded projects share three-minute videos of their innovative work to improve STEM and CS teaching and learning. During the week of May 15th - May 22nd, we invite you to:

  • Browse short videos highlighting 171 STEM education initiatives. Use the filters to find those of interest.
  • Join the conversation by posting to the discussion related to each video that you view.
  • Vote for your favorite videos by casting a Public Choice Vote. Spread the word!

Stem for All website: http://stemforall2017.videohall.com/. Additional showcase videos:

 

Media Coverage

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EdTech Digest
U.S. Dept. of Education Releases ‘Designing for Edu with AI’ Developer Guide

EdTech Digest reported on federal efforts to support developers of educational technology and provide essential information regarding artificial intelligence. The article credits Neil Heffernan, the William Smith Dean's Professor of Computer Science and the director of the Learning Sciences and Technologies Program, with contributing ideas for translating Department of Education recommendations for AI in education into practical guidelines.

Worcester Business Journal
WPI researchers to develop AI math tutor with $4M in funding

Neil Heffernan, the William Smith Dean's Professor of Computer Science and the director of the Learning Sciences and Technologies Program, has been awarded a three-year grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s (DOE) Institute of Education Sciences to lead efforts to develop an artificial intelligence tutor to help middle-school students learn math while doing homework.

Government Technology
Who should be regulating AI classroom tools?

Computer science professor Neil Heffernan spoke with Government Technology about the public discussion over regulations of artificial intelligence. He explained why regulations could stifle research and development and lead to monopolization.

News

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Announcements

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Math in Motion
Preview
Alumni Success Story

Manasi Vartak '10

Manasi Vartak '10 founded Verta to help companies build AI-enabled products faster than ever.

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Insider: Avery Harrison ’19

Avery Harrison has an MS in LS&T in ’19, and is on a track to a PhD in ’22. Learn about her journey in the WPI Journal’s Insider page.

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More from WPI's Alumni Magazine

A photo of Professor Neil Heffernan

Online Math Help That Works

ASSISTments, a free educational platform developed by WPI researchers, uses immediate feedback to improve learning outcomes.

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ASSISTments

ASSISTments a free web-based intelligent tutoring system was developed by a team led by Neil Heffernan, director of WPI’s Learning Sciences & Technologies program. This innovative technology uses many approaches to help students learn and help teachers assess student progress. A recent four-year study showed that completing mathematics homework using ASSISTments improved learning by 75 percent over normal gains. The study, by SRI International, was conducted with 7th and 8th grade students in Maine. Watch this video or read more to learn how this technology improved learning outcomes.

See How Graspable Math Works

Professor Erin Ottmar helped create Graspable Math, an online tool to help researchers understand how children learn about math. With that new understanding, researchers can help educators teach math in a way that will be more useful and efficient for everyone in the classroom. Students can explore their genuine curiosity, even learning to play with math equations, while gaining flexibility in their thinking about math. Watch this video to hear Professor Ottmar explain how her research improves learning.

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Ivon Arroyo Researches Big Data, Intelligent Tutoring

Professor Ivon Arroyo’s well-funded, pioneering research uses technology to improve learning outcomes. Whether it’s with the NSF’s “Big Data Spokes” project or her work with the intelligent tutoring product MathSpring, Arroyo investigates the transformations that take place when education, technology, and a human angle align.

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Students Immerse Themselves in LS&T Research

Alongside an interdisciplinary and collaborative team of WPI professors and K-12 teachers, WPI graduate students immerse themselves in real classrooms while using the latest technology and methods to gather and interpret data. With that insight, they develop and test techniques to foster increased subject interest, better learning, and effective teaching.

Facts and Figures

13:1

students-to-faculty ratio 

#13

best career placement

The Princeton Review (2024)
over $13 million

National Science Foundation research awards (FY 2024)

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Faculty in LS&T merge cutting-edge technology with real human response to improve teaching and learning outcomes. Our professors investigate everything from building wearable devices so children can create and play augmented reality math games to using software to challenge how children think about math problems. The department’s well-funded research is constant and always evolving to provide excellent opportunities for students to perform hands-on, transformative scientific inquiry. 

Neil Heffernan

Ivon Arroyo

Erin Ottmar

Joseph Beck

Jacob Whitehill

Career Outlook

The rapidly growing educational technology field is looking for employees with the kind of technical and real classroom experience WPI graduates have. Students often move into consulting or academic roles or launch entrepreneurial start-ups.

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Computer Science
Social Science & Policy Studies
Data Science
The STEM Education Center
Interactive Media and Game Development
Office of Sponsored Programs Proposal Forms

Admissions Information

Graduate Admissions