Name: Heather Toomey Zimmerman
Title: Professor of Education (Learning, Design, and Technology)
Department: Learning and Performance Systems
Email: heather@psu.edu
Office address: 310E Keller Building
Directory entry: https://ed.psu.edu/directory/dr-heather-toomey-zimmerman
Zimmerman has a Ph.D. in the learning sciences from the University of Washington, with degrees in museum studies from the University of Washington and science communication from Cornell University. In her research, she analyzes how people learn about science and technology in everyday settings — such as homes, libraries, museums and nature centers. She studies how multiple learning experiences contribute to the development of scientific knowledge, practices and affiliations toward (or away) from science. Her interests include parent-child interactions, designing for learning in informal institutions and mobile technologies to support learning. Prior to coming to Penn State, Zimmerman worked in museums and was involved in designing and implementing programs for families, youth organizations and libraries — including an early childhood program called Storybook Science and a community-based science program for rural and urban youth.