Postdoctoral Fellow: Educational Statistics
The paths of ~200,000 students through the rich structure of feedback and hints in MasteringPhysics.com will be studied to provide deep assessment of student learning (see http://relate.mit.edu). The postdoc will develop procedures to assess learning as it occurs, study learning styles, separate expert and novice problem solving behavior, identify and detect behaviors that enhance or retard learning, and validate diagnostic tests to measure different types of expertise and skill.
Candidates must have a relevant doctoral degree that involves heavy and creative use of statistics in education, psychometrics, or related fields. She/he must be comfortable working alone and with others. This position is a proven route to academic positions. CV and names of three referees should be sent to Ms. J. Keseberg j_k@mit.edu . Position is available immediately
Postdoctoral Fellow: Physics Education Research
Computer-based Intelligent Tutors have demonstrated an ability to improve student performance on many attributes by one to two standard deviations; in particular for typical multi-part end of chapter problems in physics (see http://relate.mit.edu ). The postdoc will design, author, and analyze data from tutorials and problems to teach and diagnose expert problem solving ability. Additionally, we are studying the paths of ~200,000 students through the rich structure of feedback and hints in MasteringPhysics.com, developing tools to assess student learning vs. time, student expertise, learning styles, and habits and behavior (e.g. homework copying) that characterize the student and may enhance or retard learning. We are also generalizing Item Response Theory for application in a learning environment.
Candidates must have a Ph.D or Ed.D in physics/science education, educational psychology, or cognitive science and/or must have demonstrated strong statistics/data analysis skills. She/he must be comfortable working alone and with others. This position is a proven route to academic positions. Inquiries and applications. CV and names of three referees should be sent to Ms. J. Keseberg j_k@mit.edu . Position available in Spring 08.
Prof. David E. Pritchard
Dept. of Physics 26-241 MIT
77 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge, MA 02139.