As an educational and developmental psychologist, my deep commitment to students’ social and academic growth and well-being is supported by my ongoing research to understand optimal social contexts that enhance student’s motivation to learn. At the University of Michigan, I have taught courses in both the psychology department and school of education. In my courses, I deploy a variety of strategies to innovate learning experiences that honor what students bring with them to the classroom — their identities, experiences, and knowledge — while also creating a collaborative environment that is inclusive for all students to engage. My goal as an instructor is to facilitate meaningful learning opportunities that empowers students to: (1) use theoretical frameworks that help them think critically about human behavior and learning in applied settings, (2) be agentic learners, and (3) engage as co-constructors of knowledge in community with peers. In 2022, I earned a graduate teaching certificate from the Center for Research on Teaching and Learning at the University of Michigan.

Mentorship is also an especially important teaching relationship. With my colleagues in the adolescent transitions lab, we have recruited, trained, and supervised undergraduate psychology students to collaborate in our ongoing research-practice partnership with a local school district in Michigan. As part of this work, four undergraduate students contributed to reports summarizing adolescents’ perceptions of school connectedness. Through one-on-one, as well as team meetings, students gained experience both conducting statistical analysis and communicating the findings to key stakeholders in the school districts. One of these students continued her own independent research that she presented in an undergraduate research fair at the end of the term. As co-advisor for her project, we met weekly to discuss her ideas, relevant literature, and analyses that aligned with her research questions.

In my department, I have been an active leader and participant in curriculum development work, both as a member of the curriculum committee and as a member of teaching teams that develop course materials for the undergraduate educational psychology course. Below is a list of courses that I have taught. Please feel free to contact me at jkilday@umich.edu for more information about my syllabi; or to collaborate and share teaching ideas / resources related to educational psychology, human development, or motivation in education.

Instructor of Record

• EDUC 391 Human Development and Educational Psychology (School of Education, secondary teacher education program)
• EDUC 391 Human Development and Educational Psychology (School of Education, elementary teacher education program)

Graduate Student Instructor

• PSYCH 356 Educational Psychology (Psychology Department)

Mentorship

• PSYCH 326 Directed Early Research for Psychology (4 students)
• PSYCH 422 Directed Advanced Research for Psychology (1 student)
• Weekly meetings (2 semesters) to support first year graduate students in introductory statistics, PSYCH 613/614