My active lines of research are organized into three primary strands:
1. Classroom Innovation: Humanistic Learning Communities
I am the developer of the Humanistic Learning Community (HLC) model, which serves as a foundational platform for investigating a diverse array of educational phenomena. Beyond examining how this model fosters student identity development and growth mindsets, my research utilizes the HLC framework to explore complex social dynamics, including the navigation of sociopolitical issues and identity work within areas of conflict. This work seeks to understand how structured learning communities can provide the safety and agency necessary for learners to engage with sensitive, real-world challenges.
2. Infrastructuring for Maker Education
This line of research moves beyond the specific tools of makerspaces to examine the broader infrastructures—social, pedagogical, and organizational—required to sustain maker-centered learning. I study how educational systems can create durable yet flexible support structures that allow creative, hands-on inquiry to thrive across diverse and evolving learning contexts.
3. Authentic Use of Generative AI
My current work investigates the authentic integration of Generative AI (GenAI) in professional and educational settings. By studying how domain experts leverage GenAI in their actual practice, I develop design principles for classrooms that prepare students for a world where AI is a collaborative partner. This research focuses on translating expert workflows into pedagogical designs that maintain cognitive challenge and human agency.
