Smith was an assistant & associate professor of Media Arts and Sciences in the MIT Media Laboratory from 1997-2002, where he conducted research on software for use in education, particularly software incorporating multimedia with an emphasis on visual features and design. His research during this time covered different aspects of education, including music, biology, and history. His research during this time also included the potential benefits of a multimedia approach to patient counseling and education.[2]
Smith was an associate professor of Information Sciences and Technology and Education at Pennsylvania State University., where he was the principal investigator for its Medical Informatics Research Initiative and Director of its Solutions Institute.[3]
At Penn State, he continued educational multimedia software research, branching out into studies of physically active computer gaming and Fantasy basketball.[3] He was also a member of the panel that produced the National Research Council report, Learning Science in Informal Environments: People, Places, and Pursuits.[4]