Who We Are
(in
alphabetical order)
| Amanda Armstrong |
Mark Bailey | Diane Bales | Ilene R. Berson | Bonnie
Blagojevic |
| Warren
Buckleitner |
Douglas Clements | Chip
Donohue | Sue Griebling |
Lynn Hartle |
| Sharon Hirschy | Karen Nemeth | Audrey O'Clair | Katie Paciga | Brian Puerling |
| Dina Rosen | Fran Simon | Priscilla Taylor | X. Christine
Wang |
Amanda Armstrong, M.S., is the Program Coordinator for the TEC Center (Technology in Early Childhood) at Erikson Institute. She earned her M.S. in Child Development with a specialization in Administration from Erikson Institute in 2012, and a B.A. in English with a concentration in Creative Writing from Bradley University in 2006. Amanda has conducted research for Erikson’s Early Mathematics Education Project analyzing how early math is taught in public schools and at the community college level. She has also worked with nonprofit organizations focusing on after-school and tutoring programs for children.
Amanda has come to TEC Center with an interest in approaches that can be implemented with modern technological devices to assist young children’s development and learning as well as build foundational skills for their future. She is also interested in the types of measurement that can be used to assess their impact on children. This summer Amanda is working at Northwestern University’s Center for Talent Development in the animation courses at their Leapfrog Program. In these courses, Amanda is discovering how learning animation can enhance children’s social and relationship skills, cognition, and creativity, along with building on their everyday experiences. From her experience of using technology with children, she can assist early childhood educators in building their digital literacy knowledge and skills.
back
to top
Mark
Bailey
Mark
Bailey has been exploring the use of pedagogically powerful technological tools
to support early childhood education for the past 25 years. As a cofounder of
the Oregon Technology in Education Network, he has collaborated on writing and
administering two funded Federal grants: Preparing Tomorrowâs Teachers to Use
Technology (PT3), and a Technology Quality Enhancement Partnership (TQEP) grant.
His work has included explorations of collaborative learning tools and he has
written and presented about the manner in which technology should be used with
young children.
Mark did his undergraduate work in ECE and Psychology
at Grinnell College and then taught preschool and kindergarten for 7 years. While
completing his doctorate in Educational Psychology at the University of Wisconsin
he worked on the NICHD Study of Early Childcare. For the past 13 years Mark has
been a professor in the Pacific University College of Education. He currently
serves as Director of the Child Learning and Development Center he developed on
Pacificâs Forest Grove campus, as well as the ECE specialist for graduate and
undergraduate students.
back
to top
Diane
Bales
Diane Bales is an Associate Professor of Child and Family Development and an Early Childhood Specialist with Cooperative Extension at the University of Georgia. Diane has mor than 15 years of experience in early childhood development and education in a variety of settings, including directing a drop-in weekly child care program, teaching community-based training workshops to child care providers and parents, teaching child development and creative activities to undergraduate students, and co-leading the Georgia Better Brains for Babies initiative. She is co-leader of a national Extension team developing the Better Kid Care America web-based resource for child care providers. She is interested in using social bookmarking sites such as Diigo as a tool to identify and share early childhood resources, and has integrated technology use into her creative activities courses.
Her email address is dbales@uga.edu.
Ilene R. Berson, Ph.D., NCSP is a Professor of Early Childhood in the Department of Childhood Education and Literacy Studies at the University of South Florida. She also serves as the coordinator of the USF Early Childhood doctoral program with an emphasis on social justice and child advocacy. Dr. Berson has extensive experience working with children ages birth to eight, and she is a nationally certified and state licensed school psychologist. Her research focuses on prevention and intervention services for young children at imminent risk for behavioral and mental health challenges associated with child maltreatment and other traumatic events. She leads collaborative reform initiatives, forging linkages between early childhood, child welfare, and health care systems, as well as international studies on the engagement of young children with digital technologies. Dr. Berson has extensively published books, chapters, and journal articles and has presented her research worldwide. She has been the principal investigator on funded grants totaling over $2.5 million. Dr. Berson embodies the characteristics of an engaged scholar who works closely in reciprocal relationships with practitioners and policymakers to develop innovative solutions for emerging and long term issues to promote young children’s well being.
Ilene R. Berson, Ph.D., NCSP
Professor of Early Childhood Education
University of South Florida
College of Education
Department of Childhood Education and Literacy Studies
4202 E. Fowler Ave., EDU202
Tampa, FL 33620 – 5650
(813) 974-7698
Fax (813) 974-0938
iberson@usf.edu
back
to top
Bonnie
Blagojevic
Bonnie is currently working as an education consultant and adjunct faculty member at The University of Maine. She was involved with the development of the NAEYC Technology and Young
Children Interest Forum web site "Technology & Young Children", is a member of the Webmaster team, and contributes to the Diigo group ECETECH and the ECETECH Wiki projects. She is an Apple Distinguished Educator, Class of 2007.
Bonnie has over 20 years experience as an early education professional working directly with children and as an administrator in various child care program settings such as high school lab preschool, a University childcare setting, a family childcare home and a nonprofit childcare center. For the past six years, she provided tech integration support for "Early Literacy for Every Child" classrooms, an Early Reading First Project in Maine and contributed to the Tech Integration & Early Childhood Education web page content based on that work. Bonnie is a consulting editor for NAEYC and has co-authored several technology related articles for NAEYC’s Teaching Young Children.
Her
email address is: bonnieblagojevic@me.com
Warren
Buckleitner
Warren
Buckleitner is the editor of Children's Technology Review. He is a former preschool
teacher and High/Scope Consultant. He teaches at Rutgers and NYU and is a frequent
speaker at teacher conferences. He writes for the New York Times, Scholastic Parent
& Child, Child Care Information Exchange and Parents. He is the father of two
daughters.
Warren@childrenssoftware.com
Dr. Clements has directed 20 projects funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the U.S. Dept. of Educations, Institute of Education Sciences (IES). Currently, Dr. Clements is Principal Investigator on two large-scale randomized cluster trial projects (IES). He is also working with colleagues to study and refine learning trajectories in measurement (NSF). Two recent research projects have just been funded by the NSF. Clements is PI on the first, Using Rule Space and Poset-based Adaptive Testing Methodologies to Identify Ability Patterns in Early Mathematics and Create a Comprehensive Mathematics Ability Test, which will develop a computer-adaptive assessment for early mathematics. Clements is co-PI on the second, Early Childhood Education in the Context of Mathematics, Science, and Literacy, developing an interdisciplinary preschool curriculum.
Dr. Clements was a member of President Bush's National Math Advisory Panel, convened to advise the administration on the best use of scientifically based research to advance the teaching and learning of mathematics and coauthor of the Panel’s report. He was also a member of the National Research Council’s Committee on Early Mathematics and co-author of their report. He is presently serving on the Common Core State Standards committee of the National Governor’s Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers, helping to write national academic standards and the learning trajectories that underlie them. He is one of the authors of NCTM’s Principles and Standards in School Mathematics and Curriculum Focal Points.
Chip
Donohue
Chip Donohue, PhD, is the Director of Distance Learning at Erikson Institute. At Erikson he is developing an online Master's degree for experienced early childhood teachers as well as online certificate and professional development programs. He is internationally recognized as a leader in the innovative use of technology and distance-learning methods to increase access, enhance learning, and improve teaching practices. He is a Fellow of the Fred Rogers Center for early learning and children's media. With Selena Fox of New Zealand Tertiary College, he has co-hosted eTeaching events at the World Forum in New Zealand, Mexico, Canada, Malaysia, and Northern Ireland, the Working Forum for Teacher Educators in New Zealand, and has developed ecelearn, a learning management system for the early childhood profession.
His email address is: CDonohue@erikson.edu
back
to top
Sue
Griebling
Susan Griebling, EdD, is an Academic Director for the Early Childhood Online Education program at the University of Cincinnati. Sue has 10 years of teaching experience in early childhood and 12 years of administrative experience at Head Start. Sue teaches early childhood courses both online and on campus. She is a facilitator of the University of Cincinnati's study group of the Reggio Inspired Approach to ECE. She has an added interest in the arts in early childhood and the use of technology in the early childhood classroom.
Her email address is: grieblsj@ucmail.uc.edu
back
to top
Lynn
Hartle
Remember Commodore 64 computers? Our preschoolers used these back in early 80's with LOGO! Remember, the first MacIntosh computers? - that's where our school management and finances was processed! After 10years of teaching young children in both Michigan and as a Directress, teacher, founder of a Montessori Children's House in Cookeville, TN, the families provided much support for me to continue my terminal degree and pursue higher education. I have enjoyed teaching undergraduate and graduate Early Childhood and Early Childhood Special Education courses in every area. My research areas include teaching diverse learners and my service work with community agencies leads me to other research. In the past 20+years, I have gone through many computer upgrades and every electronic toy I can buy. Rarely do the college students call; they email and I lead them through their needs and around their busy schedules. In the past few years, I rarely saw students, but felt very connected through my online or partially online, field experience-based classes. Currently I am teaching more F2F classes with technology components, exploring exciting adventures through a blended or hybrid model that supports students with the most effective delivery to fit their learning needs.
Lynn Hartle, Ph.D.
Professor of Education
The Penn State University, Brandywine (as of Fall 2010)
http://www.brandywine.psu.edu
lhartle@hotmail.com
Sharon Hirschy
Sharon
Hirschy is Professor of Child Development and Education at Collin College in Plano,
Texas. She has worked with children for over thirty years. She has been a child
care consultant, social worker, public school teacher, child care administrator
and teacher, and parent educator. Her main areas of interest and research have
been technology and parent education. She is a Certified Family Life Educator
and has authored many materials for parents and educators on children's development.
She teaches courses online as well as in the classroom, and serves on
the Online Advisory Board at Collin, which reviews and approves online courses
for the college. She has a particular interest in training early childhood educators
in the use of technology for themselves and the children in their classroom.
back
to top
Karen Nemeth
Karen Nemeth, Ed.M. is an author and consultant specializing in supports for first and second language development in young children. She has worked extensively with programs on using technology to broaden their access to resources that reflect the languages and cultures of the children and families they serve. Karen is a consulting editor and author for NAEYC and she is on the board of NJTESOL-NJBE. Karen is the co-author, with Fran Simon, of Digital Decisions: Choosing the Right Technology Tools for Early Childhood Education (2012) Karen has worked in the field of early education for more than 25 years, serving in every capacity from college instructor to training provider to classroom teacher to state education specialist.
Audrey O'Clair operates The Kinder Garden, a NAFCC accredited family childcare home in Newburgh, Maine. The Kinder Garden has achieved a Step Four (highest level of quality) rating on Maine's Quality Rating System. Audrey was selected to be a "Maine Maven", one of eight in the state, to serve as a mentor to other child care providers working to improve the quality of care they offer to children and participating in Maine's Quality Rating System.
Audrey's additional projects include; †family literacy consultant for RSU #3 in Waldo County and co-creator of a 100 hour early intervention program for children at risk for reading struggles prior to the start of Kindergarten. This program, providing children opportunities to hear wonderful books, draw and dictate stories, and experience other rich literacy experiences,†has proved so successful and has had such a positive impact on children it has expanded from one to four school districts.†When asked how Audrey feels about all that is happening for her at this time, she says cheerfully that her "cup runneth over with letters and little ones!"
Katie Paciga is an Assistant Professor of Elementary Literacy Education at Purdue University Calumet. She started in the field more than 10 years ago as a bilingual (Spanish) Kindergarten teacher. Katie completed her undergraduate schooling at Loyola University Chicago (2002) and then received her Masters in Instructional Leadership (2006) and her PhD inLiteracy, Language, and Culture (2011) from University of Illinois at Chicago.Throughout her tenure at UIC Katie worked as research assistant on three Early Reading First grants, where she developed and refined her skills as a PDpresenter and instructor, researcher, and writer. Her research and service focus on early literacy and technology integration, with a primary focus on listening comprehension.
Katie’s email address is kpaciga@gmail.com
back
to top
Brian Puerling
Brian Puerling is author of the upcoming book, Teaching in the Digital Age: Smart Tools for Age 3 to Grade 3 available in the Spring of 2012. He is a graduate of the Erikson Institute and is a former preschool teacher in the Chicago Public Schools. He is currently the Director of Technology Education at the Catherine Cook School in Chicago. Brian has been active in the Chicago Metro AEYC, has worked as an early childhood teacher coach, a curriculum reviewer, and a professional development facilitator for the Chicago Public Schools, Rush University Medical Center Science and Math Excellence Network, and Rochelle Lee’s Boundless Readers. Brian recently joined the Sesame Workshop Teacher Council, where he will share his knowledge on trends in early childhood education, technology movements, and more, to help guide the planning for future programming of their television shows. Brian was a recipient of the PBS Innovative Educator Award and PBS Teacher’s Choice Award in 2010.
Brian Puerling, M.S.
(630) 770 1647
puerlingtech@gmail.com
http://bpuerling.yolasite.com
back
to top
Dina Rosen
Dina Rosen is an Assistant Professor at Kean University. A graduate from New York University (Ph.D. in Educational Leadership, Administration and Technology) and Wagner College (M.A in Special Education), she has made important contributions to the fields of teacher education, education and technology education. Applying her instructional experience at the middle school, elementary, and early childhood levels, she has directed and evaluated sponsored research projects. Dr. Rosen holds many important leadership positions that have allowed her to steward the Early Childhood field toward inclusion of technology. She has publishing many peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and conducted more than 80 presentations at professional
conferences. Dr. Rosen has provided keynote addresses in the United States as well as abroad for the Organization of American States (OAS). Her work has been published in important journals such as Action in Teacher Education, Young Child, Journal of Early Childhood Teacher Education, Early Education and Development, and Computers in the Schools. Her research on case-based multimedia instruction earned the honor of NAECTE Dissertation of the Year Award.
Dina can be reached at drosen@kean.edu.
Fran Simon
Fran Simon, M.Ed. has been an early childhood educator and an avid technologist since 1981. Early in her 15 year career as a multi-site child care administrator, she learned that using technology was one of the most powerful skills in her administrative toolkit, so she set out to learn more and do more to connect early childhood educators to technology. During the next phase in her journey, Fran used her passion for technology in her positions at Teaching Strategies, Inc., and the National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (NACCRRA). A frequent presenter at national conferences, Fran is a consultant with her own company, Engagement Strategies, LLC. She is also the founder of Early Childhood Investigations Webinars, an ongoing series of free webinars for early education professionals, and Co-Founder of Early Childhood Technology Network. Fran is Co-Author of a new book, Digital Decisions: Choosing the Right Technology for Early Childhood Education.
back
to top
Priscilla Taylor
Priscilla Taylor is a graduate student and teaching assistant at West Chester University where she works in distance education. She is currently pursuing a certificate and Master's in early childhood education as well as a certificate in educational technology. Her current research interests include technology and young learners, digital storytelling and mobile devices in higher education. She has presented at the Pennsylvania Educational Technology Expo & Conference, RECAP Conference, and the International Society for Technology in Education annual conference.
X. Christine Wang is an Associate Professor at the State University of New York at Buffalo. She received her Ph.D. in Early Childhood Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2003.
She is interested in technology in young children's learning and social development, and ECE teacher education. She has been investigating young children's social construction of their computer experiences in the classroom. She is also involved in several other projects, such as evaluating children's websites, providing training and support to teachers in a high-need local elementary school, and teaching pre-service teachers to evaluate educational software and to develop electronic teaching portfolio. In the past, she participated in several online educational technology projects while working as a research assistant with the Technology Research Group at the National Center for Supercomputing Applications from 1998 to 2000.
Christine is the current webmaster for the NAEYC Technology and Young Children Interest Forum web site project, "Technology and Young Children" and the Pacific Early Childhood Education Research Association
She can be reached at wangxc@buffalo.edu; additional information can be found at http://www.gse.buffalo.edu/fas/wang/
[ Back to Home ] [ Contact the Webmaster Team ]