Using Technology to Facilitate Randomized Experiments in University Courses

Joseph Jay Williams will present and invite discussion on using technology to conduct randomized experiments in university courses. He's especially interested in dynamic experiments that use machine learning to analyze data in real time and reweight randomization to give more effective conditions to future students, enhancing and personalizing technology. 

The URL http://tiny.cc/copwilliams points to a Google Doc with resources on what he'll present, allows attendees tointroduce themselves, and write questions we can discuss when we meet. You can also watch the live stream (and recording after) athttps://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=KD8w6mrB2Oo.

You can see slides from his Ebbinghaus talk at <https://drive.google.com/open?id=1zV60lEbPjS6vVfuEoy4mHnHa-sSQ6vPl>https://drive.google.com/open?id=1zV60lEbPjS6vVfuEoy4mHnHa-sSQ6vPl, and the recording at <https://play.library.utoronto.ca/8J4j5S7AW5O0>https://play.library.utoronto.ca/8J4j5S7AW5O0.

Joseph is an assistant professor in computer science (who has published in psychology journals) doing research on using technology to conductrandomized field experiments. He looks at settings like growth mindset interventions in university courses, prompts to have students reflect andread explanations while doing online quizzes, technology for helping people manage stress by applying cognitive behavior therapy, and interventions forencouraging exercise and healthy eating.

About the CoP meetings: The goal of these meetings is to build a community around teaching and learning practices in the Department of Psychology. Some of the teaching stream faculty will commit to meeting for coffee in the Psychology Lounge once a month to discuss topics around our teaching practice. All are invited - staff, graduate students, instructors, tenure-stream faculty, and teaching-stream faculty from all departments. No teaching experience is necessary - newcomers are most welcome! While each meeting will have a specific topic and discussion leader, we can also use these meetings to share ideas, ask questions, and get advice about our general teaching-related challenges.. 

Meetings will take place from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. in the Psychology Department lounge, room 4043 Sidney Smith Hall, 100 St. George Street. Coffee and treats will also be provided.

If you are interested in leading a discussion or in seeing a topic discussed that is not listed, please contact Suzanne Wood, wood@psych.utoronto.ca, or Molly Metz, metz@psych.utoronto.ca.