Constructivism as a Paradigm for Teaching and Learning

Expert Content Developer Bios

Jacqueline Grennon Brooks, Ed.D.

Jacqueline Grennon Brooks is a researcher and educator specializing in constructivism, epistemology, and education in math, technology and science. She has been a teacher for all grade levels; co-principal investigator on a National Science Foundation grant that integrates mathematics, science and technology education in elementary school classrooms; president of the Association of Constructivist Teaching; and Associate Professor and Director of the Science Education Program at SUNY Stony Brook. With Martin G. Brooks, she has authored IN SEARCH OF UNDERSTANDING: THE CASE FOR THE CONSTRUCTIVIST CLASSROOM (ASCD, 1993). She has also written SCHOOLING FOR LIFE: RECLAIMING THE ESSENCE OF LEARNING (ASCD, 2002), along with many publications exploring issues of curriculum, instruction and assessment.

Lesson Plan Developers

Werner Liepolt
Werner Liepolt is a multimedia designer and developer, consultant in education and entertainment, and educator. He has taught both middle school and, as an Instructor at Columbia University's Teachers College, graduate school. He has written numerous pages regarding technology and education, theater, and multimedia, including: · THE GREAT EXPECTATIONS STUDY GUIDE (http://projects.ilt.columbia.edu/dickens/ge.intro) and OKLAHOMA! INTERACTIVE, a Web page developed with Teachers College and The Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization to support production at high schools and colleges. Mr. Liepolt was named a National Endowment for the Humanities Scholar and an Apple Distinguished Educator.

Dory Marcus
Dory Marcus is an educator and staff developer in the area of technology. She has served as the Computer Support Person for the Summit Middle School in Summit, New Jersey and as a member of the district's Technology Committee, to provide staff development training in the use of technology. She has also run workshops on the integration of multimedia and Internet resources in instruction as a Master Teacher for NTTI (National Teacher Training Institute), and is involved in efforts to incorporate video resources into technology-rich environments.

Nancy Morvillo
Nancy Morvillo is an educator and researcher, specializing in the area of science education. She has served as a high school teacher at the Biotechnology Teaching Laboratory, and as a professor at SUNY Stony Brook and Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida. She has published widely, and has taught courses about Biology, Technology, Genetics, and Women's Studies. She earned her Ph.D. in genetics from the State University at Stony Brook in 1993.

Anna Chan Rekate
Anna Chan Rekate is an educator with a special interest in literature. She serves as a high school English teacher at Trevor Day School in New York City, where she teaches ninth grade English along with electives for Juniors and Seniors. She has also been Upper School Coordinator at the Manhattan School for Children, and has taught all subjects for the sixth and eighth grades at the City & Country School in New York City. All three schools are known for their progressive philosophies and educational practices. Rekate has a master's degree in Educational Policy from Columbia University's Teachers College and a master's degree in Leadership and Supervision from Bank Street College of Education.

Alexander Sabatino, Jr.
Alexander Sabatino, Jr. is an educator and technology expert. He teaches math and computer science at Dr. Alfred M. Franko Middle School in Mount Vernon, New York, where he also trains staff in technology. He has been a Master Teacher for NTTI (National Teacher Training Institute), and has authored a Web page project with Pace University called The Search for Uhuru I (http://www.csis.pace.edu/schools/mv/asabatino/uhuru1.html). He has also been a teacher at Seward Park High School on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, where he founded and coached a nationally recognized computer team. Mr. Sabatino has won numerous awards and honors, including: Tandy Technology Scholar, 1995; National Endowment for the Humanities Award; New York State Regents Award; and membership in the Scholars' Circle of the United Federation of Teachers.

Advisor/Reviewer Bios

Cyndi Kerr
Cyndi Kerr works with schools as a staff developer, using a project-based approach to model in-class uses of digital tools. She has been support manager with a team of progressive educators at the Center for Collaborative Education; she has also helped to launch the Eiffel project, a five-year initiative that integrates wide-area networking technologies into the public school curriculum in New York City. In addition, she has worked with the Institute for Learning Technologies to provide support for teachers.

Anthony Petrosino, Ph.D.
Anthony Petrosino is a professor whose research focuses on science education, with an emphasis on technology. He has been an assistant professor of Mathematics and Science Education at The University of Texas in Austin, and was a member of the Cognition and Technology Group at Vanderbilt's Learning Technology Center. He is the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including: Otto Basser Award for Outstanding Dissertation in the Department of Teaching and Learning, Vanderbilt University, 1998; Cognitive Studies for Educational Practice Post Doctorate Fellowship (competitive), 1998-2000; Tennessee Space Grant Fellowship (NASA), Vanderbilt University, 1991-1996; Peabody Super Student Scholarship. (competitive) 1991-1994; New Jersey Governor's Teacher Recognition Award, 1990.

Anna Chan Rekate
Anna Chan Rekate is an educator with a special interest in literature. She serves as a high school English teacher at Trevor Day School in New York City, where she teaches ninth grade English along with electives for Juniors and Seniors. She has also been Upper School Coordinator at the Manhattan School for Children, and has taught all subjects for the sixth and eighth grades at the City & Country School in New York City. All three schools are known for their progressive philosophies and educational practices. Rekate has a master's degree in Educational Policy from Columbia University's Teachers College and a master's degree in Leadership and Supervision from Bank Street College of Education.

Thirteen Ed Online Staff Expert Bios

Brigitte Magar Matsuoka
Brigitte Magar Matsuoka is an educational media developer. She serves as Director of Thirteen/ WNET's Educational Technologies Department and Executive Producer of Thirteen's Ed Online Web site. She also develops, produces and distributes new educational technology projects for teachers, students and parents/caregivers. Her projects include: CONCEPT TO CLASSROOM, WHAT'S UP IN THE ENVIRONMENT?, the companion Web site to a post 9/11 three-part series for the PBS IN THE MIX series, THE NEW NORMAL, TeacherLine mini-courses, and STANDARDS IN ACTION: MAKING REAL WORLD CONNECTIONS WITH MATHEMATICS. She has also worked at Teachers College, Columbia University as an instructor, online content and tool developer, and K-12 consultant, and has received an Emmy award for her work in television production.

Al Doyle
Al Doyle is an educator, technology coordinator and designer. He has been Director of Academic Technology at the St. Bernard's School in New York City; Director of Internet Training of Thirteen's National Teacher Training Institute (NTTI); Technology Coordinator at Polytechnic Preparatory Country Day School in Brooklyn, New York; director of both computer and theater camps; and producer of the Art of Construction Web site. His fellowships include: Master Teacher for the National Teacher Training Institute (NTTI); Livingston Chair for Science at Poly Prep 1995-96; NEA Master Teacher Grant: Vermont Studio School, 1987; Rhode Island School of Design Honors Seminar, 1986; Skidmore College Summer Six Art Institute Fellowship, 1985; and Jerome Foundation Emerging Artists Fellowship, 1984.

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