Star Named Aronson Assistant Professor

Dean Kathleen McCartney announced today that Professor Jon Star has been named Nancy Pforzheimer Aronson Assistant Professor in Human Development and Education.

"Jon is an outstanding young scholar whose research on how students develop flexibility in mathematical problem solving is already making a huge impact on the field of education," said McCartney. "Through a series of experimental studies in middle school classrooms, Jon has found that comparing and contrasting solution methods -- as opposed to studying one method at a time -- promotes greater learning. Jon is a star in the making and is very deserving of this chair."

Star is an educational psychologist who studies children's learning of mathematics in middle and high school, particularly algebra. His current research explores the development of flexibility in mathematical problem solving, with flexibility defined as knowledge of multiple strategies for solving mathematics problems and the ability to adaptively choose among known strategies on a particular problem.

Currently, Star's research -- supported by the Institute for Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, and the National Science Foundation -- examines the development of flexibility in mathematical problem solving, with flexibility defined as knowledge of multiple strategies for solving mathematics problems and the ability to adaptively choose among known strategies on a particular problem.

"This announcement took me completely by surprise," Star said. "I'm delighted and honored to be awarded this distinguished chair."

The professorship was endowed by Harvard University graduate Nancy P. Aronson in 1998 to promote the broad study of human development and its connection to education.