Alejandra J. Magana

About

Alejandra J. Magana, Ph.D., is the W.C. Furnas Professor in Enterprise Excellence at Purdue University, with appointments in the Polytechnic Institute, Computer and Information Technology, and Engineering Education. Her research focuses on understanding and enhancing modeling and simulation practices in undergraduate engineering education, with particular interest in computational model-based reasoning, embodied-based learning, and the development of self-regulated learning skills in computing. She investigates how sociological factors influence computing learning within technology-enabled environments and leverages learning analytics and AI to support student learning in computing-intensive domains. Dr. Magana has contributed significantly to the field through her leadership in various funded projects, including those aimed at improving AI education through embodied visualization, fostering culturally relevant programming experiences, and integrating computation into STEM disciplines. She has been recognized with numerous honors, such as being conferred the Fellow Member grade of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) in 2024, inducted into the Purdue University Teaching Academy, and receiving awards for her research contributions in modeling, simulation, and STEM education. Her work emphasizes creating innovative, inclusive, and effective educational strategies that bridge computational and engineering disciplines, with a strong focus on research-based…

Research topics

• Computer Science
• Psychology
• Political Science
• Artificial Intelligence
• Engineering
• Sociology
• Mathematics education
• Social Science
• Virology
• Multimedia

Selected publications

• Computational thinking in higher education: A review of the literature

  Computer Applications in Engineering Education · 2020 · 128 citations

  Senior authorCorresponding

  Abstract Computational thinking is of growing interest to the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education research community. Calls from national agencies look to increase computation in STEM education. This review identifies key areas for future study by reviewing recent empirical studies that investigate computational thinking in teaching and learning contexts within higher education. Using a systematic process, this review identified four different databases for peer‐re…

  DOI

• Teamwork facilitation and conflict resolution training in a <scp>HyFlex</scp> course during the <scp>COVID</scp>‐19 pandemic

  Journal of Engineering Education · 2022 · 54 citations

  1st authorCorresponding

  Background: We evaluated the effect of three teaching strategies to facilitate teamwork in a systems analysis and design course during the COVID-19 pandemic: (1) offering a HyFlex version of the course, (2) facilitating scheduled online teamwork sessions for all students, and (3) providing conflict resolution training to help teams overcome collaboration challenges. Purpose/Hypothesis: To identify the impact of these instructional strategies and answer four research questions, we measured (1) pe…

  DOI

• Evaluating Tutorial-Based Instructions for Controllers in Virtual Reality Games

  Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction · 2021 · 53 citations

  Virtual reality (VR) has disrupted the gaming market and is rapidly becoming ubiquitous. Yet differences between VR and traditional mediums, such as controllers that are visible in the virtual world, enable entirely new approaches to instruction. In this paper, we present four studies, each using a different VR game. Within each study, we compared three different modalities of tutorials: Text (text-only), Text+Diagram (text with controller diagrams), and Text+Spatial (text with controller toolti…

  DOI

• Classroom orchestration of computer simulations for science and engineering learning: a multiple-case study approach

  International Journal of Science Education · 2021 · 16 citations

  1st authorCorresponding

  This multiple case study focused on the implementation of a computer-aided design (CAD) simulation to help students engage in engineering design to learn science concepts. Our findings describe three case studies that adopted the same learning design and adapted it to three different populations, settings, and classroom contexts: at the middle-school, high-school, and pre-service teaching levels. Although the classroom orchestration of the particular learning design was customised for specific a…

  DOI

• Transforming Surgical Training With AI Techniques for Training, Assessment, and Evaluation: Scoping Review

  Journal of Medical Internet Research · 2025-10-23 · 5 citations

  reviewOpen access

  BACKGROUND: Artificial intelligence (AI) has introduced novel opportunities for assessment and evaluation in surgical training, offering potential improvements that could surpass traditional educational methods. OBJECTIVE: This scoping review examines the integration of AI in surgical training, assessment, and evaluation, aiming to determine how AI technologies can enhance trainees' learning paths and performance by incorporating data-driven insights and predictive analytics. In addition, this r…

  PublisherDOI

Recent grants

• Productive Online Teamwork Engagement Through Intelligent Mediation

  NSF · $850k · 2021–2025

• CAREER: Authentic Modeling and Simulation Practices for Enhancing Model-Based Reasoning in Engineering Education

  NSF · $500k · 2015–2021

• Haptic-Based Learning Experiences as Cognitive Mediators for Conceptual Understanding and Representational Fluency in Engineering Education

  NSF · $325k · 2016–2020

Frequent coauthors

• Camilo Vieira

  Universidad del Norte

  69 shared

• Joseph A. Lyon

  Purdue University System

  65 shared

• Elsje Pienaar

  Software (Spain)

  59 shared

• Joreen Arigye

  Purdue University West Lafayette

  44 shared

• Aidsa Santiago-Román

  University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez

  37 shared

• Eric T. Matson

  36 shared

• Nayda Santiago

  University of Puerto Rico System

  36 shared

• Cesar Aceros

  Cornell University

  36 shared

Education

• Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering Education, School of Engineering Education

  Purdue University

  2009

• Master of Science in Education, Curriculum and Instruction

  Purdue University

  2007

• Master of Science, Computer Science

  Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey

  2003

• Information Systems Engineering, Computer Science

  Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey

  2000

Awards & honors

• 2024 - Conferred the grade of Fellow Member for the American…
• 2024 - Fulbright Specialists Czech Technical University
• 2023 - Seeds for Success Award
• 2022 - Inducted into the Purdue University Teaching Academy
• 2021 - Purdue Polytechnic Charles B. Murphy Outstanding Unde…

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