He received a dual major Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy and psychology from Michigan State University with an independently declared major in Cognition (1974) working with his mentor and friend Stephen Toulmin, and later, a Doctor of Philosophy degree in developmental psychology from the University of Oxford,[3] while studying as a Rhodes Scholar, working with his advisor Jerome Bruner.

After studying child language and cognitive development from 1975 to 1980, his research concerns were attracted to understanding how innovations in computing and communications technologies can significantly influence learning, thinking, collaboration, and educational systems.

Pea is a key figure in the development of the learning sciences as a recognized field of research and graduate study.

[7] In 1996, after a year at the Center for Advanced Studies in the Behavioral Sciences, Pea was recruited to SRI International, where he worked with colleagues to build a major national Center for Technology in Learning,[8] until recruited to Stanford University in 2001.

[14] Pea served from 1999 to 2009 as a founding director for Teachscape,[15] a company he co-founded with Mark Atkinson in 1999 that provides comprehensive K-12 teacher professional development services incorporating web-based video case studies of standards-based teaching and communities of learners.