Current Research Areas
Overview of primary research domains pursued at the lab.
Teaching Experiences
Investigating early childhood teachers' pedagogical experiences, teacher stress, wellbeing, and thriving in educational environments.
Pedagogical Practices
Analyzing developmentally appropriate practices, social-emotional learning, and responsive practices for dual language learners.
AI in Early Childhood Education
Exploring the ethical, purposeful, and effective integration of Artificial Intelligence in young children's learning and teacher practices.
About Jennifer Chen, Ed.D.
Dr. Jennifer Chen
Professor of Early Childhood Education, Kean University | Senior Research Fellow at NIEER, Rutgers University
Biography
Dr. Jennifer Chen is Professor of Early Childhood Education at Kean University and a Senior Research Fellow at NIEER, Rutgers University. She is a well-respected scholar who has authored or co-authored more than 100 scholarly publications, including four books, co-edited volumes, and numerous refereed research articles. Her research threads multiple strands of early childhood education (ECE), including child development, language and literacy, teacher stress and thriving, and the role of AI in young children's learning. Dr. Chen developed the pioneering POWER (Purposeful, Optimal, Wise, Ethical, Responsible) framework to guide ethical and developmentally appropriate AI practices in ECE.
Education
- Ed.D., Human Development & Psychology, Harvard University
- Ed.M., Language & Literacy, Harvard University
- M.A., Bilingual/Bicultural Education, Teachers College, Columbia University
- B.A., Psychology with a minor in Linguistics, Barnard College, Columbia University
Selected Awards
- Excellence in Research Award, Kean University (2026)
- Kean Presidential Excellence Award for Scholarship/Research (2025)
- Faculty Mentoring Program Recipient Award, Kean University (2025)
- Outstanding Early Childhood Teacher Educator Award, NAECTE Foundation (2023)
- Exchange Leader, The Exchange Leadership Initiative in Early Care and Education (2023)
- Distinguished Scholarship in Early Childhood Teacher Education Award, NJAECTE (2022)
- Fulbright Scholar in Hong Kong (2013-2014)
Current Research Grants
- PI: "Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) Program at Kean University," U.S. Department of Education ($2.7M+, 2022–2026)
- PI: "A Psychometric Evaluation of the POWER Scales: Assessing AI Use in Teaching Among Early Childhood Teachers," Spencer Foundation (2026–2028)
- Co-PI: "Playing with Sand: Engaging Third Grade Students in Sciences Through Hands-on Investigation," NJ Sea Grant Consortium (2026-2028)
- Co-PI: "CLEAR-AI: Critiquing and Learning to Evaluate AI Financial Reasoning," U.S. National Science Foundation (2026)
Most Recent Publications
- Chen, J. J. (2026). Implementing the Project Approach in a Hong Kong kindergarten: A tale of hybrid pedagogy and glocalization. In A. A. Bautista (Ed.), Culturally situated pedagogies in Hong Kong kindergartens (pp. 83-100). Springer.
- Chen, J. J., & Delaney, V. (2026). Leveraging AI to enhance children's learning: Anchoring policy and practice in equity, ethics, and AI literacy. Early Childhood Education Journal, 54, 2655–2665.
- Chen, J. J. (2026). Made in the image of human creators: Five key pillars to mitigate AI ethical risks and safeguard children's rights. AI and Ethics.
- Chen, J. J. (2024). Responsive practice for dual language learners in early childhood education: Theory and case studies. Redleaf Press.
New Projects
Key ongoing and recent research initiatives conducted at The Chen Research Lab.
The Teaching Conditions and Experiences
The Child Observation Project
The Early Childhood Curriculum Project
The Child Assessment Project
The Early Childhood Teaching Experiences Project
The Dual Language Learners Project
AI in Early Childhood Education
Scales & Permission to Use
If you are interested in using any of the following scales for research, clinical work, and/or teaching purposes, please contact Dr. Jennifer Chen at jchen@kean.edu.
1. Teacher Stress Scale (TSS)
Measures teaching-related stress and inadequate school-based support among educators.
2. Teacher Thriving Scale (TTS)
Assesses teachers' capacity to thrive despite stress across adaptability, personal strengths, and positive mindset.
3. Perceived Parental Academic Support Scale (PPASS)
Measures student self-perceptions of academic encouragement, resources, and involvement provided by parents.
4. Perceived Teacher Academic Support Scale (PTASS)
Evaluates students' perceived academic support, guidance, and high expectations from their teachers.
5. Perceived Friend/Peer Academic Support Scale (PFASS)
Measures peer encouragement, study collaboration, and positive academic influences within friend networks.
6. Perceived Academic Engagement Scale (PAES)
Quantifies student self-perceptions of academic motivation, classroom involvement, and study habits.
Join the Lab
We welcome undergraduate and graduate students interested in early childhood research, teacher thriving, and AI in education. Students have opportunities to participate in high-impact publication projects and receive mentorship.
Contact
The Chen Research Lab
Department of Early Childhood Education
Kean University, Hennings Hall 419
1000 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ 07083
Email: jchen@kean.edu