The SESAME Colloquium

The SESAME Colloquium offers talks on a variety of subjects related to the learning sciences.

Unless otherwise noted, in-person talks are given on Thursdays from 12:00 to 1:30 pm in room 4101, Berkeley Way West (2121 Berkeley Way, Berkeley, CA 94704). Here is the Zoom link for talks that are given remotely or in hybrid format.

Contact sesame.colloquium@berkeley.edu to be added to our mailing list.

Videos of many past talks may be found on our Colloquium YouTube channel.

Contact sesame.colloquium@berkeley.edu if you are interested in speaking in this series, or if you'd like to suggest a speaker.

Here is information for speakers.

January 22: James Tanton

Dots: A Global Mathematics Phenomenon

James Tanton

Berkeley School of Education, University of California, Berkeley

Abstract

On October 10, 2017, the world witnessed the launch of the inaugural Global Math Week, during which more than one million students and teachers from 168 countries and territories engaged together in a single, joyful piece of classroom mathematics. Since then, the program has grown organically to reach more than 7.8 million learners worldwide (as far as we can count!).

At the heart of this global movement lies a single mathematical story—one that connects grade school, high school, and college level mathematics (and beyond!) through a simple yet astonishing visual construct.

In this session, we will explore the remarkable power of dots and see how this one visual idea can lead to deep and surprising mathematical insights. Participants will experience firsthand what joyful, creative mathematics can feel like in practice. Please bring pencil and paper—and perhaps an extra pair of socks, as this session may well knock your first pair right off!

About the speaker

James Tanton (PhD, Princeton 1994, mathematics) writes books, makes videos, advises on curriculum, consults with teachers, and gives demonstration classes and professional development sessions across the globe. He has taught mathematics both at the university and high-school levels and is absolutely committed to promoting effective and joyful mathematics thinking, learning, and doing at all levels of the education spectrum.

James has recently arrived to the San Francisco Bay Area and currently serves as an Associate Coordinator of Public Programs for BSE. He is also the Mathematician‑at‑Large for the Mathematical Association of America, co-founder of the Global Math Project, and Chief Mathematics Officer for SmartWithIt.

January 29: TBD

Title TBD

tbd

Abstract

TBD

About the speaker

TBD

February 5: Kamal Chawla

Title TBA

Kamal Chawla

College of Education and Human Development, University of Maine

Abstract

Missing data are a common challenge in education research—whether in classroom-based studies, large-scale assessments, or administrative datasets. Yet, researchers often rely on ad hoc strategies such as listwise deletion or mean substitution that can introduce bias and underestimate uncertainty, ultimately leading to misleading conclusions about students, teachers, and schools. This talk offers a practical, evidence-based roadmap for addressing missing data in ways that strengthen the validity and interpretability of educational research findings.

I begin by unpacking the mechanisms behind missingness (MCAR, MAR, MNAR) using intuitive, education-relevant examples (e.g., student absences, skipped survey items) to clarify when “ignorable” approaches are appropriate. I then compare modern estimation methods—such as full-information maximum likelihood and multiple imputation using machine learning—highlighting when each is most effective, how to avoid common pitfalls (e.g., over- or under-imputation), and how to handle complexities like classroom clustering, nonlinear relationships, and interaction effects. Participants will leave with a clear understanding of how to identify missing data mechanisms in their own research and select appropriate strategies to address them. The session concludes with guidance on conducting transparent sensitivity analyses (e.g., delta adjustments, pattern-mixture models) to evaluate how conclusions might change under different assumptions—an essential step for making robust and responsible inferences in education research.

About the speaker

Dr. Kamal Chawla is a statistician, meta-analyst, and missing data specialist who serves as an Assistant Professor of Education & Applied Quantitative Methods. His work is at the intersection of machine learning, missing data, and meta-analysis, and he is dedicated to leveraging advanced quantitative methods to address critical challenges in education.

Dr. Chawla’s research agenda is twofold: methodologically, he focuses on developing and refining research methods through data science and machine learning techniques to produce robust and unbiased outcomes. On the applied side, his research focuses on enhancing student learning in elementary and secondary classrooms by developing teaching strategies that are not only effective but also tailored to the diverse needs of individual students. By integrating these cutting-edge techniques, Dr. Chawla’s work aims to bridge educational gaps, empower students from all backgrounds, and contribute to a more prosperous society.

February 12: Michelle Wilkerson

Title TBA

Michelle Wilkerson

Berkeley School of Education, University of California, Berkeley

Abstract

TBA

About the speaker

TBA

February 19: David Menendez

April 2: Kelly Billings-Yadav

Title TBA

Kelly Billings-Yadav

Berkeley School of Education, University of California, Berkeley

Abstract

TBA

About the speaker

TBA

April 9: TBD

TBD

tbd

Abstract

TBD

About the speaker

TBD

April 16: TBD

TBD

tbd

Abstract

TBD

About the speaker

If you have questions about the Colloquium series, please contact sesame.colloquium@berkeley.edu.