paul@concord.org

Paul Horwitz - Principal Investigator

Dr. Horwitz is a Senior Scientist at Concord Consortium. He has an A.B. from Harvard College, an M.A. from Columbia University, and a Ph.D. in physics from New York University. He is a theoretical physicist with broad interests in the application of technology to science and mathematics education. He was Principal Investigator on the ThinkerTools Project, sponsored by the National Science Foundation, which designed a curriculum and associated software that successfully taught the elements of Newtonian physics to students at the sixth grade level. He also recently directed a project that explored the use of computer-based environments for teaching the fundamental concepts of Special Relativity to high school students. This project produced a simulated "relativity laboratory" called RelLab which won two EDUCOM Higher Education Software Awards in 1992, one for Best Natural Science Software (Physics), the other for Best Design. Other recent educational projects with which Dr. Horwitz has been involved have covered the domains of statistics, mathematical chaos theory, and visual modeling.

Currently, Dr. Horwitz serves as Principal Investigator for several related NSF projects that are exploring students' difficulties in understanding genetics, a scientific domain that encompasses phenomena that take place at many different levels. The first of these projects has produced a program, called GenScope, that links representations of genetic processes at the DNA, chromosome, cellular, organism, pedigree, and population levels in such a way that changes made at any level are automatically reflected in all the rest.

ed@concord.org

Edward Burke - Senior Software Systems Designer

Edward Burke received his B.A.in Mathematics from Bowdoin College in 1976 and his M.S. in Computer Science from the University of Rochester in 1978. Since then he has worked on a wide variety of software systems and products, including operating systems and communications at BBN, expert systems at Palladian, and real-time OS research at KSR, Concurrent, and OSF-RI (now Open Group Research Institute). He has also developed math and engineering tools at MathSoft (Mathcad) and worked at education-oriented startups such as ThinkingWorks and Centra.

At Concord Consortium, Edward has found a home where he can research and develop software systems that support educational applications. He is currently working on the BioLogica project, particularly on EASL, the education application scripting language. EASL will be used to develop pedagogically focused scripts to teach biology, and eventually other domains such as math, physics, and reading.

maryann@concord.org

Mary Ann Christie - Research and Evaluation

Mary Ann Christie completed her Master of Liberal Arts degree (psychology) at Harvard University, Master of Science degree (computer science) at Boston College, and Bachelor of Science degree (statistics and operations research) at New York University. At the Concord Consortium, Mary Ann focuses on research and evaluation of educational technology projects that target science and math education reform. Major responsibilities include: design and development of ethnographic framework for investigation of classroom learning experiences; design, development, and in-house evaluation of constructivist technologies; facilitation of monthly academic reading group to bring learning theory into current and future projects; and provision of feedback to development cycle to improve software, curriculum, documentation, and assessment items that measure student learning.

Mary Ann is a doctoral candidate in the Human Development and Psychology program at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, where she studies relational development and research methodologies. Current research interests include the relationship between adolescents' academic self-concept and the instructional culture of the classroom, and the ways in which innovative technologies may be used to influence achievement (e.g., constructivist learning environments) and achievement research (e.g., video ethnography). Mary Ann's research has primarily been conducted in urban public schools.

Dan Hickey - Evaluation and Assessment

Dan Hickey received his M.S. and his Ph.D. in Psychology from Vanderbilt University where he majored in Cognitive Studies and conducted research at the Vanderbilt Learning Technology Center on the motivational and academic consequences of technology-supported learning environments. He is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Educational Psychology and Special Education at Georgia State University, where he is directing the evaluation and assessment component of a three-year GenScope implementation effort. Prior to joining GSU, he was a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Center for Performance Assessment at Educational Testing Service. Dr. Hickey's interest lie in designing and assessing technology-supported learning enviornments, using assessment systems to enhance learning, and the motivational implications of new models of instruction and assessment.

paulk@concord.org

Paul Keefe - Software Engineer

Paul Keefe started developing educational multimedia products with his company EduACTIVE in 1990. EduACTIVE's focus was on creating interactive music software for the classroom. Since that time he has worked as a consultant developing graphic and document management applications for ad agencies. He most recently worked as the IS Director for Oasis Imaging Products, a fortune 500 company, and developed their integrated database system for product ordering, sales, warehousing, etc.

annk@net-lynx.com

Ann Kindfield - Evaluation and Assessment

Ann Kindfield earned her B.S. in Biology from The Pennsylvania State University, her M.A. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and her Ph.D. in Science Education from the Graduate Group in Science and Mathematics Education (SESAME) at the University of California, Berkeley.

After receiving her doctorate, she continued her research on understanding and reasoning about biological processes as a McDonnell and Spencer postdoctoral fellow in the UCB Graduate School of Education while also teaching in the UCB Molecular and Cell Biology Department. After spending three years as a Research Scientist in the Center for Performance Assessment at the Educational Testing Service, Ann returned to academia as an Assistant Professor of Biology at Montclair State University where she taught biology and worked with pre- and in-service biology teachers. Currently Ann is a consultant specializing in biology education issues with Educational Designs Unlimited in Neshanic Station, NJ.

joanna@concord.org

Joanna Lu - Media Specialist

Joanna Lu studied at Radcliffe College and later transferred to the Rhode Island School of Design, where she received a B.F.A, concentrating in photography and film animation. After producing several children and many media works, she attended the Harvard Graduate School of Education where she earned an Ed.M.

Her past work in television includes producing and directing programs for several broadcast program companies, including the WGBH Educational Foundation, the Christian Science Monitor, and the Massachusetts Corporation for Educational Telecommunications. Most recently she was the producer and project director for an NIH-funded program in multiple technologies for high school students that explored the ethical, legal and social implications of genetic research. She hopes to bring the human dimension to GenScope and BioLogica through multimedia applications and compelling story lines.

bobminer@concord.org

Bob Miner - Senior Software Architect

Bob Miner is the Senior Software Architect and leader of the software portion of the BioLogica project. Bob received a B.A .from Dartmouth College, majoring in Engineering and a M.S.M.E. from MIT. Since then Bob has worked for a number of commercial software startups including Centra Software, Object Design and Cognition.

Bob believes strongly that K-12 teachers need high quality educational software titles that empower teachers and their students to learn in their classrooms, or perhaps collaboratively with students in other schools, in ways that are not possible without computers and the Internet. The software titles should be customizable by teachers to reflect their teaching styles and their students' learning styles and needs, have high quality multimedia content equal to any home educational software title and have a strong pedagogical foundation. BioLogica™ will be a demonstration of this vision, hopefully the first of many such titles we'll create here at CC.

Eric Neumann - Co-Principal Investigator

Eric Neumann has a B.S. in life sciences from MIT and a Ph.D. in neuroscience and pharmacology from Case Western Reserve University. His research experience includes the molecular genetic basis of development of the nervous systems, and while a postdoctoral fellow at Brandeis University, the genetic basis of behavior. In addition, he has explored the use of neural networks for analyzing animal behavior. His current research focuses on the design and use of microcomputer applications for biology education, including an interactive model of the human heart's electrical system and a multi-level modelling environment for genetics (GenScope).

joyce@concord.org

Joyce Schwartz - Senior Education Specialist

Joyce Schwartz received her B.S. in Biology from Marietta College and her M.S. and Ph.D. in Cell Physiology from the University of Iowa. Her early professional years were spent in research at the Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. After a fellowship at the Bunting Institute at Radcliffe College, she spent 16 years teaching Biology at Weston High School. Her work with the GenScope team has included curriculum design, teacher workshops design and implementation, tutoring the team in Biology and baking bread.

Bin Zhang - Senior Software Architect

Bin Zhang has a B.A. degree in computer science and physics from Wellesley College and is currently pursuing a Masters in computer science at Harvard University. She is currently implementing GenScope, an interactive software tool for teaching genetics. Prior to coming to BBN, she developed software for a sound analysis system, which can be used to digitize and analyze human speech or animal sounds. She has done undergraduate research and has publications in acoustics and solid-state physics. Her current interest is in developing interactive software for education and scientific research.