Allan Collins
Allan Collins is a cognitive scientist whose work connects AI, psychology and education. At Northwestern, Collins researches semantic memory, reasoning and intelligent tutoring systems, alongside inquiry teaching and cognitive apprenticeship. AAAI elected him a Fellow in 1990. From 1991 to 1994 he co-directed the Center for Technology in Education with Jan Hawkins. His later books examine education and curriculum in a technological society, including a 2009 book coauthored with Richard Halverson and a 2017 book on what schools should teach.
- Now at
- Northwestern University
- Works
- 139
- Citations
- 38,085
- h-index
- 39
Publication numbers from OpenAlex, as of 14 October 2026.
Timeline
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Research career
Reasoning and intelligent tutoring
At Northwestern, Collins researches semantic memory and plausible reasoning. His AI work includes reasoning and intelligent tutoring systems. His education research includes inquiry teaching and cognitive apprenticeship, connecting the study of cognition with how learners develop practical knowledge.
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1990
Recognition by the AI community
Collins is among the 1990 AAAI Fellows and was affiliated with Bolt, Beranek and Newman when elected.
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1991–1994
Technology and education
Collins co-directed the US Department of Education’s Center for Technology in Education with Jan Hawkins from 1991 to 1994. He was a founding editor of Cognitive Science and the first chair of the Cognitive Science Society.
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2009–2017
Books on changing education
With Richard Halverson, Collins published Rethinking Education in the Age of Technology in 2009. His book What’s Worth Teaching followed in 2017. These publications extend his interest in how technology changes education and the knowledge schools should teach.
Sources and credits
Photo: allancollins.northwestern.edu; Allan Collins profile photograph; creator not stated. License: Not stated by source. Source: allancollins.northwestern.edu. Cropped to a square and resized. Ask us to remove or replace this photo.