David Weintrop

David Weintrop is an Associate Professor at the University of Maryland, holding a joint appointment in the Teaching & Learning, Policy & Leadership (TLPL) department within the College of Education and the College of Information Studies (iSchool). He leads the Technology, Learning, and Leadership specialization in TLPL. His research focuses on computational learning experiences, equity in computing education, and designing technologies to broaden participation in computing. He has received NSF funding and awards, including a NSF CAREER Award and the 2022 University of Maryland Mentor of the Year award.

Education: PhD in Learning Sciences from Northwestern University (advisor: Uri Wilensky), Postdoc at UChicago STEM Education (advisor: Diana Franklin), B.S. in Computer Science from University of Michigan, and prior software development experience at startups.

Research Interests: Computational thinking, block-based/text-based programming transitions, culturally responsive curricula (e.g., Scratch Encore), and equity in STEM education. He collaborates with school districts (e.g., DCPS, CPS) and industry partners (e.g., VEX Robotics, Sphero).

Grants & Projects: NSF awards totaling over $2.5M, including projects like API Can Code (high school data science) and Scratch Encore (elementary CS curriculum). Current work explores interest-driven data science and hybrid programming tools.

Awards: NSF CAREER Award (2022), Spencer Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship, and recognition for mentorship. His work emphasizes bridging theory and practice in K-12 computing education.