Applied Innovations with Jennifer Kobrin

Chance Dibben

Jennifer Cobrin: "I love that in a mission-driven organization like AAI, we can take risks and be innovative and creative when trying to find approaches or solutions to the problems we address. This means that it is ok to not get things perfect on the first try and iterate to continually improve our outcomes."

The work of the Achievement & Assessment Institute (AAI) and its centers encompass a vast range of services, solutions, and partnerships. In our short interview series, Applied Innovations, we get to know some of the talented members of our team and their projects, across our many centers and various areas of impact.

In this edition, we meet Jennifer Kobrin, Assistant Director of Operational Research with AAI's Accessible Teaching, Learning, and Assessment Systems (ATLAS).

Can You Tell Us a Little About Yourself?

I live in northern New Jersey and started working with ATLAS in October 2019 as a full-time remote employee. I first became aware of ATLAS’ research through conferences and professional networks, and I was impressed and intrigued by the use of learning maps for assessment and instruction. When an opportunity became available to join the ATLAS team, I took it! Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my husband and my two sons (age 20 and 18), exercising, and traveling. Both of my sons will be away at college next year so I will be looking for new hobbies to fill all the new free time I’ll have!

What Attracted You To Your Field?

I really enjoy designing and carrying out research studies that have direct implications for teaching and learning. I love working with teachers, students, and other stakeholders to get insight on how the research we do can be translated into practice or to develop new frameworks, tools and innovations.

What Populations Do You or Your Center Support?

ATLAS’ work promotes learning and improved outcomes for all students, with a special focus on students with disabilities. Our work also supports educators’ knowledge and practice.

What Are Your or Your Center’s Key Projects?

A lot of my projects focus on collecting evidence to support the use of the Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) alternate assessment for its intended purposes (i.e., validity research). We have key claims about how the DLM assessment is implemented to achieve the ultimate outcome that students with significant cognitive disabilities make progress toward high academic expectations. Our research focuses on collecting evidence to support these claims.

Banner image featuring children learning and playing, with the Dynamic Learning Maps logo in the center

What Are Some Future Opportunities or Upcoming Initiatives That Excite You?

In addition to my work supporting the DLM, I am excited to be the co-Principal Investigator for the WRITE grant (Writing and Revising Intervention To Excel), funded by the Alaska Native Education Program. This project will develop learning maps and instructional resources in argumentative writing for teachers of Career Technical Education (CTE) students, with the ultimate goal to improve the writing skills of Alaska Native students.

What About Working at a Mission-Driven Organization Like AAI Appeals to You?

I love that in a mission-driven organization like AAI, we can take risks and be innovative and creative when trying to find approaches or solutions to the problems we address. This means that it is ok to not get things perfect on the first try and iterate to continually improve our outcomes.

"I love that in a mission-driven organization like AAI, we can take risks and be innovative and creative when trying to find approaches or solutions to the problems we address. This means that it is ok to not get things perfect on the first try and iterate to continually improve our outcomes."