I am a Professor of Education with a passion for teaching, learning, and helping teachers design curriculum and learning experiences that are supported by digital tools and community partnerships. I teach courses in educational psychology, digital learning, and curriculum design and work closely with local teachers and community members to support kids and families. Before landing at Pacific I was a public school teacher in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and a Learning Specialist at Lane Community College in Eugene, Oregon where I worked on ways to use assistive technology to support students with disabilities. Among other things, I'm currently interested in exploring how mindfulness, mobile devices, art, and games change how we think about teaching, learning, and curriculum. I have a travel bug and work on projects with teachers in South Africa to support HIV education; in the U.S. Virgin Islands to support mobile technology use; and in India to support international student teaching experiences.
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PhD and MS, University of Wisconsin, Cognitive Science and Instruction
BS, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Education, Psychology, History
Recents reads that changed the way I think
Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie
Making Thinking Visible by Ron Richart
The Information by James Gleick
Director of the Algebraic Thinking and Mobile Learning Project, U.S. Virgin Islands
Researcher: Crossroads Technology Integration Project, 4j School District
Recent Publications and Presentations
Szymanski, M. (2014) From Making Information Accessible to Making Thinking Conspicuous: Our Next Great Challenge. The Opening Plenary Address at the International Conference on Innovative and e-Learning Pedagogies. Pacific University, Forest Grove, OR.
Szymanski, M. (2014) Promoting Algebraic Thinking with Mobile Learning Devices: A Universal Design for Learning and Thinking. A presentation given at the International Journal of Arts and Sciences Conference. Harvard University. Cambridge, MA.
Nguyen, V. & Szymanski, M. (2013) From Art in the Dark to an Online Cart: Visual Arts Integration Facilitated by Technology Integration in Pre-Service Teacher Education. A chapter in the book: K-12 Education: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications. IGI Global Publishers.
Everett. J. Szymanski, M. (2013) Getting Started With Games. A presentation given at the Oregon Educational Technology Network Conference, Forest Grove, OR.
Szymanski, M. (2013) Technology Integration and the Visual Arts Specialist: Wicked Solutions to Wicked Problems. A presentation given at the International Conference on Education. Honolulu, HI.
Szymanski, M.J. (2012). Digitally Supported Project-Based Learning. A paper presented at the Oregon Technology in Education Network Conference. Pacific University. Forest Grove, OR.
Szymanski, M.J. (2011) An Invitation to Think 2.0: Combining Rich Digital Content with Effective Learning Strategies in Your Classroom. A presentation given at the Oregon Technology and Education Network Fall Showcase Conference, University of Portland, Oregon.
Szymanski, M.J. (2011) Internet 2.0 and the Learning Sciences. The Untold Story of a Timely Meeting. The Journal of Education, Community, and Values: Interface on the Internet,9(2).