Ken Tothero is manager of the External and Special Projects group at the Learning Technology Center in the College of Education at The University of Texas at Austin. Ken was involved in the development effort for the proposal to the National Endowment for the Humanities that funded the original development of the Presidential Timeline of the 20th Century and has managed the project since its inception. Far from being a static resource, the Presidential Timeline is an ongoing effort between the Learning Technology Center, the National Archives’ twelve Presidential Libraries, and The University of Texas Digital Library Services Division (the hosts of the Timeline).
Ken comes from a background rather incongruous with a project focusing on 20th century U.S. presidential history. Undergraduate, then graduate study in the natural sciences led him to teach high school physics for eleven years. A second course of graduate study led to a masters degree in instructional technology and seven years designing and developing educational software, again focusing primarily on math and the sciences. Ken came to the Learning Technology Center in 2001 and has focused on research and development efforts relating to the use of technology to support teaching and learning. Since beginning this project Ken has become convinced that the study of history (and historiography) provides unique opportunities for fostering higher order thinking skills in learners of all ages. It is his vision that the Presidential Timeline will become a showcase for exceptional history learning resources and activities, based solidly in established educational theory and academic research.
Ryan Crowley is currently in his second year as a master’s student at the University of Texas at Austin in the department of Curriculum and Instruction. After spending eight years teaching secondary social studies, Ryan began his graduate work with a particular interest in social studies education issues and the use of primary sources in the social studies classroom. Ryan joined the Presidential Timeline project at the Learning Technology Center to assist in the development of the site’s education activities and in the coordination of future teacher workshops.
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