About Us

Dr. Tony Petrosino is an assistant professor the department of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Texas at Austin. Dr. Petrosino's research focuses on children's scientific and mathematical reasoning in the context of schooling, with an emphasis on activities and tools for developing thought. There are two major strands to this program. The first focuses on the creation and systematic study of learning environments that foster the development and growth of experimentation and inquiry in the elementary and middle school grades. This research involves collaboration with teachers in local elementary and middle schools to reform science and mathematics so that students can invent and revise forms of scientific and mathematical explanation. A second strand of research, connected to the first, focuses on investigating the opportunities for model-based reasoning (the ability to construct and articulate explanations of observable phenomena) that occur in typical science classrooms as students move conceptually from intuitive everyday understanding to more formalized scientific understanding.

Robby Slaughter is a technology trainer with Project INSITE, and a key researcher with the PDA Utilization Group. His interest in PDAs extends over several years, and his expertise in software programming, web development, and technology education has been invaluable to the organzation. He has a bachelors degree in Mathematics from the University of Texas at Austin.

Richard Vath is a graduate research assistant and Masters student in the Math and Science Education Program at The University of Texas at Austin. He received his B.S. in Physics from Tulane University in 1999. He plans to complete his Masters degree work by August 2003, at which time he intends to pursue a PhD in Education and Psychology from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. He has assisted Dr. Petrosino in his research on the role of PDA technology in pre-service education as well as on the application of modern learning theory to biomedical engineering education. Address: College of Education- D5700, 1912 Speedway, SZB 462-D, The University of Texas at Austin, 1 University Station, Austin, Texas 78712; telephone: 512-232-9684, email: rvath@mail.utexas.edu

Michelle Garza is a middle school Mathematics teacher at Fulmore Junior High School in Austin, TX. She was awarded a Palm Educator Pioneers (PEP) grant in the Spring of 2000. In addition, Ms. Garza has been recognized by both local and national organizations such as NASA and the Austin Independent School District as being an exemplary teacher

Melissa Tothero is the Project Coordinator for Project INSITE (Inventing New Strategies for Integrating Technology into Education) funded by the Department of Education through the Preparing Tomorrow's Teachers to use Technology (PT3) Program. In addition, she has done extensive work in curriculum and software development for K-12 Science Education.