Dr. Neil Heffernan

Co-Founder & Professor of Computer Science

Neil Heffernan is a professor of Computer Science and the co-director of the PhD program in Learning Sciences and Technologies. He developed ASSISTments not only to help teachers be more effective in the classroom but also so that he could use the platform to conduct studies to improve the quality of education. He is very passionate about educational data mining.

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Professor Heffernan enjoys supervising WPI students helping them create ASSISTments content and features. Several student projects have resulted in peer-reviewed publications looking at comparing different ways to optimize student learning.

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Professor Heffernan's goal is to give ASSISTments to millions across the US and internationally as a free service.

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View More From Me:

Evidence-Based Instruction

Teacher Platform

Learning Research

The key to better edtech is better feedback - Smart Brief

As we return to in-person instruction, edtech can settle back into a more suitable role to supplement and enhance instruction, while, at the same time, drawing some important lessons from the pandemic experience.

Thought Leadership

Learning Research

To improve ed tech, focus on feedback - District Administration

Automated feedback can supplement in-person instruction by making teachers’ jobs easier while personalizing student experience.

ASSISTments is a free public service operated jointly by Worcester Polytechnic Institute and the ASSISTments Foundation.

‍The ASSISTments Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization sponsored by Worcester Polytechnic Institute created in 2019.

‍Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a 501(c)(3) non profit created in 1865.

‍The ASSISTments Project work at WPI is led by Professor Neil Heffernan.

‍The ASSISTments Foundation is led by Cristina Heffernan.