Education

1992 Wake Forest, B.A.
1994 Wake Forest, M.A.
1998 University of Florida, Ph.D.

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Courses Taught

Psychology of Child Development
Statistics and Experimental Methods I 
Statistics and Experimental Methods II

Career Specialties

Jennifer Blessing is a developmental psychologist who studies social influences on the cognitive development of children through young adults. Some of the topics she focuses on include development of STEM interest, theory of mind and learning contexts outside of the classroom.

Professional and Community Activities

Her work as a developmental psychologist has been shaped by the theory of Vygotsky who highlighted that thinking is influenced by context, others and cultural tools. She studies how such influences impact the changes in thinking across childhood and young adulthood, especially when it comes to thinking related to STEM topics. She recently published a study supporting critical thinking in psychology classes (Blessing, J. S. (2023). Busting Myths to Increase Critical Thinking in Psychology Majors. Teaching of Psychology, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/00986283231166954).

Currently, she is working with a team of undergraduates on an OURI grant to study how children's interest in learning about science after a visit to a museum's dinosaur exhibit. Her research focuses include studying a deep interest in examining how families extend STEM interest and learning outside of school settings. Related to those research interests, she serves on the board of a non-profit (FUNducation) that serves to bring STEAM education to underserved populations of students. FUNducation's work supports science learning in out-of-school settings for minority students in the SW Florida area.

Additionally, Blessing's research includes examinations of the "theory of mind" - the concept that across childhood, we learn to understand differences in the knowledge we have versus the knowledge others have. Her work in this area has included studying implications for tutoring as well as how people engage in interactions such as game playing.

Honors and Awards

Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award for the 2021-2022 year, from the UT Advising Committee, received May 2022