Meet the team

Michelene “Micki” Chi is an internationally acclaimed cognitive and learning science researcher whose groundbreaking work in active learning resulted in the development of the ICAP theory that has set the standard for helping educators identify effective learning opportunities that support deeper understanding. At Arizona State University, she is a Regents Professor and Dorothy Bray Endowed Professor of Science and Teaching at Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation.

Chi is renowned for her sustained, foundational contributions to the field of modern learning science. Her work includes pioneering studies on topics such as self-explanation, tutoring, conceptual change and student engagement. Chi, who earned her PhD from Carnegie-Mellon University, has published well over 100 papers in the top journals in her field and has been cited over 60,000 times.  

For her lifetime achievements  —  and her development of the ICAP theory — she is the recipient of the 2023 Yidan Prize for Education Research, an international honor recognizing her innovative approaches that help learners reach their full potential and break down barriers to higher education.  Funding for the Center comes from the Yidan Prize project funds in recognition of her work.

Some of her other prestigious recognitions include:

• 2023 Distinguished Scientific Award for the Applications of Psychology, from the American Psychological Association
• 2021 William James Fellow Award from the Association for Psychological Science
• 2018 David. E. Rumelhart Prize in Cognitive Science from the American Educational Research Association 
• 2020 Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Prize in Education, Learning Science Research