Dennis Harper
Encyclopedia
Dennis Harper, PhD
, is founder and CEO of Generation YES
, and an internationally-recognized expert in the field of technology education
. He was also instrumental in the development of the Liberian Renaissance Education Complex.
for the International Society for Technology in Education from June 1997 to June 1999. Harper was hired as the Technology Coordinator for the Olympia School District
in Olympia, Washington
from August 1992 to September 1996. From January 1988 to June 1992 Harper was an Associate Professor
of Education and Academic Computing at the University of the Virgin Islands
in St. Thomas
. He was a Visiting Professor of Educational Technology at the University of Helsinki
in Helsinki, Finland in 1987. In 1986 and 1987 he was the Educational Computing Coordinator at Institute of Education in Singapore
, and before that was the supervisor of Teacher Education
and director of the Special Education
Computer Center at the University of California, Santa Barbara
. He held that position from 1979 to 1986. Harper was also a lecturer at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
in 1983.
Before that Harper taught secondary school
mathematics, science, and computer science
in the U.S., Australia, West Germany
, Liberia, and Spain. He has served on advisory boards with a variety of organizations and journals, including Technology and Learning Journal and Computers in the Schools Journal. He was also the International Editor of the Logo Exchange.
. He is also the author of several journal articles and textbooks.
from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
(1997). He has been named "Shaper of Our Future" by Converge magazine (2000), "Technology Advocate for the United States" by District Administrator (2001), "Distinguished Educator of the Year" by Technology & Learning (1992), and one of the "Daring Dozen" by Edutopia magazine (2008).
Harper has keynoted at dozens of national and international conferences, including the Society for Information and Technology Education conference (2002), National Educational Computing Conference (2001), and the World Conference of Computers in Education (2001).
His creation of GenYES has also led to wide acclaim throughout the education industry, as one recent journal exemplified by proclaiming, "Dennis Harper literally wrote the blueprint on how to work with students to create technology plans."
PHD
PHD may refer to:*Ph.D., a doctorate of philosophy*Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*PHD finger, a protein sequence*PHD Mountain Software, an outdoor clothing and equipment company*PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
, is founder and CEO of Generation YES
Generation YES
Generation YES , is a U.S. technology education non-profit organization that works with schools around the world. Dennis Harper is the founder and CEO. Their programs focus on student centered, project-based learning "experiences that impact student's lives and increase student involvement in...
, and an internationally-recognized expert in the field of technology education
Technology education
Technology education is a study of technology, in which students "learn about the processes and knowledge related to technology". As a study, it covers the human ability to shape and change the physical world to meet needs, by manipulating materials and tools with techniques.-External links:...
. He was also instrumental in the development of the Liberian Renaissance Education Complex.
Past positions
Harper has held a variety of important posts throughout the education technology field. He was on the Board of DirectorsBoard of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
for the International Society for Technology in Education from June 1997 to June 1999. Harper was hired as the Technology Coordinator for the Olympia School District
Olympia School District
Olympia School District is a school district serving approximately 9400 students in the city of Olympia in Thurston County, Washington...
in Olympia, Washington
Olympia, Washington
Olympia is the capital city of the U.S. state of Washington and the county seat of Thurston County. It was incorporated on January 28, 1859. The population was 46,478 at the 2010 census...
from August 1992 to September 1996. From January 1988 to June 1992 Harper was an Associate Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of Education and Academic Computing at the University of the Virgin Islands
University of the Virgin Islands
The University of the Virgin Islands is a public university located in the United States Virgin Islands.-Academics:The university has five academic divisions: Business, Education, Humanities and Social Sciences, Nursing, and Science and Mathematics. UVI offers several graduate degree programs and...
in St. Thomas
Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Saint Thomas is an island in the Caribbean Sea and with the islands of Saint John, Saint Croix, and Water Island a county and constituent district of the United States Virgin Islands , an unincorporated territory of the United States. Located on the island is the territorial capital and port of...
. He was a Visiting Professor of Educational Technology at the University of Helsinki
University of Helsinki
The University of Helsinki is a university located in Helsinki, Finland since 1829, but was founded in the city of Turku in 1640 as The Royal Academy of Turku, at that time part of the Swedish Empire. It is the oldest and largest university in Finland with the widest range of disciplines available...
in Helsinki, Finland in 1987. In 1986 and 1987 he was the Educational Computing Coordinator at Institute of Education in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, and before that was the supervisor of Teacher Education
Teacher education
Teacher education refers to the policies and procedures designed to equip prospective teachers with the knowledge, attitudes, behaviors and skills they require to perform their tasks effectively in the classroom, school and wider community....
and director of the Special Education
Special education
Special education is the education of students with special needs in a way that addresses the students' individual differences and needs. Ideally, this process involves the individually planned and systematically monitored arrangement of teaching procedures, adapted equipment and materials,...
Computer Center at the University of California, Santa Barbara
University of California, Santa Barbara
The University of California, Santa Barbara, commonly known as UCSB or UC Santa Barbara, is a public research university and one of the 10 general campuses of the University of California system. The main campus is located on a site in Goleta, California, from Santa Barbara and northwest of Los...
. He held that position from 1979 to 1986. Harper was also a lecturer at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
The National University of Malaysia is a public university located in Bangi, Selangor which is about 35 km south of Kuala Lumpur...
in 1983.
Before that Harper taught secondary school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
mathematics, science, and computer science
Computer science
Computer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...
in the U.S., Australia, West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
, Liberia, and Spain. He has served on advisory boards with a variety of organizations and journals, including Technology and Learning Journal and Computers in the Schools Journal. He was also the International Editor of the Logo Exchange.
Publications
Harper wrote what is said to be the first college text on computer education, RUN: Computer Education, while a faculty member at the University of CaliforniaUniversity of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
. He is also the author of several journal articles and textbooks.
Awards and accolades
Harper has received the Golden Apple AwardGolden Apple Award (education)
The Golden Apple Award is an award given to educators in various school districts in the United States. The name of the award refers to the stereotype of students giving apples to teachers they respect.-Georgia:...
from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
Corporation for Public Broadcasting
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is a non-profit corporation created by an act of the United States Congress, funded by the United States’ federal government to promote public broadcasting...
(1997). He has been named "Shaper of Our Future" by Converge magazine (2000), "Technology Advocate for the United States" by District Administrator (2001), "Distinguished Educator of the Year" by Technology & Learning (1992), and one of the "Daring Dozen" by Edutopia magazine (2008).
Harper has keynoted at dozens of national and international conferences, including the Society for Information and Technology Education conference (2002), National Educational Computing Conference (2001), and the World Conference of Computers in Education (2001).
His creation of GenYES has also led to wide acclaim throughout the education industry, as one recent journal exemplified by proclaiming, "Dennis Harper literally wrote the blueprint on how to work with students to create technology plans."
External links
- Dennis Harper on Teacher Preparation from EdutopiaEdutopiaEdutopia is a Web site published by The George Lucas Educational Foundation . Founded in 1991 by filmmaker George Lucas and venture capitalist Steve Arnold, the Foundation celebrates and encourages innovation in K-12 schools ....
- Dennis Harper: Harnessing Student-Led Tech Support from EdutopiaEdutopiaEdutopia is a Web site published by The George Lucas Educational Foundation . Founded in 1991 by filmmaker George Lucas and venture capitalist Steve Arnold, the Foundation celebrates and encourages innovation in K-12 schools ....
- GenYES website
- Liberian Renaissance Education Complex