Biography
Dr. Schmidt’s work focuses on designing and building AI-driven and immersive learning systems that support individuals with disabilities and chronic health conditions. His projects include developing eHealth interventions, adaptive learning platforms, and virtual reality environments that help people learn, solve problems, and manage real-world challenges.
He leads federally funded projects (NSF, NIH, DoD) where students contribute to the full design and development process, including user research, prototyping, system design, and evaluation. Students in his lab gain hands-on experience working with AI tools, XR systems, and real user populations, with opportunities to contribute to publications, software, and funded research.
Areas of Expertise
- Extended Reality (XR) and Virtual Reality (VR)
- Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Learning Experience Design (LXD)
- Participatory Design and Co-design
- Usability Studies for Learning Environments
- mHealth and eHealth Interventions for Disabilities and Chronic Medial Conditions
Interests
- Advancing pedagogical practices through the integration of sociotechnical systems and learning experience design.
- Refinement and clarification of LXD definitions and competencies, promoting a unified understanding across the field.
- Designing inclusive and effective learning interventions for neurodiverse learners, particularly those with autism spectrum disorders and epilepsy.
- The role of emerging technologies, such as extended reality (XR), in enhancing learning experiences for diverse learner populations.
- Investigating the impact of participatory and co-design methodologies in involving diverse learner populations in the design of educational technologies.
Concentrations
Education
- Doctor of Philosophy in Information Science and Learning Technologies, 2010
University of Missouri - Master of Arts in German Language and Literature, 1999
University of Missouri - Bachelor of Arts in German Language and Literature, 1997
Truman State University