Jacqueline Leonard
Papers
7
Total Citations
505
H-Index
5
About
Jacqueline Leonard is a distinguished education researcher whose work sits at the intersection of STEM education, computational thinking, and culturally responsive pedagogy. She is best known for her pioneering investigations into how robotics and game design can serve as powerful vehicles for engaging underrepresented students—particularly African-American and rural youth—in computer science and engineering. Her 2016 study on robotics and game design, which has garnered over 260 citations, demonstrated measurable gains in children's self-efficacy, STEM attitudes, and computational thinking skills, establishing her as a leading voice in informal and formal STEM learning environments. Leonard has also made significant contributions to teacher preparation, examining how educators can develop culturally responsive teaching beliefs alongside computational thinking practices, work that has attracted over 130 citations. Her book *Culturally Specific Pedagogy in the Mathematics Classroom* further cements her commitment to equity-driven instruction, offering frameworks that directly challenge systemic oppression in mathematics education. Across her body of work, Leonard consistently bridges technology-rich learning experiences with social justice, making her scholarship essential reading for educators and researchers committed to broadening participation in STEM fields.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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- 3Informal STEM: learning with robotics and game design in an urban context49 citations · 2020
- 4Culturally Specific Pedagogy in the Mathematics Classroom45 citations · 2018
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- 7Using Robotics and Game Design to Promote Pathways to STEM.3 citations · 2016