Joanne Mulligan

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Total Citations

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About

Joanne Mulligan’s research lies at the intersection of early childhood education, embodied cognition, and computational thinking, with a particular focus on how young children learn through robotics and problem-solving. Her work demonstrates that children’s physical interactions with robotic toys are not merely play, but powerful vehicles for developing mathematical reasoning, spatial awareness, and coding skills. In her influential 2009 study, Mulligan showed how young children’s embodied actions during robotic tasks reveal deep cognitive processes, laying groundwork for integrating robotics into early STEM curricula. Her 2017 paper further advanced this field by synthesizing multidisciplinary perspectives on children designing and coding with robotics, highlighting the collaborative and creative dimensions of learning. Notably, Mulligan also contributed to surgical robotics, co-authoring a 2019 comparison of single-incision versus multi-incision robotic cholecystectomy, which found that the single-incision approach reduced operative time, blood loss, and hospital stay. Though her citation counts are modest—ranging from 6 to 15—her work is foundational in emerging areas of embodied learning and robotics education. Mulligan’s research bridges developmental psychology, education, and technology, offering practical insights for educators and researchers alike.