Research

Current Work

I like to think of myself as a learning scientist - someone who studies how people learn. My research interests are centered on how K-12 students learn to understand, value, and make use of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in both in-school settings (i.e., classrooms) and out-of-school settings (e.g., visiting museums, at home). I am particularly interested in how students connect or integrate the STEM areas, such as how students develop better engineering designs by incorporating math ideas in their design process. In doing so, I hope that they increase their understanding of those math ideas and come to value math as a useful tool for problem solving.

As a I search for a place where I can continue my research in the Ann Arbor area, I am working currently on modifying my dissertation for journal submissions. I am attempting to separate the document into three papers. The first paper is about the design history of the robotics learning environment and its commonalities and differences with other learning environments that target introductory robotics. The second paper is on the types of math that kids in middle school robot competitions use and how that math is or is not useful in their competition. And the third paper is on the contrasting math framings that I observed and manipulated in the final study of my dissertation.

Downloadable Documents

Curriculum Vitae (last updated: March 23, 2012)

Research Statement (last updated: March 28, 2012)

Math in Educational Robotics

Silk, E. M. (2011). Resources for learning robots: Environments and framings connecting math in robotics (Doctoral dissertation, University of Pittsburgh). Available from Dissertations and Theses at the University of Pittsburgh and from ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database (Publication No. AAT 3485771). [Paper (PDF)] [Presentation (PDF)] [University of Pittsburgh ETD] [ProQuest UMI Database]

Silk, E. M., Higashi, R., & Schunn, C. D. (2011, June). Resources for robot competition success: Assessing math use in grade-school-level engineering design. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Engineering Education, Vancouver, BC, Canada. [Paper (PDF)] [Presentation (PDF)]

Silk, E. M., & Schunn, C. D. (2011, June). Calculational versus mechanistic mathematics in propelling the development of physical knowledge. Paper presented at the 41st annual meeting of the Jean Piaget Society, Berkeley, CA, USA. [Paper (PDF)] [Presentation (PDF)]

Silk, E. M., & Schunn, C. D. (2011, April). Resources for learning robots: Facilitating the incorporation of mathematical models in students' engineering design strategies. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, New Orleans, LA, USA. [Paper (PDF)] [Presentation (PDF)]

Silk, E. M., Schunn, C. D., Shoop, R., & Stein, M. K. (2011, March). The Robot Algebra Project. Poster presented at the eighth annual NSF ITEST Summit, Arlington, VA, USA. [Poster (PDF)]

Silk, E. M. (2010, August 25). Can math help in LEGO robotics competitions? [4-part web log post]. Retrieved from http://robotics-academy.org/blog/?p=356 [Part 1] [Part 2] [Part 3] [Part 4]

Silk, E. M., Higashi, R., Shoop, R., & Schunn, C. D. (2010). Designing technology activities that teach mathematics. The Technology Teacher, 69(4), 21-27. [Paper (PDF)]

Silk, E. M., Schunn, C. D., & Shoop, R. (2009). Synchronized robot dancing: Motivating efficiency & meaning in problem-solving with robotics. Robot Magazine, 17, 74-77. [Author Proof (PDF)]

Silk, E. M., & Schunn, C. D. (2008, June). Using robotics to teach mathematics: Analysis of a curriculum designed and implemented. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Engineering Education, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. [Paper (PDF)] [Presentation (PDF)]

Silk, E. M., Schunn, C. D., Higashi, R., Shoop, R., Dietrich, A., & Reed, R. (2007). The use of robotics to teach mathematics. Robotics Educators Conference, Butler, PA, USA. [Presentation (PDF)]

Design for Science Learning

Silk, E. M. (2012, January). Ends and means: A framework for design, make, and play learning activities. Paper presented at the Design, Make, Play - Growing the Next Generation of Science Innovators workshop at the New York Hall of Science, Queens, NY. [Draft Paper (PDF)] [Presentation (PDF)]

Silk, E. M., & Schunn, C. D. (2011, September). A cognitive perspective on integrated STEM learning. Paper commissioned for the National Academy of Engineering/National Research Council's Committee on Integrated STEM Education as part of the project Toward Integrated STEM Education: Developing A Research Agenda. Paper presented at the September 27, 2011 meeting, Washington, DC, USA.

Schunn, C. D., Silk, E. M., & Apedoe, X. S. (in press). Engineering in/&/or/for science education. In S. Carver & J. Shrager (Eds.), The Journey from Child to Scientist: Integrating Cognitive Development and the Education Sciences. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association. [Publisher URL] [Amazon]

Schunn, C. D., & Silk, E. M. (2011). Learning theories for engineering and technology education. In M. Barak & M. Hacker (Eds.), Fostering Human Development through Engineering and Technology Education (pp. 3-18), Rotterdam: Sense Publishers. [Paper (PDF)] [Publisher URL]

Silk, E. M., Schunn, C. D., & Strand Cary, M. (2009). The impact of an engineering design curriculum on science reasoning in an urban setting. Journal of Science Education and Technology, 18(3), 209-223. doi: 10.1007/s10956-009-9144-8 [Final Draft (PDF)]

Doppelt, Y., Schunn, C. D., Silk, E. M., Mehalik, M. M., Reynolds, B., & Ward, E. (2009). Evaluating the impact of a facilitated learning community approach to professional development on teacher practice and student achievement. Research in Science & Technological Education, 27(3), 339-354. doi: 10.1080/02635140903166026

Silk, E. M., & Schunn, C. D. (2008, January). Core concepts in engineering as a basis for understanding and improving K-12 engineering education in the United States. Paper commissioned for the report Engineering in K-12 Education: Understanding the Status and Improving the Prospects and presented at the National Academy of Engineering/National Research Council workshop on K-12 Engineering Education, Washington, DC, USA. [Final Draft (PDF)]

Doppelt, Y., Mehalik, M. M., Schunn, C. D., Silk, E., & Krysinski, D. (2008). Engagement and achievements: A case study of design-based learning in a science context. Journal of Technology Education, 19(2), 22-39. [Paper (HTML)] [Paper (PDF)]

Silk, E. M., & Schunn, C. D. (2008, April). Utilizing contrasting cases to target science reasoning and content in a design-for-science unit. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the National Association for Research in Science Teaching, Baltimore, MD, USA. [Paper (PDF)] [Presentation (PDF)]

Silk, E. M., Schunn, C. D., & Strand Cary, M. (2007, April). The impact of an engineering design curriculum on science reasoning in an urban setting. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the National Association for Research in Science Teaching, New Orleans, LA, USA. [Paper (PDF)] [Presentation (PDF)]

Silk, E. M., & Schunn, C. D. (2006). Learning science by participating in design: A case where multiple design subgoals interfere with systematic progress. In S. Barab, K. Hay, & D. Hickey (Eds.), Proceedings of the 7th International Conference of the Learning Sciences (pp. 988-989). Bloomington, IN: International Society of the Learning Sciences. [Paper (PDF)] [Poster (PDF)]

Doppelt, Y., Silk, E. M., Mehalik, M. M., Schunn, C. D., Reynolds, B., & Ward, E. (2006, April). Evaluating the impact of a facilitated learning community approach to professional development on student achievement. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the National Association for Research in Science Teaching, San Francisco, CA, USA. [Paper (PDF)] [Presentation (PDF)]

Cognitive Modeling

Qin, Y., Carter, C. S., Silk, E. M., Stenger, V. A., Fissell, K., Goode, A., & Anderson, J. R. (2004). The change of the brain activation patterns as children learn algebra equation solving. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA, 101(15), 5686-5691. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0401227101

Mobile Robotics

Maxwell, B. A., Meeden, L. A., Addo, N. S., Dickson, P., Fairfield, N., Johnson, N., Jones, E. G., Kim, S., Malla, P., Murphy, M., Rutter, B., & Silk, E. M. (2001). REAPER: A reflexive architecture for perceptive agents. AI Magazine, 22(1), 53-66. [Paper (Online)]

Maxwell, B. A., Meeden, L. A., Addo, N. S., Brown, L., Dickson, P., Ng, J., Olshfski, S., Silk, E. M., & Wales, J. (1999). Alfred: The Robot Waiter Who Remembers You. Proceedings of the AAAI Workshop on Robotics. Menlo Park, CA: AAAI Press. [Paper (PDF)]