Dr. Gail Fitzgerald
University of Missouri - Columbia
Dr. Gail Fitzgerald is an Associate Professor in the School of Information Science and Learning Technologies at the University of Missouri -
Columbia. Her primary teaching areas include the integration of educational technologies in K-12 education, research and evaluation methods,
and technology applications in higher education. She has extensive experience in the design and development of interactive instructional
programs, including multimedia cases and observation training procedures for teacher preparation and electronic performance tools to assist
youth with disabilities. Current research activities focus on the design and evaluation of hypermedia learning environments, multimedia case
study approaches, ESL programming, and the Digital Divide. Gail received her BA, MA, and PhD degrees in psychology and special education from
the University of Iowa and completed a post-doc in special education technology at the University of Kentucky.
Gail is recognized at the national level as an expert in technology applications for learners with special needs and the use of technology in
the preparation of teacher educators. She co-directed two U.S. Department of Education grants to create a virtual resource center for
professionals working with youngsters with behavioral problems in the schools through dissemination of multimedia training materials, matched
software for children and youth, web-based training support for teachers and mental health professionals, and has conducted national workshops
for teacher educators. In 1995, Gail was awarded the 1995 TAM Service Award by the International Council for Exceptional Children-Technology
and Media Division. Gail is the co-director of the KidTools Support System project, the Strategy Tools Support System project, and the
Research Consortium Project on Case-based Instruction in Multiple Contexts.
Gail is currently working in collaboration with Dr. Kate Mitchem on a grant proposal to the USDOE is under review to develop a new EPSS program-KidScripts.
It will be a computerized performance support tool program for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder at the elementary and middle school levels. These tools will address initiating and maintaining social interactions, problem-solving skills, perspective-taking and compliance skills. Innovative features of these tools include capabilities to incorporate videos into the tools and to operate on handlheld devices. Dr. Kevin A. Koury
California University of Pennsylvania
Dr. Kevin Koury is an Associate Professor in the Department of Special Education at California University of Pennsylvania. His primary
teaching areas include learning disabilities, strategies instruction, assessment and instructional methodologies, inclusion, and applied
technology. Dr. Koury was due process hearing officer in Delaware and was a childcare counselor at The Lincoln Hall School for Boys in New
York. Kevin taught and coordinated field experience practicum in Special Education while a faculty member at West Virginia University, and
directed the School of Education Faculty Technology Center as a faculty member at West Chester University prior to his current position. He is
a member of numerous professional organizations and a former member of the West Virginia House of Delegates. Dr. Koury received a BS in
Mathematics from West Virginia Wesleyan College, an MA in Learning Disabilities, and an EdD in Special Education from West Virginia
University. He has extensive background in hypermedia and anchored instruction through participation in MacAdemia, CEC's Project Retool, and
Vanderbilt University's Project AIMM.
Kevin provides leadership in Pennsylvania Council for Exceptional Children, having served in all presidential capacities as well as their CAN
Coordinator. He also served on the advisory board for the West Virginia Learning Disabilities Association.
Kevin is the co-director of the KidTools Support System and the Strategy Tools Support System projects. He coordinates the research
activities for the use of the KidSkills programs in public schools in West Virginia and Pennsylvania, the development of the orientation
module for the KidTools Support System, and is the content developer for the new Strategy Tools software. Kevin currently participates as a
member of the Research Consortium Project on Case-based Instruction in Multiple Contexts.
Dr. Louis Semrau, Professor Emeritus
Arkansas State University
Dr. Louis Semrau is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Special Education at Arkansas State University. During his tenure at ASU he served
as the coordinator of the ASU Emotionally Disturbed M.S.E. training program and was the primary instructor in technological applications in
special education. Lou co-directed two U.S. Department of Education grants to create a virtual resource center for professionals working with
youngsters with behavioral problems in the schools through dissemination of multimedia training materials, matched software for children and
youth, web-based training support for teachers and mental health professionals, and participated in the development, evaluation, and
dissemination of the KidTools programs.
At the national level, Lou served as a member of a state CSPD council for eight years, was active in the CEC's efforts to identify quality
teacher training practices (task forces, trainer for folio preparation, folio reviewer, Subcommittee Chair for Accreditation in the
Professional Standards and Practices Standing Committee), and member of NCATE Board of Examiners. Lou has been both a contributor to and
primary writer and director for a number of private foundation, state, and federal grants involving research, model development, teacher
training, and training of other professionals and parents. In 2001, Lou was awarded the 2000 TAM Leadership Award by the International Council
for Exceptional Children - Technology and Media Division.
Dr. Hsinyi Peng
University of Missouri - Columbia
During her years at UMC, Sindy served as the co-programmer of KidTools and KidSkills, coordinated audio development of the children's voices,
facilitated the KidTools online conference for users, maintained project records, compiled research data, co-presented at national and
international conferences, and assisted in all aspects of the KTSS project. Sindy was responsible for the graphical interface of KidSkills.
She also worked on the VRCBD project as a multimedia case developer.
Dr. Hsinyi Peng received her doctorate in Information Science and Learning Technologies at the University of Missouri-Columbia in August,
2003. Sindy's dissertation focused on the epistemological beliefs of teacher education students and their usage and learning outcomes with
interactive, case-based training materials in behavioral disorders. She is now working on a post-doc at the Graduate Institute of Education at
National Chiao Tung University, Taiwan.
Christian M. Cepel
University of Missouri - Columbia
Christian M. Cepel is completing his B.A. degree in Computer Science at the University of Missouri-Columbia. He served as the computer
programmer/technician and audio engineer for KidTools and KidSkills and is the web master for the VRCBD and KTSS web sites. He solves KTSS
challenges by providing advanced technical programming on the software, graphic design, producing CDs for distribution, organizing online
discussion groups, enables online data collection, and preparing software programs and documents for downloading from the web. Christian also
provides technical services and software programming for the new Strategy Tools Support project.
Suzanne Cosgrove-Grubisa
California University of Pennsylvania Suzanne Cosgrove-Grubisa earned a masters degree in Special Education from California University of Pennsylvania. Suzanne was a graduate assistant for the KidSkills Project. She researched information for Skill Resources and provided content for the sample tools in KidSkills and Skill Resources. Suzanne is currently a Special Education teacher in a Catholic elementary school in Greensburg, PA. Karen Haas
California University of Pennsylvania Karen Haas holds a BA in Communications and a MEd in Special Education from California University of Pennsylvania. While working on her MEd. in Special Education, she was a graduate assistant on the KidSkills project. Karen worked on the development of the Skill Resources component of KidSkills. She also conducted extensive field studies of KidSkills in special education classrooms. In her Master's Thesis "Authentic Voice Reading Support in Hypermedia Learning Environments: Is It Used by Students with Disabilities?" she determined that the degree of reading fluency predicts whether students with learning disabilities utilize the reading supports embedded in the KidSkills computer software program. Wendy Conley
California University of Pennsylvania Wendy Conley earned a BA in Speech Language Therapy at West Liberty College and a MA degree in Speech and Communication Disorders from California University of Pennsylvania with experience as a Speech Language Therapist for the Hancock County West Virgina Schools. She served as a graduate assistant for the KidSkills project. She conducted usability testing on the software prototypes and the final versions of KidSkills.
»
The Office of Special Education Programs
»
University of Missouri College of Education
»
Center for Technology Innovations in Education
»
California University of Pensylvania College of Education
University of Missouri - Columbia
Dr. Gail Fitzgerald is an Associate Professor in the School of Information Science and Learning Technologies at the University of Missouri -
Columbia. Her primary teaching areas include the integration of educational technologies in K-12 education, research and evaluation methods,
and technology applications in higher education. She has extensive experience in the design and development of interactive instructional
programs, including multimedia cases and observation training procedures for teacher preparation and electronic performance tools to assist
youth with disabilities. Current research activities focus on the design and evaluation of hypermedia learning environments, multimedia case
study approaches, ESL programming, and the Digital Divide. Gail received her BA, MA, and PhD degrees in psychology and special education from
the University of Iowa and completed a post-doc in special education technology at the University of Kentucky.
Gail is recognized at the national level as an expert in technology applications for learners with special needs and the use of technology in
the preparation of teacher educators. She co-directed two U.S. Department of Education grants to create a virtual resource center for
professionals working with youngsters with behavioral problems in the schools through dissemination of multimedia training materials, matched
software for children and youth, web-based training support for teachers and mental health professionals, and has conducted national workshops
for teacher educators. In 1995, Gail was awarded the 1995 TAM Service Award by the International Council for Exceptional Children-Technology
and Media Division. Gail is the co-director of the KidTools Support System project, the Strategy Tools Support System project, and the
Research Consortium Project on Case-based Instruction in Multiple Contexts.
Gail is currently working in collaboration with Dr. Kate Mitchem on a grant proposal to the USDOE is under review to develop a new EPSS program-KidScripts.
It will be a computerized performance support tool program for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder at the elementary and middle school levels. These tools will address initiating and maintaining social interactions, problem-solving skills, perspective-taking and compliance skills. Innovative features of these tools include capabilities to incorporate videos into the tools and to operate on handlheld devices. Dr. Kevin A. Koury
California University of Pennsylvania
Dr. Kevin Koury is an Associate Professor in the Department of Special Education at California University of Pennsylvania. His primary
teaching areas include learning disabilities, strategies instruction, assessment and instructional methodologies, inclusion, and applied
technology. Dr. Koury was due process hearing officer in Delaware and was a childcare counselor at The Lincoln Hall School for Boys in New
York. Kevin taught and coordinated field experience practicum in Special Education while a faculty member at West Virginia University, and
directed the School of Education Faculty Technology Center as a faculty member at West Chester University prior to his current position. He is
a member of numerous professional organizations and a former member of the West Virginia House of Delegates. Dr. Koury received a BS in
Mathematics from West Virginia Wesleyan College, an MA in Learning Disabilities, and an EdD in Special Education from West Virginia
University. He has extensive background in hypermedia and anchored instruction through participation in MacAdemia, CEC's Project Retool, and
Vanderbilt University's Project AIMM.
Kevin provides leadership in Pennsylvania Council for Exceptional Children, having served in all presidential capacities as well as their CAN
Coordinator. He also served on the advisory board for the West Virginia Learning Disabilities Association.
Kevin is the co-director of the KidTools Support System and the Strategy Tools Support System projects. He coordinates the research
activities for the use of the KidSkills programs in public schools in West Virginia and Pennsylvania, the development of the orientation
module for the KidTools Support System, and is the content developer for the new Strategy Tools software. Kevin currently participates as a
member of the Research Consortium Project on Case-based Instruction in Multiple Contexts.
Dr. Louis Semrau, Professor EmeritusArkansas State University
Dr. Louis Semrau is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Special Education at Arkansas State University. During his tenure at ASU he served
as the coordinator of the ASU Emotionally Disturbed M.S.E. training program and was the primary instructor in technological applications in
special education. Lou co-directed two U.S. Department of Education grants to create a virtual resource center for professionals working with
youngsters with behavioral problems in the schools through dissemination of multimedia training materials, matched software for children and
youth, web-based training support for teachers and mental health professionals, and participated in the development, evaluation, and
dissemination of the KidTools programs.
At the national level, Lou served as a member of a state CSPD council for eight years, was active in the CEC's efforts to identify quality
teacher training practices (task forces, trainer for folio preparation, folio reviewer, Subcommittee Chair for Accreditation in the
Professional Standards and Practices Standing Committee), and member of NCATE Board of Examiners. Lou has been both a contributor to and
primary writer and director for a number of private foundation, state, and federal grants involving research, model development, teacher
training, and training of other professionals and parents. In 2001, Lou was awarded the 2000 TAM Leadership Award by the International Council
for Exceptional Children - Technology and Media Division.
Dr. Hsinyi PengUniversity of Missouri - Columbia
During her years at UMC, Sindy served as the co-programmer of KidTools and KidSkills, coordinated audio development of the children's voices,
facilitated the KidTools online conference for users, maintained project records, compiled research data, co-presented at national and
international conferences, and assisted in all aspects of the KTSS project. Sindy was responsible for the graphical interface of KidSkills.
She also worked on the VRCBD project as a multimedia case developer.
Dr. Hsinyi Peng received her doctorate in Information Science and Learning Technologies at the University of Missouri-Columbia in August,
2003. Sindy's dissertation focused on the epistemological beliefs of teacher education students and their usage and learning outcomes with
interactive, case-based training materials in behavioral disorders. She is now working on a post-doc at the Graduate Institute of Education at
National Chiao Tung University, Taiwan.
Christian M. CepelUniversity of Missouri - Columbia
Christian M. Cepel is completing his B.A. degree in Computer Science at the University of Missouri-Columbia. He served as the computer
programmer/technician and audio engineer for KidTools and KidSkills and is the web master for the VRCBD and KTSS web sites. He solves KTSS
challenges by providing advanced technical programming on the software, graphic design, producing CDs for distribution, organizing online
discussion groups, enables online data collection, and preparing software programs and documents for downloading from the web. Christian also
provides technical services and software programming for the new Strategy Tools Support project.
Suzanne Cosgrove-GrubisaCalifornia University of Pennsylvania Suzanne Cosgrove-Grubisa earned a masters degree in Special Education from California University of Pennsylvania. Suzanne was a graduate assistant for the KidSkills Project. She researched information for Skill Resources and provided content for the sample tools in KidSkills and Skill Resources. Suzanne is currently a Special Education teacher in a Catholic elementary school in Greensburg, PA. Karen Haas
California University of Pennsylvania Karen Haas holds a BA in Communications and a MEd in Special Education from California University of Pennsylvania. While working on her MEd. in Special Education, she was a graduate assistant on the KidSkills project. Karen worked on the development of the Skill Resources component of KidSkills. She also conducted extensive field studies of KidSkills in special education classrooms. In her Master's Thesis "Authentic Voice Reading Support in Hypermedia Learning Environments: Is It Used by Students with Disabilities?" she determined that the degree of reading fluency predicts whether students with learning disabilities utilize the reading supports embedded in the KidSkills computer software program. Wendy Conley
California University of Pennsylvania Wendy Conley earned a BA in Speech Language Therapy at West Liberty College and a MA degree in Speech and Communication Disorders from California University of Pennsylvania with experience as a Speech Language Therapist for the Hancock County West Virgina Schools. She served as a graduate assistant for the KidSkills project. She conducted usability testing on the software prototypes and the final versions of KidSkills.
Contributors to the
Development of KidTools and KidSkills
|
KidTools Ran-Young Hong Jennifer Lynch Rhetta Standifer Patricia Watson |
KidSkills Abdurrahman Arslanyimaz Min-Yuan Chen I-Ling Cheng Wendy Conley Suzanne Cosgrove-Grubisa Guan Yi Li |
Funding Partners
»
The Office of Special Education Programs
»
University of Missouri College of Education
»
Center for Technology Innovations in Education
»
California University of Pensylvania College of Education