The Applied Learning Sciences faculty are a multinational group of academics with doctorate degrees from Ivy League and other top-ranked institutions. Our faculty members are active researchers and practitioners with a wealth of experience in different areas of education. Among them are published authors and those who lead projects for the U.S. Department of Education.
Hear from the faculty members themselves. Learn what got them into teaching and what students can expect to get out of their classes.
Who will you find in the online classroom?
Walter G. Secada is Professor of Teaching and Learning and Senior Associate Dean of the School of Education. Secada is an internationally renowned expert on equity in education, mathematics education, bilingual education, school restructuring, professional development of teachers, student engagement, and education reform. Recently, Secada served on the National Research Council whose Framework for K-12 Science Education: Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas will guide the development of the next generation of national standards for K-12 science. Secada has a master's in mathematics and a doctorate in education from Northwestern University. His work has been funded by the National Science Foundation and Institute of Educational Studies.
Ji Shen is an Associate Professor in STEM education. Shen’s scholarly work focuses on developing innovative, technology-enhanced learning environments at all levels, including interdisciplinary and integrated STEM learning and assessment, and modeling-based teaching and learning. He leads a total of four National Science Foundation-funded projects (totaling about $1.3 million) related to STEM education, and holds a doctorate degree in physics from Washington University in St. Louis.
Jennifer Kahn Thorne is an Assistant Professor in the Applied Learning Sciences program in the Department of Teaching and Learning. She completed her doctoral studies at Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College. She studies how big data and new technologies can be utilized in youth and community learning. Kahn designs interdisciplinary, novel activities for learning in and outside of school settings. Her scholarship has been recognized at international conferences for education research.
Nam Ju Kim is an Assistant Professor of Applied Learning Sciences in the Department of Teaching and Learning. His research investigates the design, development, and evaluation of technology-enhanced pedagogy. Currently, he is focused on the development of artificial intelligence-adapted learning systems using machine learning algorithms to provide flexible and individualized support. Prior to his arrival at the University of Miami, he acted as an instructional designer to develop and evaluate more than 30 online and offline courses for adult education. He also ran an employee induction and training company working with government agencies, commercial enterprises, and non-profit organizations. Kim has been published in top-tier academic journals and has presented numerous papers on instructional technology and learning sciences at nationally and internationally renowned conferences. He earned his doctorate in instructional technology and learning sciences from Utah State University.