Research in Education and Learning Lab
What We Do
The Research in Education and Learning Lab at UVA, directed by Jamie Jirout, focuses on questions related to STEM learning and motivation from a cognitive developmental perspective.
Visit the Full REAL Lab website.
Our Focus
Current projects examine the development of curiosity, including how instructional practices influence curiosity, and how curiosity influences learning. We also are interested in other intellectual character virtues, such as creativity and open-minded thinking.
Additional Work
Another research area in the lab is children’s playful learning, especially how children learn from spatial play and the development of different play behaviors and beliefs about play and toys. We currently partner with the Virginia Discovery Museum's Learning Lab and Living Lab.
REAL Lab News
Curious About Curiosity? Professor Studies How Children Learn
With a new research fellowship, education professor Jamie Jirout will expand her research on how teachers and parents can encourage curiosity and spark interest in learning.
Our Team
Ryan Burke
- Ph.D. Student
Jamie J. Jirout
- Assistant Professor
Virginia E. Vitiello
- Research Associate Professor