Welcome

John (Yuehan) Chen is currently a Ph. D candidate in Computer Science and Learning Sciences at Northwestern University. I am currently working with Prof. Uri Wilensky on my dissertation, titled: Constructionist Learning Design for Agent-based Modeling and Programming: Increasing Access, Building Scaffolds, and Cultivating Communities.

As a human-computer interaction and learning researcher, I study how to leverage AI-driven technologies, such as Generative AI (GAI) or Mixed Reality, to promote equal access to informal learning at scale. I lead the research, design, and development of Physics Lab AR and Turtle Universe, App Store-featured software, reaching 7 million online, out-of-school learners worldwide.

My real-world projects have produced large-scale human interaction datasets that challenge existing research methodologies. To augment researchers’ capabilities in understanding them, I develop and evaluate novel computational approaches with GAI for inductive qualitative coding, with a focus on bias detection (in review for CSCL 2025; accepted by AERA 2025).

Throughout my career, I constantly learn from and work with learners of diverse ages and backgrounds. With my extensive experiences in research (incl. leadership), teaching, mentoring, and grant writing, I am looking forward for the next stage of independent research career.