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The Mechner Foundation

ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN EDUCATION
AND BEHAVIORAL TECHNOLOGY


Large-Scale Training Systems

1962 Designed new types of job corps training centers under contract with the office of Governor Peabody of Massachusetts. In 1964 these designs became models for the Federal OEO program.

1963-64 Conducted a study entitled, "Behavioral Technology and the Development of Human Resources," under contract with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Paris.

1964 Developed and implemented the first systematic process for creating large scale training systems. Installed that system for the U.S. Air Force, under contract with the Air Training Command.

1964 Conducted a project entitled, "A Master Plan to Eliminate Poverty in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts," under contract with the office of Governor Peabody of Massachusetts.

1973-1974 Installed a capability for the development of large-scale training systems under contract with the Fundacao Cenafor, a Brazilian governmental agency responsible for the training of instructors for Brazil.

1975-1978 Developed large-scale training systems in administration and management, under contract with the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and the National Program for the Training of Executives.

1977-1978 Developed and installed large-scale training systems for the Brazilian Social Security System (INPS).

1977-1978 Organized a consortium that included McGraw-Hill, Union Carbide, Scott Paper, HUD, and Connecticut General Life Insurance, for the development of an innovative supervisory training system.

1978-1981 Adapted his development process for large-scale training systems for Army use in their 22 schools under contract with the U.S. Army Training Development Institute.

1979-1981 Developed a system for training U.S. Army instructors to develop training materials that teach counseling, coaching, and leadership, under contract with the U.S. Army Research Institute.


Education

1954-1959 Taught experimental psychology and conducted research as a member of the faculty at Columbia University, Department of Psychology.

1959-1964 Developed programmed instruction (also known as programmed learning) in the form of printed texts, and implemented it for high school subjects, industrial training, and medical education.

1960-1965 Led the development of innovative educational programs and learning materials in medicine, mathematics, chemistry, biology, physics, reading, writing, and other school subjects.

1965-1966 As Education Consultant to UNESCO, designed and conducted a large-scale project to modernize secondary school physics teaching in 15 Latin American countries, and to modernize secondary school chemistry teaching in 15 Asian countries.

1967-1972 Organized and operated the Paideia School in Armonk, New York (kindergarten through high school) as a demonstration project for an innovative type of school.


Early Childhood Development and Daycare

1969-1971 Participated as a member of the National Advisory Board in the original design and planning of the Carnegie Corporation's Children's Television Workshop's Sesame Street project.

1970 Developed a model educational day-care system for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania under a UEC contract.

1971-1972 Developed and implemented an early childhood development and day-care system for the state of Georgia under a UEC contract with the office of Governor Carter.

1971-1973 Developed state plans for statewide early childhood development and day-care systems for Alabama and Nebraska under UEC contracts.


Miscellaneous Behavioral Technology Projects

1956-1961 Designed, built, and directed the first fully automated and computerized psychopharmacology laboratory, at Schering Corporation.

1958-Present Published over three dozen scientific papers and technical articles in various professional Journals, and contributed chapters in technical books.

1974-1976 Designed a model of the first computerized information storage and retrieval system, which was partly implemented in Brazil, under contract with the Institute of Technological Research, a Brazilian governmental agency for new technology.

1986-1998 Served as Trustee of the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies, an organization devoted to applying behavioral science to human affairs.

1989 Developed a method for placing valuations on new companies: In "Present Certainty Equivalents and Weighted Scenarios", Journal of Business Venturing, University of Pennsylvania