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Phil Vahey

Senior Research Scientist

Dr. Phil Vahey is a Senior Research Scientist with SRI's Center for Technology in Learning (CTL). Dr. Vahey's research examines the design of technologies and learning activities that enhance learning of conceptually difficult mathematics. His recent research has focused on the use of computer-based representations for making the mathematics of change accessible to a diverse student population, including English Language Learners. He is also researching how students can increase their data literacy through cross-disciplinary learning activities.

Dr. Vahey leads CTL's SunBay Digital Mathematics Project, the Thinking With Data initiative, and the Speech Technology Enhanced Assessment of Mathematics Modeling (STEAM) project. He is a senior contributor to other projects including the SimCalc project, the Evaluation of Early Elementary Mathematics Curricula project, and CTL’s commercial efforts. In earlier research Dr. Vahey led the Palm Education Pioneer program, which explored the uses of handheld computers in K-12 classrooms. He also served as the Industry Alliance Program Manager for Center for Innovative Learning Technologies (CILT).

Dr. Vahey received his Ph.D. in Education from the UC Berkeley School of Education, where he studied educational software design for middle school mathematics curriculum. Before attending Berkeley he was a software engineer and manager for seven years, including an engineering manager for FileMaker Pro at Claris Corporation (now FileMaker, Inc.).

Education 

• Ph.D., School of Education, University of California, Berkeley, 1998
• M.A., School of Education, University of California, Berkeley, 1996
• B.S., Mathematics and Computer Science, McGill University, 1986

Professional Experience 

• Senior Research Scientist, SRI International, Menlo Park, CA (2005-present)
• Research Scientist, SRI International, Menlo Park, CA (1998-2005)
• Research Assistant, University of California, Berkeley, CA (1994-1998)
• Engineering Manager, FileMaker Inc. (was Claris Corp.), Santa Clara, CA (1989-1993)

Research Areas at CTL

Learning Environments
Technology Development

Current Projects at CTL

• Adaptive Expertise in Second Life (InnoQ) (Leader)
• SimCalc
• Speech Technology Enhanced Assessment of Mathematics Modeling (STEAM) (Leader)
• SunBay Digital Mathematics (Leader)
• Thinking With Data (Leader)
• Wireless Internet Learning Devices (WILD)

Selected Past Projects at CTL

• Bridging Professional Development ended 2009
• Center for Innovative Learning Technologies (CILT) ended 2003
• Evaluation of Math Curricula ended 2008
• MAESTRo: A study of teachers’ problem solving processes and collegial collaboration and learning through practice ended 2009
• Mathemagica Evaluation ended 2004
• MathLab (Math Insight) ended 2002
• Palm Education Pioneers Program (PEP) (Leader) ended 2002
• Principles for Improving Mathematics Learning in High-Poverty High Schools ended 2008
• Stories for Palm Teachers (Leader) ended 2002
• Technology & Math Learning Strategic Alliance (Leader) ended 2006
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Selected Publications

• Yarnall, L., Vahey, P. and Swan, K. (in preparation). Designing Geospatial Exploration Activities to Build Hydrology Understanding in Middle School Students. To appear in Teaching Science and Investigating Environmental Issues with Geospatial Technology: Designing Effective Professional Development for Teachers.
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• Swan, K., Vahey, P. Kratcoski, A., van ‘t Hooft, M., Rafanan, K., and Stanford, T. (2009). Challenges to Cross-Disciplinary Curricula: Data Literacy and Divergent Disciplinary Perspectives. Presented at the Annual Conference of the American Educational Research Association, April 2009, San Diego, CA
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• Vahey, P., Lara-Meloy, T., Knudsen, J. (2009). Meeting the needs of diverse student populations: Findings from the Scaling Up SimCalc project. In Swars, S. L., Stinson, D. W., & Lemons-Smith, S. (Eds.). Proceedings of the 31st annual meeting of the North American Chapter of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education. Atlanta, GA: Georgia State University. pp. 416-424.
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• Vahey, P., Knudsen, K. (2008). Can a Technology-enhanced Curriculum Improve Student Learning of Important Mathematics? Presented at the National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics. April 2008, Salt Lake City, UT.
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• Vahey, P., Lara-Maloy, T. (2008). Using a Technology-Enhanced Curriculum to Improve the Learning of Important Mathematics for English Language Learners. Invited presentation to the 2008 CREATE conference, October 2008, Minneapolis, MN.
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• Vahey, P., Lara-Meloy, T. (2008). Supporting All Students in Learning Advanced Math: Findings From a Technology-enhanced Curriculum Study. Presented at the 40th Annual National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics Conference. April 2008, San Jose, CA
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• Vahey, P., Tatar, D., & Roschelle, J. (2007). Using handheld technology to move between private and public interactions in the classroom. In M. van 't Hooft & K. Swan (Eds.). Ubiquitous computing in education: Invisible technology, visible impact (pp. 187-210). Mahway, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
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• Vahey, P., Tatar, D., & Roschelle, J. (2007). Using Handhelds to Link Private Cognition and Public Interaction. Educational Technology Magazine, v47(3) pp 13 - 16.
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• Shechtman, N., Roschelle, J., Haertel, G., Knudsen, J., & Vahey, P. (2006). Measuring middle school teachers’ mathematical knowledge of teaching rate and proportionality. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, San Francisco, CA.
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• Vahey, P., Yarnall, L., Patton, C., Zalles, D., & Swan, K. (2006, April). Mathematizing middle school: Results from a cross-disciplinary study of data literacy. Paper presented at the annual conference of the American Educational Research Association, San Francisco, CA.
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• Crawford, V. M., Schlager, M., Toyama, Y., Riel, M., & Vahey, P. (2005). Characterizing adaptive expertise in science teaching: Report on a laboratory study of teacher reasoning. Paper presented at the Annual Conference of the American Educational Research Association, April 11–15, 2005, Montreal, Canada.
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• Vahey, P., Tatar, D., & Roschelle, J. (2004). Leveraging handhelds to increase student learning: Engaging middle school students with the mathematics of change. Proceedings of The Sixth International Conference of the Learning Sciences (pp. 553-560). NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
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• Roschelle, J., Vahey, P., Tatar, D., Kaput, J., & Hegedus, S. J. (2003). Five key considerations for networking in a handheld-based mathematics classroom. In N. A. Pateman & B. J. Dougherty & J. T. Zilliox (Eds.), Proceedings of the 2003 Joint Meeting of PME and PMENA (Vol. 4, pp. 71-78). Honolulu, Hawaii: University of Hawaii.
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• Tatar, D., Roschelle, J., Vahey, P., & Penuel, W. R. (2003). Handhelds Go To School: Lessons Learned. IEEE Computer, 36(9), 30-37.
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• Crawford, V. & Vahey, P. (2002). Innovating the Use of Handheld Technology in K-12 Teaching and Learning: Results from the Palm Education Pioneers Program. Presented at the American Educational Research Association Annual Conference. New Orleans, April 1-5, 2002.
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• Crawford, V. M., & Vahey, P. (2002). Palm Education Pioneers Program March 2002 Evaluation Report. Menlo Park, CA: SRI International.
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• Tinker, R. & Vahey, P. (2002). CILT2000: Ubiquitous Computing—Spanning the Digital Divide. Journal of Science Education and Technology, v11 #3, pp. 301-304. Plenum Publishing, NY.
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• Vahey, P. & Crawford, V. (2002). Palm Education Pioneers Program Final Evaluation Report. Menlo Park, CA: SRI International.
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• Vahey, P. (June, 2002). Handhelds in K-12: Reports from Palm Education Pioneer Research Hubs—Introduction. National Educational Computing Conference. San Antonio, TX, June 17 - 19, 2002.
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• Vahey, P. & Crawford, V. (2001). Palm Education Pioneers program round I preliminary evaluation report. Menlo Park, CA: SRI International.
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• Vahey, P., Enyedy, N., & Gifford, B. (2000). Learning Probability Through the Use of A Collaborative, Inquiry-Based Simulation Environment. Journal of Interactive Learning Research, pp. 51-84. Charlottesville, VA: AACE.
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• Vahey, P., Enyedy, N., & Gifford, B. (1999). The Probability Inquiry Environment: A Collaborative, Inquiry-Based Simulation Environment. Proceedings of the Hawaii International Conference on Systems Sciences (HICSS) 32. Maui, Hawaii.
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• Enyedy, N., Vahey, P., & Gifford, B. (1998). "...It's fair because they each have two": The Development of a Mathematical Practice Across Two Social Contexts. Proceedings of The Third International Conference on the Learning Sciences. Georgia Tech, Atlanta.
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• Enyedy, N., Vahey, P., & Gifford, B. (1997). Active and Supportive Computer-Mediated Resources for Student-to-Student Conversations. Proceedings of the 1997 Computer Supported Collaborative Learning Conference, pp. 27-36. University of Toronto, Toronto.
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• Enyedy, N., Vahey, P., & Gifford, B. (1997). Designing Student-Computer Interactions for Guided Inquiry Learning Environments. In Design of Computing Systems: Social and Ergonomic Considerations, M.J. Smith, G. Salvendy, R.J. Koubek (Eds), pp. 157-160. New York: Elsevier.
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• Vahey, P., Enyedy, N., & Gifford, B. (1997). Beyond Representativeness: Productive Intuitions About Probability. In M. Shafto and P. Langley (Eds.) Proceedings of the 19th Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society, pp. 769-774. Mahwah, NJ: LEA.
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