Keeping the Mind in Mind

Rigorous Learning Science. Simply Applied.

Katherine McEldoon is a research-to-practice connector.

I have worked across academia, government, and industry to ensure the best scientific insights support student learning, no matter the context. Cognitive and learning sciences have so much to offer education, but require expertise to help guide educators and technology partners to best enact that science in their worlds.

I’m here to connect those dots.

An expert learning scientist and engineer, here to scale and apply evidence-based insight into practice.

  • EdTech without efficacy is like going on a road trip with no map. Let’s talk about how to build with evidence, develop your evidence strategy, and capture meaningful and rigorous evidence of impact. Build this process in to your continuous improvement system.

    • Establish outcomes and a theory of action

    • Evidence-based, scalable learning design

    • Impact and data instrumentation strategy

    • Communicate your value via impact

  • Learning Engineering is a process and practice that:

    • applies the learning sciences

    • using human-centered and engineering design methodologies and

    • [Iterative] data-informed decision making

    to support learners and their learning.

    I offer consultation and training on how to use learning design principles to engineer an engaging and effective learning experience, based on rigorous learning science.

  • Need insight on a cognitive or learning sciences topic? I can help.

    • Expert consultation

    • Research Literature Reviews

    • Speaking Engagements

    • Training & Upskilling

  • From exploratory pilot studies to fully randomized control trials, I can help from conceptualization to execution.

    • Research question conceptualization

    • Design and methodology consultation

    • Interpreting findings, data analysis, and communications

Let’s talk about:

Recent Work

Learning Design Principles

I was the lead creator of Pearson’s refreshed Learning Design Principles, a set of learning science research summaries that guide the scalable design of learning products and experiences.

This end-to-end science-based learning engineering toolkit includes research literature reviews, succinct and communicative summaries, tightly paired learning design implications, CAST-approved equity guidelines, and expected outcomes with suggested measures and metrics.

The Learning Design Principles toolkit enables Pearson to apply the science of learning to a wide swathe of learning products at scale. Summaries of these principles can be found on Pearson’s website.

Learning Happens Best When…

The Psychology of Confidence

As part of Pearson’s “Be Yourself in English: Build Your Learners’ Confidence” webinar series, I broke down the psychology of confidence to a global audience of English language teachers. Beyond a high level understanding of confidence, attendees left with specific actions they could take to build confidence in their learners.

Let’s Work Together

I specialize in connecting learning sciences research to practice, from partnerships with EdTech start-ups to leading research efforts for state governments and multinational education companies like Pearson. To learn more about how I can help you build more effective learning, send me an email or schedule a time to chat.