Michelle Hoda Wilkerson

I am a learning scientist whose work explores computational literacy, with special focus on how young people learn about scientific computing, its power, and its limitations. Most recently, I have explored how two varieties of scientific computing in particular, visual data analysis tools and agent-based simulation, can be responsibly introduced as epistemic tools within the precollegiate curriculum. Because my research focuses on the ways in which these tools allow youth to explore large-scale systems with significant social impacts (e.g. climate, health patterns, nutrition, pollution), I pay special attention to the ways in which students' personal experiences with these systems can be represented and explored through computing and digital narrative. Learn more about my work here(link is external).

I direct the Computing, Reasoning, and Expression (CoRE) Lab(link is external). My work has been featured in journals including Educational Researcher, Journal of the Learning Sciences, Science Education, Instructional Science, and the Journal of Science Teacher Education. In 2014 my research was selected for a National Science Foundation Early CAREER Award, and in 2020 I was awarded the AERA Division C Jan Hawkins Award for Early Career Contributions to Humanistic Research and Scholarship in Learning Technologies. In 2022 I served as Co-Chair (with Nicholas Horton) of the planning committee for the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Workshop on the Foundations of K-12 Data Science Education(link is external).

Degree(s)

PhD, Northwestern University, Learning Sciences

BA, University of San Diego, Mathematics

BA, University of San Diego, Diversified Liberal Arts (Education)

Personal Webpages

CORE Lab(link is external)
About Me(link is external) (on the Open Computing Facility)

Contact

Office #4413

School of Education
Berkeley Way West Building (BWW)
UC Berkeley
2121 Berkeley Way
Berkeley, CA 94720-1670