University of Maryland

People

Faculty

Jessica Vitak (PhD, Michigan State University) is an associate professor in UMD’s iSchool and affiliate professor in the Communication Department. Her research interests focus on how people are using new communication technologies to enhance their relationships, as well as how they manage the tensions between privacy and disclosure when interacting with others in these spaces. For more information, see her website or email her directly.

Tammy Clegg (PhD, Georgia Tech) is an associate professor is an associate professor in UMD’s iSchool and School of Education. Tammy’s research seeks to understand how we can help people come to see themselves in new ways by helping them form new relationships with information. Tammy works with Marshini and Jessica on a NSF grant developing privacy and security curriculum for elementary school children For more information, see her website.

Marshini Chetty (PhD, Georgia Tech) is an assistant professor in the Computer Science department at the University of Chicago. Her research evaluates how people manage different aspects of Internet use from Internet constraints such as data caps to Internet security and creating tools to help inform and empower Internet users, particularly in resource constrained settings. For more information, see her website.

Current Students Involved in Project

Lan Gao is a PhD student at the University of Chicago. She is interested in misleading online content like dark patterns.

Former Students Involved in Project

Priya Kumar (PhD, University of Maryland) worked on the project during her PhD studies (2016-2021). As of Fall 2021, she is an assistant professor at Penn State’s iSchool. Priya’s research focuses on how parents and children negotiate technology and privacy. For more information, see her website.

Kelly Wagman is a PhD student in Computer Science at the University of Chicago. Her research considers technology and society with a focus on inclusive and equitable design. For more information, see her website.

Elana Blinder is a PhD student at UMD’s iSchool, with a background in elementary education and the design and evaluation of technology-enriched learning experiences. Her research interests focus on understanding the ways in which technology and collaborative design practices can empower children to identify, understand, and design solutions to problems impacting their communities.

Shriya Bansal is a student at the University of Chicago, pursuing a dual BS/MS in computer science. She analyzed commonly used apps in the Google Play store for helping children learn about online privacy and security.

Zoe Torok is an undergraduate student at the University of Chicago, majoring in Computer Science.

Solomon Dworkin received a master’s degree in computer science from the University of Chicago. He collected data from parents of elementary school students to learn more about the challenges with remote learning.

Lucy Li was an undergrad at the University of Chicago, graduating with a degree in computer science. She is interested in learning more about children’s, parents, and teachers needs to teach and learn about online privacy and security. 

Shai Slotky received a master’s degree in computer science from the University of Chicago. He conducted interviews with elementary school teachers to learn more about the challenges with remote learning.

Antoine Vignon received his BS in Information Science from the University of Maryland. He conducted interviews with elementary school teachers to learn more about the challenges with remote learning.

 

Project Updates

May 2024: Elana Blinder authored a post on the Joan Ganz Cooney Center. Check it out here.

Jan 2024: And that's a wrap! The NSF grant officially ends at the end of the month. We'll be finalizing and uploading curriculum/lesson plans/educational resources over the next several months.

Dec 2023: Our paper describing how we developed a "Would You Rather" activity for the classroom (led by Elana Blinder) has been accepted to CSCW 2024.

Oct 2023: Kelly Wagman presented our paper on the privacy and security challenges that emerged during emergency remote learning at CSCW. Visit the Publications page or read our Medium post here.

June 2023: Priya Kumar presented our systematic review of research on designing privacy and security interventions for children at ACM IDC.