College of Education
Ann C. Kruger, Ph. D.
Associate Professor of Educational Psychology
Phone: 404-413-8314
Email: ackruger@gsu.edu
Department of Educational Psychology & Special Education
Georgia State University
P.O. Box 3979
Atlanta, GA 30302-3979
Education
Ph.D., Emory University, 1988, Developmental Psychology;
M.A., Emory University, 1985, Developmental Psychology;
B.A., Florida State University, 1976, Theatre.
Major Areas of Interest
Dr. Kruger’s interests are in the areas of social cognition and cultural learning. Her program of research focuses on how children use language and emotion understanding to learn from instruction and to collaborate. This focus has implications for the role of relationships, communication, and affect in instructional settings.
Funded Investigation
Georgia Wolf Trap/Alliance Theatre Institute for Educators
Dr. Kruger leads a research team investigating the role of drama in supporting communication development and the transition to school. The effect of the Alliance Theatre Company’s outreach program, Georgia Wolf Trap, on low-income Kindergarten students’ verbal and nonverbal communication, standardized test performance and school adjustment is being studied. The researchers hypothesize that the program builds Georgia students’ emergent literacy skills, enhances their emotion understanding, and increases their awareness of the art of theatre. This project is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education through its Arts in Education Model Development and Dissemination Grant Program.
Courses Taught
- EPY/CPS 8220 – Advanced Developmental Psychology: Social and Personality Development
- EPY 7090 – Psychology of Learning and the Learner: The Young Child