FACULTY BIO SKETCH (November, 2009)

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.

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 (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 Collegiate Activities

  Member, FIU Physics Education Research Group
  Member,  FIU Institutional Review Board
  Program Leader, Secondary Science Education
  Program Leader, MS Curriculum and Instruction programs
  Member, College of Education Professional Education Partnership Council (PEPC)
  Member, College of Education International/Intercultural Education Program
  Senior Personnel, NSF-supported Center for High Energy Physics Research and
    Education Outreach (CHEPREO) project,  http://www.chepreo.org
  Co-PI,  FIU PHYSTEC PROJECT
  Affiliated Faculty, Environmental Studies, Earth and Environment Department
  Member, FIU Environmental Preserve Committee
         FIU Preserve Butterfly Garden Project

Selected Professional and Academic Association Memberships
    (asterisk = meetings attended 2007-2009)

       
        * American Association of Physics Teachers/Physics Education Research Conference (AAPT/PERC)
           American Educational Research Association
        * 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)  

Selected Professional Assignments and Activities (non-teaching)

Editorial Review Board, Electronic Journal of Science Education
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

Selected 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 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)

Research Interests

Selected Publications

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.

 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)

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.

O'Brien, G., Brewe, E. et al.  (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.

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.

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.

SCE 4310 - Teaching Elementary Science
SCE 4330 - Teaching Secondary Science
SCE 4944 - Student Teaching Secondary Science
SCE 6366 - 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

Do-Yong Park, 2001-2002

Doctorate Graduates (Dissertation Co-Major Advisor)

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

Doctorate Graduates (Dissertation Committee Member)

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"

Masters Degree Graduates (Thesis Committee Member)

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"

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

Don Cramp, Ed.D.
Ana Diaz, Ed.D.
Priscilla Pamela, M.S., Physics