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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 21 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 60 published manuscripts, and he has presented at over130 international, national, regional, 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 numerous funded grant projects during the past twenty-five 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, Earth and Environment, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Computer Sciences, and Mathematics in several funded and non-funded projects.

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.)

    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 (SSTP) program
    1980-1981     Lawrence, MA, Public High School, science teacher
    1979-1980     Tampa, FL, Berkeley Prep middle and high school, science chair and teacher
    1978              Frankfort, IL, Blue Mountain Academy, PA, education consultant
    1975-1977     Francistown, Botswana, Mater Spei College, high school, science chair and teacher,
                            U.S. Peace Corps.

Selected Professional and Academic Association Memberships
(asterisk = meetings attended 2006-2009)

        * American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT)
        * American Physical Society (APS)
        * Association for Science Teacher Education (ASTE)
        * National Science Teachers Association (NSTA)
        * PTEC Conference (PTEC)
        * 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)

Editorial Review Board, Journal of Science Teacher 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

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 State of qatar 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)

Wells, L., Valenzuela, R., Brewe, E., Kramer, L., O'Brien, G., and Zamalloa, E. (2008).
Impact of the FIU PhysTEC reform in introductory physics labs. PERC July, 2008 Edmonton
Canada, AIP Conference Proceedings CP1064:227. [Online]: link here.

Brewe, E., Kramer, L., and O'Brien, G. (2008). CLASS shifts in modeling instruction. PERC
July, 2008 Edmonton, Canada, AIP Conference Proceedings CP1064:79. [Online]: link here.

Kramer, L., Brewe, E., and O'Brien, G. (2008, Summer). Improving physics education through a
diverse research and learning community at Florida International University. Forum on Education
Newsletter. American Physical Society. [Online]: link here.

O’Brien, G. E., and 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., and 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., and 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. and 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., and 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., and 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., and 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., and 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., and
    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., and 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.

Co-PI “FIU PhysTec Primary Program” submitted to the American Physical Society, January 2007. Accepted February 2007. $300,000 (3 years). Started 8/07. PI: L. Kramer.

Senior Personnel “CHEPREO” submitted to NSF, February, 2003. Accepted September 2003. $7.5 million (5 years). Year 6 (no cost extension). PI: P. Markowitz.

Senior Personnel “CHEPREO Yr 6-10” submitted to NSF, February, 2008. PI: P. Markowitz. Accepted September 2008. $4.3 million (5 years)

Co-PI: “South Florida Secondary Teacher Equity in Mathematics and Science: Promoting Equity, Creating Opportunities, and Empowering Communities” submitted to the National Science Foundation, October 2002. Accepted April 2003. $725,000 (3 years). PI: C. Alacaci

“A Pilot Study on South Florida’s Teacher Education Addressing the Needs of At-risk Students” 12/03 submitted; funding period began 4/04; $155,000, FSU, Tallahassee, FL.

Mathematics Science Professional Development II,” funded by Florida Legislature via UCF, June 2002-June 2003, $326,000.

“Mathematics Science Professional Development I,” funded by Florida Legislature via UCF, October 2000-June 2002, $378,340.

“ACEE/HEC Miami-Dade region VI Center” funded (4 years) FL DOE, (9/98- 9/02), average $285,000 per year.

“Pre-Collegiate Mathematics,” funded by the Florida Legislature via Florida Institute of Education June 2004-December 31, 2004, $15,000.

“Region VI Mathematics Science Professional Development (MSPD) IIIA,” funded by Florida Legislature via UCF, Sept 2003- Dec 2003, $24,500.

"Promoting Equity in Preparing Secondary Teachers in Mathematics, Science and Technology (PEP-STMST)" proposal submitted to NASA MASTAP III, April 15, 2002. Funded October, 2002. $600,000.

“Urban Education Service Corps (Americorps)” funded by Council of Greater City Schools, 9/02-12/03, $86,000).

“Region VI Mathematics Science Professional Development (MSPD) III,” funded by Florida Legislature via UCF, April 2003-January 2004, $326,000.

“Pre-Collegiate Mathematics Pilot,” funded by the Florida Legislature via Florida Institute of Education June 2003-December 31, 2003, $20,000.

“Building Summer Bridges in Mathematics and Technology in Middle School Summer Programs,” funded by Florida Legislature via UNF/FIE, April through June 2002, $10,000.

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.

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.

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.” Invited presentation 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," Presented at the Syracuse,
NY Summer AAPT Meeting, see 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," Presented at the Syracuse,
NY Summer AAPT Meeting, see AAPT Announcer 36(2), 109.

Saul, J. M., Kramer, L., and O'Brien, G. (2006, July). "Evaluation and Assessment of
Education Outreach in the CHEPREO project," Presented at the Syracuse,
NY Summer AAPT Meeting, see AAPT Announcer 36(2), 109.

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

Kramer, L., and 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., and 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., and 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., and 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., and 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.

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
PHY 6970 - Thesis Research
PHY 6971- Master's Thesis
EDG 7980 - Dissertation

Mario Eraso, Ph.D., 2007, Florida International University: "Connecting
Visual and Analytic Reasoning to Improve Students’
Spatial Visualization Abilities: A Constructivist Approach"

Laura Iossi, Ed.D., 2009, Florida International University: "The Mathematics
                                 Anxiety of Bilingual Community College Students"
Eileen Garcia, Ed.D., 2006, Florida International University: "Supplemental Instruction,
   Study Habits, and The Community College Student"
Mary Jo Almeida-Shore, Ed.D., 2004, Florida International University: "The
   Impact of Looping of Fourth Grade Students on Their
   Reading Achievement"
Genevieve Chung-Schickler, Ed.D., 1998, Florida International University: "The
                                   Effect of Cooperative Learning on the Attidudes Toward
                                   Science and The Achievement of Students in a Non-Science
                                   Majors' General Biology Laboratory Course at an Urban
                                   Community College"
R. Duncan Mathewson, Ph.D., 1997, The Union Institute: Project Demonstration
                                   Excellence "An Interdisciplinary Middle School Module in
   Marine Science and Archaeology-If Shipwrecks Could Talk"
Salim Al-Korashi, Ph.D.,1987, University of Pittsburgh: "A Survey of the
   Math and Science Centers' Programs of The Ministry
   of Education of Saudia Arabia"
Khalid Huthaifi, Ph.D., 1987, University of Pittsburgh: "Using Instruction to
Change Attitudes Towards Computers: A Comparison of
Two Instructional Methods"

Jinbing Zhang, M.S., 1999, Florida International University: "Effect of Geometer's
   Sketchpad Instructional Environment on Ninth Grade Student
                                   Three-Dimensional Visualization"
James Rodgers, M.S., 1997, Florida International University: "A Constructivist Approach
   to Geometry with GSP as Measured by Van Hiele: A Qualitative Study"
Vicki Catlett-Newby, M.S., 1993, Florida International University: "The Effects of
   Evacuation and Relocation Following Hurricane Andrew on
   Children Ages Two Through Six"

Selected Honors and Awards

Recipient of the Community Partnership Award from the Miami-Dade County Science Teachers
   Association for Establishing "Partnership in Academic Communities" program at FIU (1994-1996)
Selected Who's Who in Science Education Around the World (ICASE and UNESCO), (1991; 1993)
Recipient of FIU Summer Research Award "Enhancing Prospective Elementary Teachers' Integrated
   Science Process Skills, 1990
Recipient of National Science Teachers Association-Gustav Ohaus Award for Innovations in College
   Science Teaching, 1988
Recipient, Fellowship for Study in Brazil, awarded by The International Center of Education,
   Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts, (Student Teacher Exchange Program), 1975
Recipient of Scholarship, L-Men's Club Scholar, Lowell Technological Institute (1970-1974)