Apps/CoverL1

From Jsarmi

Johann W. Sarmiento

iSchool at Drexel University

2601 Pennsylvania Ave, #508 Philadelphia, PA 19130

1 - 215 - 888 - 0603

jsarmi@drexel.edu - jsarmi@gmail.com

November 25, 2007

Chair, Learning Science Search Committee

Graduate School of Education

University of Pennsylvania

3700 Walnut St.

Philadelphia, PA 19104

Dear Chair and Members of the Learning Science Search Committee:

I am delighted to apply for the faculty position in Learning Sciences/Learning Technologies at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education, as advertised in the Chronicle of Higher Education. The field of the Learning Sciences has been my central area of research and development work for close to fifteen years and one which, I strongly believe, is uniquely positioned to make significant contributions to both foundational learning theory and innovative educational practice. As an avid participant of the International Society of the Learning Sciences and the Computer-supported Collaborative Learning community of practice, I feel strongly connected to these two fields and to their crucial role in understanding and shaping human and social development. My interdisciplinary background, track record of funded research and publications, and ample expertise in K-12 learning technologies would allow me to make significant contributions to the development of the new specialization in Learning Technologies in Education at the Graduate School of Education as well as to complement and strengthen the high-quality work conducted in other related programs.

Building on my applied research experiences and extending them to anticipate the evolving field of learning technologies, my current research agenda intertwines three major strands of work. First, as a foundation to all my work, I engage in design-based research aimed at iteratively evolving the design of technology-supported learning environments while, at the same time, advancing aspects of socio-cultural learning theory by studying through mixed methods the forms of learning that emerge from activity in such new learning contexts. Second, my work explores the design and study of collaborative knowledge-building environments that contribute to content learning in K-12 contexts (e.g. mathematics and science learning) as well as to adult professional development and to the development of communities of practice. Finally, I investigate the enabling role of technology-supported strategies for assessing learning and supporting data-driven decision making in educational contexts.

My most recent work is situated in the field of Computer-supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL) and focuses on investigating the role of learning technologies in promoting and supporting sustained collaborative knowledge building in mathematics. For instance, in my dissertation work I investigate, from a socio-cultural perspective, the ways that rich and sustained interactions in a virtual environment contribute to the construction of math knowledge and the development of a diverse community of practice over time. This NSF-funded work takes place within the context of the Virtual Math Teams (VMT) project at the Math Forum (http://mathforum.org), a well established online community which promotes technology-mediated interactions among teachers of mathematics, students, mathematicians, staff members and others interested in learning, teaching and doing mathematics. My analysis has shown that in longitudinal collaborative knowledge building, learners are faced with the challenge of "bridging" multiple episodes of activity, multiple collectivities, and multiple perspectives -a non trivial and possibly very consequential undertaking. Studying bridging has revealed linkages among group meaning-making efforts, across episodes of interaction over time, and across phases of individual understanding. This work has also pointed out aspects of the online environment that can promote and support bridging in knowledge building. The VMT project has been an extraordinary opportunity to forge collaborative relationships with colleagues and collaborators within the U.S. and abroad including researchers in the CSCL workgroup of the International Society of the Learning Sciences, the European research network Kaleidoscope, and the Laboratory for Interactive Learning Technologies at the University of Hawaii, among others.

Before joining the Virtual Math Teams project, I served as the director of the Advanced Technologies for Learning (ATL) laboratory at the Center for Research in Human Development and Education at Temple University. The ATL's program of applied research focused on the effective integration of learning technologies to diverse K-12 content areas, professional development, and data-driven decision making. This work, funded by the U.S. Department of Education, provided me with ample opportunities to study and implement multiple ways in which learning technologies can contribute to systemic K-12 reform in complex urban contexts as well as at different levels of the educational system, from the individual classroom to the school building and scaling up to the district and regional levels. One of the most crucial challenges we addressed was the implementation of learning technologies that were closely aligned with existing curriculum frameworks and yet expanded the possibilities of disadvantaged learners towards active learning, inquiry and reflection, and collaborative knowledge building. In addition, our research and development work on Reflection Connection, an online environment for teacher professional development and collaborative knowledge building, showed how iterative cycles of collaborative planning, action, and reflection anchored on samples of student work can lead to pre-service and in-service teachers becoming more reflective practitioners. This work was also a career-shaping opportunity to participate in large-scale interdisciplinary research and field work integrating perspectives and contributions from educators, psychologists, educational administrators, sociologists, statisticians, and information technology professionals.

Given the nature of my research and development work, I have always found that my own teaching is a most propitious setting to apply and advance my personal knowledge of human learning and instruction. As described in my curriculum vitae, I have significant instructional experience in a wide range of topics and contexts. From after-school informal programs to undergraduate and graduate level University courses, I have always approached teaching as a unique opportunity to "design" a learning environment that is sound, rich, and engaging and where the principles of the Learning Sciences are applied effectively. In addition, I approach teaching as an opportunity to expand theories of learning and to involve students in the communities of practice directly concerned with learning, education, and the relevant content areas. This approach has been received very positively in repeated occasions and has provided me with evidence that this is a solid foundation for a learner-centered and active learning environment. My teaching interests include areas such as Design and Evaluation of Learning Environments, Computer-supported Collaborative Learning in Math and Science, Technology-supported, Data-driven Decision Making, Learning in Online Communities and Virtual Worlds, Design-Research Methods in the Learning Sciences, and Socio-cultural Psychology. Furthermore, I approach my participation in curriculum planning and general organizational support activities, with the same interest and enthusiasm.

In closing, I would like to reiterate that I regard the position in Learning Sciences and the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania as exceptional opportunities for me to contribute to the highest quality of research and teaching activity. Enclosed is my Curriculum Vitae as well as information on academic references. I would welcome the opportunity to interview with the members of the search committee and discuss the results you can expect from me as a member of your faculty. If you require additional materials or any other information, I would be glad to supply it.

Sincerely,

Johann W. Sarmiento

[encl. Curriculum Vitae, Academic References]