Some background information on James P. Riser



Education:

Marysville High School - Marysville, Ohio - 1959 - 1961

Rincon High School - Tucson, Arizona - 1961- 1963
College Level Biology and Physics senior year

University of Arizona - Tucson, Arizona - 1963 - 1967
Bachelors in Elementary Education with Science and Math minor - 1967
Masters in Science Teaching with Earth Science major - 1973

Beyond Masters Degree at University of Arizona
Computer Applications in Language Arts, Computer Applications in Math Education, Image
Processing for Teaching (Planetary Sciences)- 1984 - 1990

University of Maryland - College Park, MD - 1993
Using Image Processing in Earth Sciences

Wheeling Jesuit University - Wheeling, WV - 1997-8
NASA COTF 2001 MTC - Coursework in Instructional Technology

Teaching Experience:

Stacey Intermediate School - Westminster, California - 1967 - 1968
Science Instructor and Science Department Head

Doolen Junior High School - Tucson, Arizona - 1968 - 1969
Science Instructor and Science Department Head

U.S. Army Various - 1969 - 1971
Scientific glassblower at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research - also did research
glassblowing for the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology and the National Naval Medical
Center

Doolen Junior High School - Tucson, Arizona - 1971 - 1986
Science Instructor and Science Department Head

Booth Fickett Math Science Magnet School - Tucson, Arizona - 1986 - 1995
Science Instructor and Acting Science Department Chair

Booth Fickett Math Science Magnet School - Tucson, Arizona - 1995 - 1999
Director of the Booth Fickett Technology Center K-8

University of Arizona - Tucson, Arizona - 1991
On teaching staff for Image Processing for Teaching summer Planetary Sciences workshop

University of Arizona - Tucson, Arizona - 1992
On image processing activity development team for the Image Processing for Teaching
project (developing activities for use by other science teachers)

Tucson Unified School District - Tucson, Arizona - 1968 - 1999
Led multiple inservice training sessions for our school district science teachers

Booth Fickett Math Science Magnet School - Tucson, Arizona - 1995 - 1999
Technology resource teacher in charge of setting up our K - 8 Technology Center and
teacher training in technology use

Selected as a participant in the NASA Classroom of the Future (COTF) 2001 Master
Teacher Cadre Program - Wheeling Jesuit University - 1997 - present

Assorted activities and awards:

Began making magic apparatus for others in the 1960 's
Created Arizona Crystal Engraving in 1975

Designed and supervised construction of our outdoor habitat at Booth Fickett

Served as a chaperone teacher for our science club's annual trip to Catalina Island Marine Institute off the coast of Los Angeles

Asked by Apple Computers to be an Apple Classroom of Tomorrow Experimental Learning Center - grant

Asked by IBM EduQuest to student lab test their PSL probeware - grant

Asked by AccuLab to student lab test their AccuLab probeware - grant

Presenter at numerous professional conferences including - Arizona Science Teachers Association, National Science Teachers Association, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Fortune 500 Education Summit, Education Commission for the States, University of Arizona Computers in Education, and Arizona State University's Microcomputers in Education

Elder and Building and Grounds Committee moderator at St. Mark's Presbyterian Church

Recipient of grant as part of the US WEST Outstanding Teacher program

Cub Scout Committee Chair, Cub Master, Webelos Leader, Assistant Scoutmaster, Scoutmaster (recipient of the National President's Scoutmaster Award of Merit), Science Merit Badge and Canoe/Kayak Merit Badge Counsellor

Charter member and past president of the Tucson Magic Club

Selected for inclusion in the International Society for Technology in Education's Celebrating Success program

First and second place winner for Arizona in the national NASA/NSTA Mission to Planet Earth Project

Served on three science textbook/materials adoption committees for my school district

Recently served on my school district's technology committee

Regular judge for Southern Arizona Regional Science Fair

Selected by the Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) group to have my female students featured in their video promoting science, technology, and engineering fields as career choices for girls

Created my own CD-ROM, An Introduction to Image Processing, which features interactive lessons, images, and activities utilizing image processing as a tool to turn kids on to science - this is designed as a complete teach yourself image processing package for those wishing to include such exciting lessons in their science courses. This CD-ROM was developed in my evenings, on weekends, and over my vacations. All activities were tested with my middle school students during several school years to make certain that they were effective.

Published numerous interactive multimedia science materials on Nautilus CD , National Home and School Mac CD, MACsonian CD-ROM, Bulletin Board in a Box CD-ROM, America Online, and my own web pages.

Featured as cover story for a special edition of Electronic Learning magazine (photo on my Home Page)

Featured in the University of Arizona Research magazine

Student work featured in Fortune Magazine

Asked by Holt Publishing to write a series of articles on how to utilize technology in the science lab for their Holt Science Communicator magazine

My work has been selected to be included in several National School Board Association publications as models for technology use at other schools

Asked by multiple software/hardware developers to test their products

Received Carl D. Perkins Vocational Technology Education grant

Selected as a member of the NASA Classroom of the Future 2001 Master Teacher Cadre

Recipient of $5,000 personal cash award from Intel "In Recognition For Excellence In The Development And Implementation Of An Innovative Method For Teaching Math, Science, And Technology - 1998" as part of the Intel Innovation in Teaching Awards Program.

Developed and posted a series of activities for other students and teachers around the world
to use.

Selected as the March, 1999 winner of the Gateway Computer in the web making contest
on the SchoolLife web site.

Retired in May, 1999 to run my business.

September, 1999: My website was selected as a featured site in StudyWeb as one of the
best educational resources on the Web.

September 1999-current: Asked to serve as the chair of the St. Mark's Presbyterian Church Long Range Planning Task Force

Currently manufacturing magic apparatus, engraving crystal, and enjoying life!