![Photo of David Sears]( "Photo of David Sears")
Steven C. Beering Hall of Liberal Arts and Education 100 N. University Street West Lafayette Indiana 47907-2098 BRNG 5130work
Work Phone: (765) 494-8121work
Work Email: dsears@purdue.eduINTERNET
David Sears
Visiting Assistant Professor
Educational Psychology & Research MethodologyEducational Studies
David is a Visiting Assistant Professor of educational psychology. He earned his PhD from Stanford University and engages in research focuses on collaboration and how that affects transfer, the types of tasks that naturally support productive interaction, and when unique benefits of collaboration for learning can be expected. Using quantitative and qualitative methods, his research examines these topics primarily in the domains of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
- Ph.D. — Psychological Studies in Education, Stanford University (2006)
- B.A. — Psychology, Reed College (1998)
- 2017 – present
Clinical Associate Professor of Educational Psychology
Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
- 2014 – 2017
Clinical Assistant Professor of Educational Psychology
Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
- 2006 – 2014
Assistant Professor of Educational Psychology
Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
Collaborative learning can promote impressive learning gains for students of all achievement levels when appropriate scaffolds are in place. While a number of ways of promoting learning via collaboration have been identified, much remains to be learned. Topics include how collaboration affects transfer, what types of tasks naturally support productive interaction, and when unique benefits of collaboration for learning can be expected. Using quantitative and qualitative methods, my research examines these topics primarily in the domains of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
Selected Publications
- Sears, D. A. (2017). Preparation for future learning. In K. Pepper (Ed.), Sage Encyclopedia of Out-of-School Learning (pp. 613-616). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.
- Pai, H.-H., Sears, D. A., & Maeda, Y. (2015). Effects of small-group learning on transfer: A meta-analysis. Educational Psychology Review. DOI: 10.1007/s10648-014-9260-8
- Sears, D. A. & Reagin, J. M. (2013). Individual versus collaborative problem solving: Divergent outcomes depending on task complexity. Instructional Science, 41, 1153-1172. DOI: 10.1007/s11251-013-9271-8
- Dalrymple, O., Sears, D., & Evangelou, D. (2013). The relative pedagogical value of disassemble/analyze/assemble (DAA) activities. Advances in Engineering Education, 3, 1-25. http://advances.asee.org/wp-content/uploads/vol03/issue04/papers/AEE-12-4-Dalrymple_2-go.pdf
- Sears, D. A. & Pai, H.-H. (2012). Effects of cooperative versus individual study on learning and motivation after reward-removal. Journal of Experimental Education, 80, 246-262.
- Patrick, H., Mantzicopoulos, P., & Sears, D. (2012). Effective classrooms. In K. R. Harris, S. Graham, & T. Urdan (Eds.), APA Educational Psychology Handbook (pp. 443-469).
- Bryan, L. A., Sederberg, D., Daly, S., Sears, D., & Giordano, N. (2012). Facilitating teachers’ development of nanoscale science, engineering, and technology content knowledge. Nanotechnology Reviews, 1, 85-95.
- Dalrymple, O., Sears, D. A., & Evangelou, D. (2011). The motivational and transfer potential of disassemble/analyze/assemble (DAA) activities. Journal of Engineering Education, 100, 741-759.
- Schwartz, D., Bransford, J. & Sears, D. (2005). Efficiency and innovation in transfer. In J. Mestre (Ed.), Transfer of learning from a modern multidisciplinary perspective (pp. 1-53). Greenwich, CT: Information Age Publishing.
- EDPS 23500 — Learning & Motivation
- EDPS 43000 — Creating and Managing Learning Environments
- EDPS 53000 — Advanced Educational Psychology
- EDPS 53300 — Introduction to Educational Research I: Methodology
- EDPS 65300 — Collaborative Learning
