Michelle Wilkerson-Jerde
Assistant Professor

• Ph.D., Northwestern University
• B.A., University of San Diego

Michelle Wilkerson-Jerde is excited to join Tufts' Department of Education in Mathematics Education. Her research focuses on two complementary goals: (a) understanding how learners build connections between mathematics, the natural and social sciences, and everyday knowledge; and (b) designing computer environments that leverage such connections to introduce learners to powerful mathematical ideas. As part of this work she developed DeltaTick and HotLink Replay, programs that enable students to build their own computer simulations within the NetLogo modeling environment and then mathematically analyze the patterns produced by those simulations. Before joining the Department of Education, Michelle fell in love with teaching, learning, and technology as a member of the Center for Connected Learning and Computer-Based Modeling at Northwestern University, and the Ubiquitous Presenter group at the University of California, San Diego. Michelle earned her PhD in Learning Sciences from Northwestern University in 2011, and holds Bachelor's degrees in Mathematics and Elementary Education from the University of San Diego.

Selected Publications and Presentations (a full list is available here)
Wilkerson-Jerde, M. & Wilensky, U. (2011). How do mathematicians learn math?: Resources and acts for constructing and understanding mathematics.Educational Studies in Mathematics, 78(1), 21-43.

Wilkerson-Jerde, M. & Wilensky, U. (2010). Qualitative Calculus of Systems: Exploring Students’ Understanding of Rate of Change and Accumulation in Multiagent Systems. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Denver, CO, April 30 – May 4.

Wilkerson-Jerde, M. & Wilensky, U. (2010). Restructuring change, interpreting changes: The deltatick modeling and analysis toolkit. InProceedings of Constructionism 2010(p. 97), Paris, France.

Wilkerson-Jerde, M. & Wilensky, U. (2010). Seeing Change in the World from Different Levels: Understanding the Mathematics of Complex Systems. In M. Jacobson (Org.), U. Wilensky (Chair), and Peter Reimann (Discussant), Learning about Complexity and Beyond: Theoretical and Methodological Implications for the Learning Sciences. In K. Gomez & J. Radinsky (Ed.),Proceedings of the 9th International Conference of the Learning Sciences(Vol 2, pp. 187-194). Chicago, IL, Jun 29-Jul 2.