Wednesday, November 11th
12-1 PM
370 Jay Street, 522 I Zoom
Much of what happens during learning is opaque. I present ways to model the complex signals learners produce in different environments to more accurately understand how, when, and why they make progress. I discuss a range of spaces and emerging technologies, from puzzle games, virtual reality, and digital textbooks to smartphone use in classrooms, and the unique affordances each offers for revealing different layers of learning. I walk through several research efforts that use mixed methods to detect what learners are actually doing during learning activities, especially when they get stuck. Finally, I consider how these signals can support novel AI systems to more precisely scaffold learners toward valued goals.
Bio
Basel Hussein is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Pennsylvania. He uses mixed methods to detect and understand how, why and when people get stuck, and designs AI-driven technologies that help them make progress toward their goals. He holds a PhD in Learning Technologies and Computer Science from the University of Minnesota and is an instructor at New York University.
Recent Publications
- Hussein et al. (2026). Describing Smartphone Use Among Adolescents During School Hours Using High-Intensity Objective Observations. Child Development.