Caro Williams-Pierce

Dr. Caro Williams-Pierce leverages her expertise in math, education, and information science to develop innovative approaches to STEM education – designing next-generation online and game-based math learning tools. Her research focuses on designing and evaluating digital media for mathematical play using novel mathematical representations and interactions, with a particular emphasis on designing example-based trajectories that support players in developing powerful and detailed generalizations. Dr. Williams-Pierce is also an embodied constructivist who attends to physical gesture, digital action, and spoken language as evidence of generalizing, justifying, and proving. Dr. Williams-Pierce’s innovative approach to game-based learning to promote math learning in K-12 youth has led to the recognition of her work by both the academy and industry. At the UMD iSchool, Dr. Williams-Pierce’s will be an integral member of the Youth eXperience (YX) Lab.