The location of his institution has allowed him to become extensively involved with local urban school systems, affording him the opportunity to conduct research such as that presented here. Prior to working in Cleveland, John was a Senior Research Associate at TERC in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He earned his PhD in Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Missouri--Columbia under the guidance of Lloyd Barrow. He teaches science education courses at the graduate and undergraduate level and has recently begun teaching research methodology courses to Master's and Doctoral students. He lives in Cleveland Heights, Ohio with his wife, Sue Stephens, and Sonya, their Siberian Husky.