TECHFIT-PLUS - Our Team

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."...Margaret Meade.

The most recent grant, "Curriculum and Assessment Design to Study the Development of Motivation and Computational Thinking for Middle School Students across Three Learning Contexts," is known as TECHFIT-PLUS on campus. The project team includes faculty in Information Technology, Manufacturing Technology, and experienced researchers. The team is supported by educational consultants in Teacher Education, Exercise Physiology. An advisory board comprised of science and technology education faculty, experienced secondary school teachers, a learning center director, afterschool program directors, and industry experts guide the team. Each team member's profile is shown below. If you are interested in joining our team, please refer to the Industry menu link.

Project Team

Investigators

• Alka Harriger, PI, Professor of Computer and Information Technology, Purdue University
• Brad Harriger, Co-PI, Professor of Mechanical Engineering Technology, Purdue University
• Loran Parker, Co-PI, Associate Director & Senior Evaluation and Research Associate, Purdue University
• Weiling Li, Co-PI, Evaluation and Research Associate, Purdue University

Instructional Consultants

• Mike Flynn, TECHFIT co-PI, Director of Research, HCA South Atlantic
• Susan Flynn, TECHFIT co-PI, Instructor, Teacher Education, College of Charleston

Student Assistants

• Matthew Haskins, Student, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Purdue University
• Andrew Huang, Graduate Student, Industrial Engineering, Purdue University
• Ralph Rivera, Graduate Student, Purdue Polytechnic, Purdue University

Advisory Board

• Stephen Cooper, Executive Director, Jeffrey S. Raikes School of Computer Science and Management, University of Nebraska at Lincoln
• Will Healy III, Strategic Marketing Manager, Balluff Inc.
• Terry Morreale, President & CTO, National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT)
• Jeff Pinegar, Sr. Product Manager, Phoenix Contact Development and Manufacturing, Inc.
• Mary Rinehart, Education Director, 1st Maker Space, LLC
• John Weitlauf, Engineering/Technology Education Instructor, Benton Central High School

Industry Supporters

• Ron Baysinger, Director of Industry Solutions Management, Phoenix Contact
• Will Healy III, Strategic Marketing Manager, Balluff Inc.
• Chip McDaniel, Automation Direct