FACULTY BIO SKETCH (05/2008)

Brief Bio -- George E. O’Brien earned his Ph.D. in Science Education from The University of Iowa in 1985.  He spent the next three years at the University of Pittsburgh as an Assistant Professor, heading the secondary science education program and researching technology applications in science teacher preparation.  O'Brien was awarded the Ohaus/NSTA Award for Innovations in Teaching of College Science in 1988.  During the past 20-years, while at FIU, he has worked with colleagues to integrate mathematics, science, and technology in courses and programs; taught and researched issues in interdisciplinary studies; and studied constructivist-based instruction and learning. O’Brien has authored or co-authored over 55 published manuscripts, and he has presented at over130 international, national, and state conferences/meetings.  O’Brien has reviewed papers for many professional publications and conferences including: AERA, NARST, ASTE, SSMA, and NSTA.  He has teamed with colleagues as PI, Co-PI, and Senior Personnel  for grant projects during the past twenty years. O’Brien was chairperson of the Elementary Education Department (1993-1998), and he is currently working with faculty and associates from the Departments of Curriculum and Instruction, Physics, Chemistry, Environmental Studies, Biology, Computer Sciences, and Mathematics in several funded and non-funded projects.

Academic Degrees

    Ph.D.  The University of Iowa              1985   Science Education
    M.A.   Columbia University                  1979   International Education (Curriculum Development)
    B.S.    Lowell Technological Institute    1974   Biological Sciences; minor in chemistry

Dissertation

An analysis of personality, selected behavioral characteristics, educational interests and influences of students enrolled in three different types of summer secondary science training programs–Dissertation Abstracts International, 46, 1584-A  (Major professors:  Pizzini, E. L., Yager, R. E.)

Professional Experience

    1993-present  Florida International University, associate professor of science education
                          Chairperson of Elementary Education Department (1993-1998)
    1988-1992     Florida International University, assistant professor of science education
    1985-1988     University of Pittsburgh, assistant professor of science education
    1981-1985     The University of Iowa, graduate assistant, coordinator of secondary
                           student science research program
    1980-1981     Lawrence, MA, Public Schools, science teacher
    1979-1980     Tampa, FL, middle school and high school, science chair and teacher
    1978              Frankfort, IL education consultant
    1975-1977     Francistown, Botswana, high school, science chair and teacher,
                          U.S. Peace Corps.

 Selected Collegiate Activities

  Member,  FIU Institutional Review Board
  Program Leader, Secondary Science Education
  Member, College of Education Tenure & Promotion Committee
  Senior Personnel, NSF-supported Center for High Energy Physics Research and
    Education Outreach (CHEPREO) project,  http://www.chepreo.org
  Co-PI,  1- FIU PHYSTEC PROJECT 2- FIU PHYSTEC PROJECT
  Member, FIU Physics Education Research Group
  Affiliated Faculty, Environmental Studies Department
  Member, FIU Environmental Preserve Committee
        FIU Preserve Butterfly Garden

Selected Professional and Academic Association Memberships
    (asterisk = meetings attended 2005-2008)

        * American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT)
        * American Physical Society
        * Association for Science Teacher Education (ASTE)
        * National Science Teachers Association  (NSTA)
        * PTEC Conference
        * School Science and Mathematics Association  (SSMA)
        * National Association for Research in Science Teaching  (NARST)
           NASA Opportunities for Visionary Academics (NOVA)
           Florida Association of Science Teachers (FAST)

Selected Professional Assignments and Activities (non-teaching)

Editorial Review Board, Journal of Science Teacher Education
Editorial Review Board, Electronic Journal of Science Education
Co-founding faculty member, Director, Partnership in Academic Communities
   (PAC), FIU-Miami Dade County Public Schools Project. PAC was recognized by the Council of Greater
   City Schools & won the 2003-2004 Urban Impact Award presented in Chicago at
   the Annual National Council of Greater City Schools Conference in November, 2003
Member, Miami Dade College Baccalaureate in Education Advisory Committee

Synergistic Activities

Workshop facilitator, Steering Committee, Writing Resource Team, and Planning and Implementation Committee member for
   Florida Mathematics and Science Professional Development Project (2000-2005)
Served with international delegation for State of Qatar human resources strategy: UNESCO mission (1997-1998).  Primary
   author of 1998 five volume Technical Support Services (TSS-1) Report, UNESCO (English and Arabic versions),  Beirut,
   Lebanon
Coordinator, NSF-funded "Community of Scholars" Project: supported teacher in-service and enhancement projects in
    fifteen participating school districts in Western Pennsylvania.  The project sponsored by the University of Pittsburgh was led
   by "master" teachers (K-12) and university professors in the disciplines of mathematics, science, and math education with an
   emphasis on study of hands-on investigative and inquiry-based models of instructional practice.  The thrust of the activities
   was  to build a network of collaborative institutions that fostered development of teacher enhancement and local teacher
   organizations (1986-1988)

Selected Publications

O’Brien, G. E., & Alexander, A. M. (2006). Scientific skill
     development. In Peters, J. M., & Stout, D. L.  Science in elementary
     education, tenth edition.  Columbus, OH: Prentice-Hall, 81-83.

McClintock, E., O'Brien, G., & Jiang, Z. (2005, Summer). Assessing teaching practices of secondary
    mathematics student teachers: An exploratory cross case analysis of voluntary field experiences.
    Teacher Education Quarterly, 32(3), 139-151.

Jiang, Z., O’Brien, G., & McClintock, E. (2004, March).  A technology course for
    mathematics education graduate students. In Ferdig & others (eds). Proceedings and
    electronic versions of full paper of the 15th International Conference Society for Information
    Technology & Teacher Education. Atlanta, GA: Association for the Advancement of
    Computing in Education (AACE), 4458-4463.

Alacaci, C., Lewis, S., O’Brien, G. & Jiang, Z. (2003, August).   Assessing Graph Sense In
   Authentic Settings:  Pre-Service Elementary Teachers? Ability To Choose Appropriate
   Graphs To Represent Data. In N. Pateman, B. Daugherty, and J. Zilliox (eds). Proceedings
   of the XXVII Annual Meeting of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics
   Education (Volume 1). Honolulu, Hawaii: The ERIC Clearinghouse for Science,
   Mathematics, and Environmental Education, 269.

Jiang, Z., McClintock, E., & O’Brien, G.  (2003, July). A mathematical modelling course for
   Preservice secondary school mathematics teachers. Chapter 16. In Q. Ye, W. Blum, K. Houston, & Q.
   Jiang (Eds), Mathematical Modelling in Education and Culture. Chichester, England:
   Horwood Publishing Limited. Proceedings from the 10th Annual International Conference
   of Teachers of Mathematics Association, Tokoyo, Japan, 183-196.

Alacaci, C., O’Brien, G. E., Lewis, S. L., & Jiang, Z.  (2003). Integrating
    mathematics and science in a preservice elementary teacher education
    program.  In S. McGraw (Ed.). Integrated mathematics: Choices and
    challenges.  Reston, VA: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, 117-129.

Park, D., O’Brien, G. E., Eraso, M., & McClintock, E. (2002, fall). A scooter inquiry: An
    integrated science, mathematics, and technology activity.  Science Activities 39(3), 27-32.

Lewis, S. P., Alacaci, C., O’Brien, G. E., & Jiang, Z. (2002). Preservice elementary
    teachers’ use of mathematics in a project-based science approach.  School Science
    and Mathematics 102(4), 172-179.

O’Brien, G. E., Jiang, Z., Moseley, B., Alacaci, C., Lewis, S., McClintock, E., Park, D., &
    Chebbi, T. (2002, Spring).  “What makes it go?” A look at the design and
    implementation of an interdisciplinary mathematics and science workshop for
    inservice and preservice elementary teachers. Journal for the Art of Teaching 9(1),
    85-97.

Jiang, Z., O’Brien, G., & McClintock, E. (2000, July). Modeling in mathematics and
   science.  An Internet-based, interdisciplinary course for secondary school students.
   Proceedings from the July 2000 Hong Kong International Conference on Geo-Spatial
   Education,  69-75.

 Other publications.

Selected Recent Presentations

O’Brien, G., and Jorge, G. (2008, March). “Partnership in Academic Communities (PAC)
   Program: Middle/High School Multidisciplinary Experiences Helping At-Risk Students to
   Succeed in Science, Math, and Technology.” Presented at the NSTA Boston National Conference.

    Powerpoint Presentation, click here.

    Bibliography for Boston NSTA PAC Presentation Research, click here.

Jorge, G., and O’Brien, G. (2008, March).  “A Comprehensive Approach to the Study of
   Anatomy and Physiology of the Heart: Motivating High School Biology Students via Community and
   Experiential Learning.”  Presented at the NSTA Boston National Conference.

    Powerpoint Presentation, click here.

Brewe, E., Kramer, L., Wells, L., O’Brien, G.,  Saul, J., Jones, D., Pamelá, P., Rodriguez, I., and Sawtelle, V.
   (2008, February). "CHEPREO: A Learning and Research Community Realized." Presented at the Annual
   National PHYSTEC Conference, Austin, TX.

O’Brien, G., Brewe, E., Kramer, L., Wells, L., Jones, D., Pamelá, P., Saul, J., and Sawtelle, V.
   (2008, February). “Addressing Challenges and Opportunities in a Diverse Student Population:
   Creating a Model Science and Math Community.” Presented at the Project SUCCESS
   2nd Symposium, Miami, FL, St. Thomas University.

Kramer, L., Brewe, E., Wells, L., O’Brien, G., Jones, D., Pamelá, P., Saul, J., and Sawtelle, V.
   (2008, January). “The CHEPREO Project: Building from a Learning Community.” Presented at
   the Baltimore, MD AAPT Winter Meeting.

Kramer, L., O'Brien, G., Pamela, P., and Saul, J. (2007, July). "Results from FIU Undergraduate
   Learning Community." Presented at the Greensboro, NC AAPT Summer Meeting.

Kramer, L., O'Brien, G., Pamela, P., and Saul, J. (2007, July). "An Undergraduate
   Teaching Assistant Study: Impact of Inquiry at FIU." Presented at the Greensboro, NC
   AAPT Summer Meeting.

O'Brien, G., Saul, J., Kramer, L., and Pamela, P. (2007, January). "Assessing the impact
    of modelling workshops on professional development and teaching practices: An
    exploratory case analysis of three participants." Presented at the Annual ASTE
    International Conference in Clearwater, Florida, January 4-6.

Kramer, L., O'Brien, G., Pamela, P., and Saul, J. (2007, January). "Building the
    undergraduate learning community." Presented at the Seattle, Washington Joint AAS/AAPT Winter
    Meeting.

Kramer, L., O'Brien, G., Pamela, P., and Saul, J. (2007, January). "Results from the
    undergraduate learning community." Presented at the Seattle, Washington Joint AAS/AAPT Winter
    Meeting.

Pamela, P. M., Saul, J. M., Kramer, L., and O'Brien, G. (2006, July). "Interpreting FCI
    normalized gain, pre-instruction scores, and scientific reasoning ability,"
   AAPT Announcer 36 (2), 89.

Kramer, L., Saul, J. M., and O'Brien, G. (2006, July). "Trials and tribulations of building the
   CHEPREO physics learning community," AAPT Announcer36 (2), 109.

Saul, J. M., Kramer, L., and O'Brien, G. (2006, July). "Evaluation and Assessment of
   Education Outreach in the CHEPREO project," AAPT Announcer36 (2), 109.

Saul, J., Pamela, P., Kramer, L., & O’Brien, G. (2006, January).
   "Assessing Student Perceptions of Modeling Instruction at a
   Hispanic-Serving Institution." Presented at the AAPT Anchorage, Alaska Winter Meeting.

O'Brien, G. E., Kramer, L., & others. (2006, January). "The CHEPREO Project: Ongoing
   Development of Learning Community."  Presented at the Annual ASTE International
   Conference in Portland, Oregon, January 12-14.

O'Brien, G. E., & Jiang, Z. (2005, November). "The CHEPREO Project: Building a Learning
   Community Around High Energy Physics."  Presented at the Annual SSMA Conference in
   Ft. Worth, Texas, November 10-12.

O'Brien, G. E., & Jiang, Z. (2005, November). "The Impact of a Mathematical Modeling
   Approach on Teachers and Their Students."  Presented at the Annual SSMA Conference in
   Ft. Worth, Texas, November 10-12.

Saul, J., Gaultney, V., Kramer, L., Markowitz, P. Pamela, P., & O’Brien, G.
   (2005, November). "The CHEPREO Project: Results from a High School Learning Community."
   SESAPS/FL-AAPT Meeting.

Kramer, L., Gaultney, V., Markowitz, P., Pamela, P., Saul, J., & O'Brien, G.
   (2005, November).  "Building a Learning Community Around HEP."
   SESAPS/FL-AAPT Meeting.

Kramer, L., & O’Brien, G. (2005, April). "The CHEPREO project: A  learning community." Paper
   presented at the Annual Association of Physics Teacher Section (FL AAPT) Meeting in Miami, FL,
   April 8-9.

Jiang, Z., O’Brien, G., & McClintock, E. (2004, March).  “A technology course for mathematics
   education graduate students.”  Paper presented at the 15th International Conference Society for
   Information Technology & Teacher Education. Atlanta, GA: Association for the Advancement of
   Computing in Education.

Alacaci, C., O’Brien, G. E., Lewis, S., & Jiang, Z. (2003, July). “Prospective elementary teachers’
   understanding of graphs: Choosing data representation tools.” Poster presented by C. Alacaci to 27th
   International Conference on Psychology of  Mathematics Education (PME-International) at Hawaii.

O’Brien, G. E. (2003, June).  “Promoting equity in preparing secondary teachers in mathematics,
    science, and technology.”  Presented at the NASA Partnership Conference, Orlando, FL.

Lewis, S. P., O’Brien, G. E., Alacaci, C., & Jiang, Z. (2003, March). “A study of preservice
    teachers’ use of mathematics in a project-based science approach.” NARST Annual
    Meeting, Philadelphia, PA.

Jiang, Z., O’Brien, G., & McClintock, E. (2003, March). “Investigating the impact of an undergraduate
    modeling course in mathematics and science.”  Poster presented at the NASA NOVA Leadership
    Development Conference, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX.

Courses Taught/Supervised 2006 - 2008

SCE 4310 - Teaching Elementary Science
SCE 4330 - Teaching Secondary Science
SCE 4944 - Student Teaching Secondary Science
SCE 6336 - Teaching Science in Secondary School
SCE 6933 - Science Education Seminar
SCE 5905 - Directed Study in Science Education
SCE 5945 - Practicum Science Education
EDG 7980 - Dissertation

Collaborators and Co-Editors

       Cengiz Alacaci, Florida International University
       Eric Brewe, Florida International University
       Carol Briscoe, University of West Florida
       John Carpenter, St. Thomas University
       Willard Korth, University of Pittsburgh (retired)
       Laird Kramer, Florida International University
       Zhonghong Jiang, New York University
       David Jones, Florida International University
       Scott Lewis, Fairchild Tropical Garden
       Pete Markowitz, Florida International University
       Edwin McClintock, Florida International University (retired)
       Jack Parker, Florida International University (retired)
       Joseph Peters, University of West Florida
       Edward Pizzini, University of Iowa

Postdoctoral Sponsor and Supervisor

Do-Yong Park (2001-2002), Illinois State University

Doctorate Graduates (Dissertation Co-Major Advisor)

Mario Eraso, Ph.D., 2007

Doctorate Graduates (Dissertation Committee Member)

Eileen Garcia, Ed.D., 2006
Mary Jo Almeida-Shore, Ed.D., 2004
Genevieve Chung-Schickler, Ed.D., 1998
Duncan Mathewson, Ph.D., 1997
Salim Al-Korashi, Ph.D.,1987
Khalid Huthaifi, Ph.D., 1987

Masters Degree Graduates (Thesis Committee Member)

Jinbing Zhang, M.S., 1999
James Rodgers, M.S., 1997
Vicki Catlett-Newby, M.S., 1993

Current Doctoral and Dissertation Major, Co-Major Advisor

Donna Fowler, Ed.D.
Giselle Jorge, Ed.D.
Josue Urbina, Ed.D.
Leanne Wells, Ph.D.

Current Dissertation and Thesis Committee Member

Laura Iossi, Ed.D.
Priscilla Pamela, M.S., Physics

Current Course Home Page

http://www.fiu.edu/~obrieng/SCE4310HomepageSpring2008.html