Education Leaders Program / Robert Simpson
Robert Simpson
Malden, Massachusetts
School affiliations
"A flat world requires educators to effectively integrate curriculum and technology to meet the needs of our 21st-century students."
An analytical chemist working as an educational technologist, Robert Simpson uses his scientific training and technology skills to build new learning environments that help students and teachers explore the educational power of the Internet. Since 1999, he has been working on an innovative professional development model — one that, through the creation of web-based project-based units (PBUs), provides teams of K–12 educators and college faculty with the skills and methods necessary to effectively integrate district curriculum standards with information technology.
A highlight is the Saugus Iron Works Great Adventure PBU, which enables fifth graders to learn about colonial history, science, and technology through the lens of the local Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site. By leveraging Adobe software products — such as Adobe® Dreamweaver®, Fireworks®, Flash®, and Adobe Presenter — the PBUs have engaged learners and steadily increased year-over-year student achievement in science and technology.
Simpson's collaboration with a team of fifth grade teachers won the HP Technology for Teaching Leadership grant at NECC 2006. The grant will put wireless tablet computers in the hands of elementary students and help teachers align technology training with ISTE’s National Education Technology Standards.
Simpson presents at many conferences, including the National Science Teachers Association conference.
Publications
“Mystery Rocks and Marvelous Machines” — Educational Leadership, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. Fiducia, C., Keroack, E., Simpson, R. (December 2006/January 2007)
“Saugus Iron Works User Guide 2nd Edition” — Malden Public Schools, Massachusetts. Simpson, R. (January 2005)
Working with Project-Based Units" DVD — Project iTEACH, Tri-City Education Collaborative (2004)