Emily Thrasher

Emily Thrasher is a Research Fellow at the Friday Institute of North Carolina State University, focusing on educational technology, teacher professional development, and data science education. Her work emphasizes innovative approaches to enhancing teaching practices through digital tools and online platforms. She contributes to initiatives like the InSTEP system, which personalizes teacher learning pathways in statistics and data science. Her research bridges theoretical frameworks with practical classroom applications, particularly in fostering data literacy and statistical reasoning.

Key research interests include the design of online professional learning environments, the role of technology in teacher education, and strategies for engaging educators in data-driven pedagogies. Her recent publications highlight methodologies for supporting student discussions in data visualization and evaluating advanced teaching roles in educational settings. Emily’s work often intersects with STEM education, addressing challenges in preparing pre-service and in-service teachers to integrate data science into curricula.

She has collaborated on projects such as the Advanced Teaching Roles evaluation and the development of tools for investigating data like a data scientist. Her contributions to the field are reflected in her exploration of high-leverage educational technologies, including WolframAlpha and iPad apps for mathematics classrooms.