World Education Reform

In this research, I seek to understand the factors that drive different types of national education reforms and draw attention to the broader political, social, and economic forces that affect reforms around the world. I have sought to understand the internal and external forces that affect the course of existing reforms, producing new insights about the global processes and trends associated with policy directions in education. The goals of this research are: 1) to advance our understanding of patterns and trends in national education reform efforts; 2) to examine national and cross-national variation in political, economic, and socio-cultural factors that affect reform efforts; and 3) shed light on how reforms advance two key objectives of education: increased access to education and improvements in the quality of learning.

World Education Reform Database

This research has also contributed to the development of a new cross-national and longitudinal database on national education reforms. This database has enabled my research team to, for the first time, systematically trace, measure, and analyze education reforms globally.

The Politics of Global Indicators and Assessments

My research on global indicators and international assessments seeks to understand why and how international assessments impact national education policy agendas and reforms. It aims to reveal both the effect of international assessments and the mechanisms through which assessments influence education policies and reforms at a macro level. Drawing on theories from international relations and the sociology of education, I argue that international assessments in education have a significant, enduring impact on national education policy and practices.

Learners’ Experiences in STEAM Education

In this research, I examine how youths develop their learner’s agency, develop collaborative skills, and engage in discussions in human-centered STEAM learning. This research draws from an extensive dataset of student interactions in small group work settings that are both in-person and digitally-mediated. I investigate moments, processes, and learning pathways that help individuals develop their learner’s agency.