Rate My Professor Barbara Oakley

Oakley’s research specializations include pathological altruism and altruism bias, as well as translational applications of neuroscience and cognitive psychology to enhance learning in math, science, engineering, and technology. She has authored or edited key books such as A Mind for Numbers: How to Excel at Math and Science (2014, New York Times bestseller translated into 13 languages with over one million copies sold), Mindshift: Break Through Obstacles to Learning and Discover Your Hidden Potential (2017, Booklist bestseller), and Learning How to Learn (2018). Notable publications comprise “Concepts and implications of altruism bias and pathological altruism” (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2013, described as “revolutionary” in the Wall Street Journal), “Creating a Sticky MOOC” (OLC Online Learning Journal, 2016, top-10 most-accessed paper of the year), and “Turning student groups into effective teams” (Journal of Student Centered Learning, 2004). Her massive open online courses, including Learning How to Learn (over four million students), Mindshift, and Uncommon Sense Teaching, have reached more than five million learners worldwide. Oakley has received major awards including the 2023 Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education (inaugural Lifelong Learning category, $50,000 award), Michigan Distinguished Professor of the Year (2018), IEEE William E. Sayle II Award for Achievement in Education (2020), ASEE Chester F. Carlson Award for Innovation in Engineering Education (2015), fellowships from IEEE (2018), AIMBE (2009), and AAAS, and the National Science Foundation New Century Scholar (1999). She holds memberships in IEEE, EMBS, ASEE, HKN, and Tau Beta Pi, and has served on university committees such as the SECS Executive Committee and as co-advisor for Tau Beta Pi, along with editorial review roles for journals including PNAS and IEEE Transactions on Education.