Robert Titzer
Encyclopedia
Robert C. Titzer is an American
professor
and infant
researcher. He has been a professor, teacher, and public speaker on human learning
for around 20 years, and has taught his own children to read using the multi-sensory approach that he developed. He is the founder of the Infant Learning Company, a company that produces learning products for infants.
. In the late 1980s, after receiving his credentials, Titzer taught at public schools in Guam
and California
. In 1985 Titzer earned a Communications degree from the University of Southern Indiana
and later, he completed a Master of Science
degree from Pennsylvania State University
and received a doctorate
in Human Performance from the Indiana University Bloomington. At Bloomington, he did experiments in infant learning at developmental psychology
laboratories. During his tenure as professor at Southeastern Louisiana University
, Titzer developed a program to teach toddlers to read. He has also been a professor at three additional universities, which are Pennsylvania State University
, Indiana University
, and California State University, Fullerton
.
; the paper was published in 1999 and was titled "The task dynamics of the A-not-B error." The other two citations in PsychInfo include his dissertation, which concerned the infant's understanding of the visual cliff; and a paper he co-authored in 1993 entitled "The influence of reminder trials on contextual interference effects."
In November 2010, Jeff Rossen
and Robert Powell
of NBC
's Today wrote: Titzer "calls himself an infant learning expert but actually holds a graduate degree in 'human performance' — the study of motor skills."
Several doctors criticized the videos for promoting memorization instead of actually reading. Maryanne Wolf
, Tufts University
's director of cognitive neuroscience
, said: "It's an extraordinary manipulation of facts." Today interviewed ten experts who affirmed that the brains of babies and toddlers had not attained the requisite development to read at "the level the way the enticing television ads claim they can". Titzer argued against these claims, saying that scientific research bolsters the effectiveness of Your Baby Can Read.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
and infant
Infant
A newborn or baby is the very young offspring of a human or other mammal. A newborn is an infant who is within hours, days, or up to a few weeks from birth. In medical contexts, newborn or neonate refers to an infant in the first 28 days after birth...
researcher. He has been a professor, teacher, and public speaker on human learning
Learning
Learning is acquiring new or modifying existing knowledge, behaviors, skills, values, or preferences and may involve synthesizing different types of information. The ability to learn is possessed by humans, animals and some machines. Progress over time tends to follow learning curves.Human learning...
for around 20 years, and has taught his own children to read using the multi-sensory approach that he developed. He is the founder of the Infant Learning Company, a company that produces learning products for infants.
Education and degrees
Titzer received his teaching credentials from San Diego State UniversitySan Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
. In the late 1980s, after receiving his credentials, Titzer taught at public schools in Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
and California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. In 1985 Titzer earned a Communications degree from the University of Southern Indiana
University of Southern Indiana
The University of Southern Indiana is a public university in Vanderburgh County, Indiana. This publicly funded institution has been among the fastest growingcomprehensive state universities in Indiana. Record fall enrollment in 2010 reached 10,702...
and later, he completed a Master of Science
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
degree from Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
and received a doctorate
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in Human Performance from the Indiana University Bloomington. At Bloomington, he did experiments in infant learning at developmental psychology
Developmental psychology
Developmental psychology, also known as human development, is the scientific study of systematic psychological changes, emotional changes, and perception changes that occur in human beings over the course of their life span. Originally concerned with infants and children, the field has expanded to...
laboratories. During his tenure as professor at Southeastern Louisiana University
Southeastern Louisiana University
Southeastern Louisiana University is a state-funded public university in Hammond, Louisiana, United States. It was founded in 1925 by Linus A. Sims, the principal of Hammond High School, as Hammond Junior College, located in a wing of the high school building. Sims succeeded in getting the campus...
, Titzer developed a program to teach toddlers to read. He has also been a professor at three additional universities, which are Pennsylvania State University
Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University, commonly referred to as Penn State or PSU, is a public research university with campuses and facilities throughout the state of Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1855, the university has a threefold mission of teaching, research, and public service...
, Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
, and California State University, Fullerton
California State University, Fullerton
California State University, Fullerton is a public university located in Fullerton, California. It is the largest institution in the CSU System by enrollment, it offers long-distance education and adult-degree programs...
.
Publications
A search of the PsychInfo database reveals three publications which include Titzer as an author. Titzer was one of four co-authors of a paper which was published in Psychological ReviewPsychological Review
Psychological Review is a scientific journal that publishes articles on psychological theory. It was founded by Princeton psychologist James Mark Baldwin and Columbia psychologist James McKeen Cattell in 1894 as a publication vehicle for psychologists not connected with the Clark laboratory of G....
; the paper was published in 1999 and was titled "The task dynamics of the A-not-B error." The other two citations in PsychInfo include his dissertation, which concerned the infant's understanding of the visual cliff; and a paper he co-authored in 1993 entitled "The influence of reminder trials on contextual interference effects."
Occupation
In 1997, Titzer began selling "Your Baby Can Read!" videos. By 2003, around 60,000 had been sold.Criticism
Some experts have criticized Titzer's videos as being suspect because they lack rigorous scientific review and are commercial products. Some also question the use of videos as a tool for infant learning.In November 2010, Jeff Rossen
Jeff Rossen
Jeff Rossen is an American television journalist who is currently employed by NBC News. He joined the network in September 2008. Rossen contributes to all NBC News programs and platforms, including "NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams," and "TODAY." Rossen also fills in at the anchor desk for...
and Robert Powell
Robert Powell
Robert Powell is an English television and film actor, probably most famous for his title role in Jesus of Nazareth and as the fictional secret agent Richard Hannay...
of NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
's Today wrote: Titzer "calls himself an infant learning expert but actually holds a graduate degree in 'human performance' — the study of motor skills."
Several doctors criticized the videos for promoting memorization instead of actually reading. Maryanne Wolf
Maryanne Wolf
Maryanne Wolf in 2010|right|thumbMaryanne Wolf is an educator and author who studies the origins of reading and language-learning. She is best known for her research on reading interventions and her book Proust and the Squid on the science of the reading brain...
, Tufts University
Tufts University
Tufts University is a private research university located in Medford/Somerville, near Boston, Massachusetts. It is organized into ten schools, including two undergraduate programs and eight graduate divisions, on four campuses in Massachusetts and on the eastern border of France...
's director of cognitive neuroscience
Cognitive neuroscience
Cognitive neuroscience is an academic field concerned with the scientific study of biological substrates underlying cognition, with a specific focus on the neural substrates of mental processes. It addresses the questions of how psychological/cognitive functions are produced by the brain...
, said: "It's an extraordinary manipulation of facts." Today interviewed ten experts who affirmed that the brains of babies and toddlers had not attained the requisite development to read at "the level the way the enticing television ads claim they can". Titzer argued against these claims, saying that scientific research bolsters the effectiveness of Your Baby Can Read.