Biography

I am a learning scientist designing technologies to mediate social, informal learning interactions. The field of Learning Sciences, with its focus on understanding how people learn in order to better design learning environments and learning interventions, allows me to blend my background in theatre design and my experience as a teacher in formal and informal settings. I specialize in learning through social and collaborative interactions around digital displays, with a particular interest in data visualizations and maps.

Contact me at jessica.roberts-AT-cc.gatech.edu

Work

Georgia Institute of Technology. Assistant Professor, School of Interactive Computing. 2019-present

Carnegie Mellon University. Postdoctoral Research Associate. Human-Computer Interaction Institute. 2017-2019

Northwestern University. Learning Sciences Researcher, TIDAL Lab. 2015-2017

Education

University of Illinois at Chicago, PhD in Learning Sciences

Specialization: Geospatial Analysis and Visualizations for Learning
Dissertation: Connecting Visitors to Data: Exploring Tools for Mediating Learning Talk at an Interactive Museum Exhibit
Committee: Leilah Lyons (chair), Susan Goldman, Tom Moher, Michael Horn, Robb Lindgren

Northwestern University, BS in Interdepartmental Studies in the School of Speech

Specialization: Theatre and film lighting design
Coursework: advanced lighting design, hand and computer-aided drafting, freehand drawing for stage design, film production, advanced lighting and cinematography
Select theatre credits: the Theatre and Interpretation Center’s All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten (lighting designer, 2003), Arts Alliance Production’s Graffiti Dancers (lighting director, 2003; lighting designer, 2001-2002; assistant stage manager, 2000), The Dolphin Show’s Damn Yankees (lighting designer, 2002) and The Secret Garden (associate lighting designer, 2001), and Arts Alliance’s Garden Party Hello, Again (lighting designer, 2003).

Teaching experience

2020Educational Technology (undergraduate/graduate)Georgia Tech
2018Learning Media Methods (undergraduate, co-instructor)Carnegie Mellon University
2017Evaluating Institutions: Research and Evaluation Methods in Museums (graduate)University of Illinois at Chicago
2017Human-Computer Interaction (undergraduate/graduate)North Central College, Naperville, Ill.
2007-2009Paralegal and attorney training for domestic violence pro bono clinic (professional)Latham & Watkins LLP
2005-2009LSAT, GMAT, ACT Test preparation (high school and post-baccalaureate)Kaplan Test Prep
2003-2006Self-contained elementary school (4th, 7th, and 8th grades)Chicago Public Schools