Lin, Xiaodong D. (xdl2001)

Xiaodong D Lin

Professor of Cognitive Studies
212-678-3520

Office Location:

544 GDodge

Office Hours:

By appointment; please email.

Educational Background

Ph.D., Purdue University, Instructional Psychology and Educational Technology

M.A., Louisiana State University, Elementary Science Education and Information Technology

B.A., Teachers College, HeNan University, Foreign Language Education (English) and Linguistics 

Scholarly Interests

Dr. Xiaodong Lin is a professor of Cognitive Science in Education and the Founding Director of Education for Persistence and Innovation Center (EPIC, http://epic.tc.columbia.edu/), at Teachers College, Columbia University.   She studies how to motivate students to succeed despite of running into obstacles in their school work and personal life.   A theme that runs throughout her research is how learning about people’s processes of struggling with failures can improve students’ future learning and confidence.  For example, Professor Lin incorporates "Celebrities’ Stories from Failure to Success" into school science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) curriculum, in order to improve students' ability to tackle their own struggles in life.  She finds that making explicit the struggles scientists experienced prior to success enhances students’ ability to deal with challenging STEM learning tasks.  This work was press released by the American Psychological Association and since then over 25 news media publicized her work, including NPR Morning News Edition, CBS News,  PBS Kids, PBS SciTech program, Science,  Atlantic Quartz,  BBC News, News India, China’s People Daily, etc.  Professor Lin also earned many awards throughout her career, including Career Achievement Award and Distinguished Research Award by the American Education Research Association (AERA), and she was named a Carnegie Scholar by the Carnegie Corporation of New York.  Recently, Professor Lin was elected to serve as education expert advisory board of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and has made important contributions to EDUCATION 2030 Initiative by proposing that self-enhancement should be incorporated into future education goals.

Selected Publications

Selections of Publications

Hu, D., Ahn, J. N., Vega, M. & Lin-Siegler, X. D. (2020).  Not all scientists are equal: Role aspirants influence role modeling outcomes in STEM. Basic and Applied Social Psychology.doi: 10.1080/01973533.2020.1734006

Jax, J. Ahn. J. N. & Lin-Siegler, X. D. (2019).  Using contrasting cases to improve self-assessment in physics learning.  Educational Psychology: An International Journal of Experimental Educational Psychology, 3(4), 1-24 doi: 10.1080/01443410.2019.1577360

Lin-Siegler, X. D. (2018).  How goals affect students’ learning? Educational Researcher (impact factor, 3.12, Core journal for the Chinese Academy of Science              

Lin-Siegler, XD, Ahn, J., Chen, J. A. Feng & Lura-Lucero, M. (2017, March). Stories of struggle: Teaching the value of effort and persistence in science. American Educator, 35-44.

Wang, I.C., Ahn, J. N., Hyojin, J. K., & Lin-Siegler, X.D. (2017).  Why do international students avoid communicating with Americans?  Journal of International Students. doi:10.5281/zenodo.570023

Wang, J., & Lin-Siegler, X. D.  (2017).   Perceptions of an ideal student among ethnic minority students and their teachers. Contemporary Education and Culture, (China).

Lin-Siegler, X. D., Ahn, J., Chen, J.,  A. Feng & Luna-Lucero, M.(2016).  Even Einstein struggled:  Effects of learning about great scientists’ struggles on high school students’ motivation to learn science. Journal Of Educational Psychology, 108(3), 314-328. doi: 10.1037/edu0000092

Lin, X.D.  Dweck, C., & Cohen, G. (2016).  Instructional interventions that motivate classroom learning. Journal of Educational Psychology, 108 (3), 295-299. doi:10.1037/edu0000124

Ahn, J., Luna-Lucero, M., Lamnina, M., Nightingale, M.; Novic, D. & Lin-Siegler, X. D,  (2016).  Motivating students’ STEM learning using biographical information. The International Journal of Design for Learning, 7 (1), 71-85. doi: 10.14434/ijdl.v7i1.19409

Shi, Z.Q., Lin, X.D., & Xu, J.Y. (2016). Students’ and Teachers’ Goals When Learning Chinese Language. Studies in Chinese Learning and Teaching, 2, 1-28.

Lin-Siegler,  X. D. Shaenfield, D. & Elder, A.  (2015). Contrasting case instruction can improve self-assessment of writing. Educational Technology Research & Development, 63 (4), 517-537. doi: 10.1007/s11423-015-9390-9

Hong, H.Y. & Lin-Siegler, X. D. (2012). How learning about scientists’ struggles influences students’ interest and learning in physics. Journal of Educational Psychology, 104(2), 469-484. doi: 10.1037/a0026224

Sullivan, F. R. & Lin-Siegler, X. D. (2012).  The ideal science student: Exploring the relationship of students’ perceptions to their problem solving activities in a robotics context. Journal of Interactive Learning Research, 23(3), 273-308

Lin, X. D. & Bransford, J. D. (2010). Personal background knowledge influences cross-cultural understanding.  Teachers College Record, 12 (7), 1729-1757.

Hong, H.-Y., & Lin, X. D. (2008). Introducing people knowledge into science learning. In G. Kanselaar, V. Jonker, P.A. Kirschner, & F.J. Prins (Eds.), International perspectives in the Learning Sciences: Creating a learning world. In Proceedings of the Eighth International Conference for the Learning Sciences – ICLS 2008, Vol. 1 (pp. 366-373). Utrecht, the Netherlands: International Society of the Learning Sciences.

Lin, X.D., Schwartz, D., & Bransford, J. D. (2007).  Intercultural adaptive expertise: Explicit and implicit lessons from Dr. Giyoo Hatano. Human Development,50(1), 65-73. doi: 10.1159/000097686

Wang, Y., Dogan, E., & Lin, X. D. (2006).  Effect of multiple-perspective thinking on problem solving. In Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Learning Sciences, pp.812-817. Bloomington, Indiana, International Society of the Learning Sciences.

Lin, X.D., Schwartz, D., & Hatano, G. (2005). Toward teachers’ adaptive metacognition. Educational Psychologist, 40(4), 245-255.

Lin, X. D., & Schwartz, D. (2005). Re-examining teacher reflection from a cross-cultural point of view (In Chinese).  Educational Research, 4 (303), 38-48.

Lin, X.D., & Hatano, G. (2003). Technology, culture and adaptive mind. Mind, Culture & Activity. 10(1), 3-8. doi: 10.1207/S15327884MCA1001_02

Lin, X. D., & Kinzer, C. (2003). Importance of technology for making cultural values explicit. Theory In Practice, 42 (3), 234-242. doi:10.1207/s15430421tip4203_10               

Lin, X.D., &  Schwartz, D. (2003). Reflection at the crossroad of cultures. Mind, Culture & Activity, 10(1), 9-25. Doi:10.1207/S15327884MCA1001_03

Schwartz, D., Lin, X. D., & Holmes, J. (2003). Technologies for learning from intercultural reflection. Intercultural Education, 14 (3), 292-306. Doi:10.1080/1467598032000117088

Lin, X.D. (2001a). Reflective adaptation of a technology artifact: A case study of classroom change. Cognition & Instruction, 19 (4), 395-440. doi:10.1207/S1532690XCI1904_1

Lin, X.D. (2001b). Designing metacognitive activities. Educational Technology Research & Development, 49(2), 23-40. doi:10.1007/BF02504926

Schwartz, D. L., &  Lin, X. D. (2001). Computers, productive agency, and the effort after shared meaning. Journal of Computing in Higher Education, 12 (2), 3-33. doi:10.1007/BF02940954

Bransford, J. B.,  Lin, X.D., & Schwartz, D. L. (2000). Technology, learning and schools: Comments on articles by Tom Carroll & Gerald Bracey. Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education, 1 (1), 145-182.

Lin, X.D., Hmelo, C., Kinzer, C., &  Secules, T. (1999). Designing technology to support reflection. Educational Technology Research & Development.,47 (3), 43-62. doi:10.1007/BF02299633

Lin, X.D., & Lehman, J. (1999). Supporting learning of variable control in a computer-based biology environment: Effects of prompting college students to reflect on their own thinking. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 36 (7), 837-858.

Schwartz. D.L., Brophy, S., Lin, X. D., & Bransford, J. D. (1999). Software for managing complex learning: Examples from an educational psychology course. Educational Technology Research & Development, 47(2), 39-59. doi:10.1007/BF02299464

Lin, X.D., Bransford, J.D., Kantor, R., Hmelo, C., Hickey, D.T., Secules, T., Goldman, S. R., & Petrosino, T. (1995). Instructional design and the development of learning communities: An invitation to a dialogue. Educational Technology, 35 (5), 53-63.                                                                                    

Lin, X.D., & Yan, L. (1996). Uses of technology for education from a cultural perspective. Modern China Studies, 1 (52), 60-76.

Moore, J.L., Lin, X.D., Schwartz, D.L., Petrosino, A., Hickey, D.T., & Campbell, J.O. (1994). The relationship between situated cognition and anchored instruction: A response to Tripp.  Educational Technology, 8, 28-32. 

Lin, X.D. (1994).  Embedding metacognitive cues in hypermedia system to promote far transfer problem solving. In Proceedings of Selected Research and Development Presentations at the 1994 National Convention of the Association of Educational Communication and Technology, pp. 463-482, Nashville, TN.

Lin, X.D. (1994).  Metacognition: Implications for design and research in hypermedia-based learning environment. In Proceedings of Selected Research and Development Presentations at the 1994 National Convention of the Association of Educational Communication and Technology, pp. 483-502, Nashville, TN.

BOOK CHAPTERS      

Lin, X.d., Siegler, R., & Sullivan, F. (2010). Students’ goals influence their learning. In R. J. Sternburg & D. D. Preiss (Eds.),  Innovations in educational psychology: Perspectives on learning, teaching and human development (Chapter 4, pp. 79-105).  New York, NY: Springer

Siegler, R., & Lin, X. d. (2010).  Self-explanations promote children’s learning. In S. H. Waters  & W. Schneider (Eds.), Metacognition, strategy use and instruction (Chapter 4,  pp. 85-113). New York, NY: The Guilford Press.

Lin, X. D., & Sullivan, F. (2008). Computers as metacognitive tools. In J. Voogt & G. Knezek (Eds.), International handbook of education and technology (pp. 281-298). New York, NY:  Springer.

Lin, X.D., & Hatano, G. (2002). Cross-cultural adaptation of educational technology. In T. Koschmann, R. Hall,  & N. Miyake (Eds.), CSCL2: Carrying forward the conversation (pp. 89-99). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

Hmelo, C. E. & Lin, X. D. (2000). Becoming self-directed learners: Strategy development in problem-based learning. In D. Evensen & C. E. Hmelo (Eds.),  Problem-based learning: Research perspectives on learning interactions (pp.227-250). Mahwah NJ: Erlbaum.

Schwartz. D.L., Lin, X.D., Brophy, S., & Bransford, J.D. (1999). Toward the development of flexibly adaptive instructional designs.  In C. M. Reigeluth (Eds.), Instructional Design Theories and Models, Vol. II. (pp. 183-213).  Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

Sherwood, R. D., Petrosino, A. J., & Lin, X.D. (1998). Problem-based macro contexts in science instruction: Design issues and applications. In B. J. Fraser & K. G. Tobin (Eds.), International Handbook of Science Education. (pp.349-363). Dordrecht, the Netherlands, Kluwer Academic Publishers.

Lin, X.D., Bransford, J.D., Kantor, R., Hmelo, C.E., Hickey, D., Secules, T., Goldman, S. R., Petrosino, T., & The Cognition and Technology Group at Vanderbilt (1995). Instructional design and the development of learning communities. In B. G. Wilson (Eds.), Constructivist Learning Environments: Case Studies In Instructional Design.  (pp. 203-220). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Educational Technology Publications.

Sherwood, R. D., Petrosino, A. J., Lin, X.D., Lamon, M. (1995). Problem based macro contexts in science instruction: theoretical basis, design issues and the development of applications.  In D.  R. Lavoie (Eds.), Toward a Cognitive-Science Perspective for Scientific Problem Solving, NARST Monograph, (Vol. 6, pp. 191-214). Manhattan, KS. National Association for Research in Science Teaching.

Dr. Lin studies metacognition and problem solving, and the ways that cultural interactions with the help of technology can facilitate domain subject learning and personal reflection. She develops technology-rich learning environments and explores how such environments influence cross-cultural collaboration and reflection. She finds that technologies make it possible for teachers and students from different cultures to collaborate in fundamentally new ways. This offers exciting opportunities for metacognitive awareness. Her most recent research explores the creation of 3D Virtual Learning Environments that permit teachers from different cultures to collaborate. She hopes that these studies will lead to design principles that can transform the obstacles of geographical and cultural distance into new opportunities for learning.

2014-2017       Zi Jiang Endowed Chair Professor and Scholar,  Shanghai Zi Jiang Corporate Foundation, Shanghai, China.
2014-2017       Yellow River Endowed Professor and Scholar, Henan Province and Henan University, Kaifeng, China
2015-2018       Beijing Normal University Endowed Distinguish Visiting Professor Award
2004                Recipient of Carnegie Scholar
2000                Recipient of Year 2000 American Educational Research Association Jan Hawkins Award for Early Career Contribution to Humanistic Research and Scholarship in Learning Technologies
2000                Outstanding Journal Article Award, Association for Educational Communications and Technology
1999-2001       Spencer Fellowship Recipient, National Academy of Education
1995                Outstanding Research Award Recipient, American Educational Research Association
1994                Outstanding Dissertation Award Recipient, Association of Educational Communications and Technology (AECT)
1994                Outstanding Dissertation Award Recipient, Purdue University          
1993                David Ross Summer Research Award, Purdue University
1992                Outstanding Contribution Award Recipient, Arthur Andersen & Co.
1984                Outstanding Academic Performance Award, HeNan University

ACADEMIC POSITIONS

2003-Present      Associate Professor of Cognitive Science and Education, Teachers College, Columbia University,

                           Director, American Chinese Center for Creative Educational Sciences (ACCESS)

1995-2002          Vanderbilt University, Peabody College, Dept. of Teaching & Learning, Assistant Professor of Education and Technology

1993-1995          Vanderbilt University, Postdoctoral Fellow at Learning Technology Center

2005-2020          Endowed Honor Professorship appointed by Beijing Normal University, East China Normal University, Henan University, Shanghai Normal University.

SELECTED PROFESSIONAL AND GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES

2015-2020          Expert Advisor to the Directorate for Education & Skills, Innovation and Measuring Progress, OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development), on EDUCATION 2030 to identify competencies that modern education systems need to build towards the world in 2030.

2014-2018          Special advisor to the Chinese Ministry of Education, Office for National Minority Education

2013-2018          Director of The Advisory Board for Research for China National Research Center for Ethnic and Multi-Cultural Education, Beijing Normal University 

2013-2018          Advisor for the Department of China National Minority Education, Chinese Ministry of Education

2009-2018          Special Advisor to the Chairman of University Counsel, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China

2010-2011          Special Advisor to the Vice President of Carnegie Corporation, NYC on Global Educational issues 

2011-2018          Special Advisor to the Vice President of East China Normal University, Shanghai, China on Educational Technology and Global Education Initiative

2001-2002          Senior Advisor for Educational Technology Around the World Task Force, World Bank, WA

1995-2001          Senior Research Scientist, Cognition and Technology Group at Vanderbilt (CTGV.), Learning Technology Center, Vanderbilt University

1984-1987          Vice Director, Hydro-Quebec China Branch, Beijing, China

2014-2018          Special advisor to the Chinese Ministry of Education, Office for National Minority Education

2013-2018          Director of The Advisory Board for Research for China National Research Center for Ethnic and Multi-Cultural Education, Beijing Normal University

2013-2018          Advisor for the Department of China National Minority Education, Chinese Ministry of Education

2009-2018          Special Advisor to the Chairman of University Counsel, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China

2010-2011          Special Advisor to the Vice President of Carnegie Corporation, NYC on Global Educational issues

2011-2018          Special Advisor to the Vice President of East China Normal University, Shanghai, China on Educational Technology and Global Education Initiative

2001-2002          Senior Advisor for Educational Technology Around the World Task Force, World Bank, WA

1995-2001          Senior Research Scientist, Cognition and Technology Group at Vanderbilt (CTGV.), Learning Technology Center, Vanderbilt University

1984-1987          Vice Director, Hydro-Quebec China Branch, Beijing, China

  • Oct., 2012 - Oct. 2018, Developing students growth mindsets to promote science learning.
    • National Science Foundation, Research and Evaluation of Education in Science and Engineering (REESE program), Award #: DRL-1247283,
    • Principal Investigator, Xiaodong Lin; Co-PI: Carol Dweck,
  • Jan, 2016 - Jan, 2019, Educaitonal Science, Motivation and Cognition
    • Beijing Normal University, Henan University and Tianjin Normal University Consortium
    • Director: Xiaodong Lin
  • 2007-2011, The Ideal Science Student: Helping Teachers Adapt to Diversity in the Science Classroom
    • National Science Foundation, Research and Evaluation of Education in Science and Engineering, Award #: DRL-0723795
    • Principal Investigator: Xiaodong Lin; Co-PI: Dan Schwartz

 

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