Brian K Smith
Honorable David S. Nelson Chair; Associate Dean for Research
Biography
Brian K. Smith is the Honorable David S. Nelson Professor and Associate Dean for Research at the Lynch School of Education and Human Development. His research interests include the design of computer-based learning environments, human-computer interaction, design sciences, societal impacts of computation, out-of-school learning, and computer science education. Earlier, he served as Senior Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at Drexel University’s College of Computing & Informatics and as program director in the Division of Research on Learning at the National Science Foundation (NSF). He is a technical advisor to the Center for Inclusive Computing at Northeastern University, a program fellow with the Spencer Foundation, and chair of the World Usability Day Design Challenge. He also co-chairs the International Conference on Learning and Collaboration Technologies. A graduate of UCLA in computer science and engineering, Smith earned a Ph.D. in learning sciences from Northwestern University. He began his academic career at the MIT Media Lab, followed by appointments at Pennsylvania State University as associate professor of information sciences and technology and the Rhode Island School of Design as dean of continuing education, where he oversaw the development of art and design programs for youth and adults, and was a co-investigator of RISD’s “STEM to STEAM” initiative.
Courses taught
- CSCI1702 Code and Consequences: An Introduction to AI and Its Societal Impacts
- EDUC7101 Readings and Research In Curriculum and Instruction
- EDUC9911 Doctoral Continuation
- EDUC9988 Dissertation Direction
- ERAL1112 First Year Experience, Reflection, and Action
- UNAS1744 Code and Consequences: An Introduction to AI and Its Societal Impacts
- EDUC4101 Readings and Research in Curriculum and Instruction
- ERAL1100 First-Year Seminar