iCreatetoEducate for Education Week

March 16, 2012

Melissa Pickering is the founder of iCreatetoEducate, a start up that aims to engage K-12 students worldwide with science and math through animations they create themselves, photographed at her offices in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012. The company’s software was developed at Tufts University and iCreatetoEducate now has about 50,000 users worldwide, 75% of whom are in the US. M. Scott Brauer for Education Week

Monica Navarro (16, junior) creates an animation using SAM Animation software after school at Josiah Quincy Upper School in Boston, Mass., on Thurs., Feb. 3, 2012. The pair are students in Kristina Buenafe math class. Buenafe has been using the SAM Software, which was developed by Tufts University and put into schools by Melissa Pickering’s iCreatetoEducate company, in her math classes since the ’09-’10 school year. The goal of iCreatetoEducate is to help students engage with math and science in a creative way. Buenafe says that “rather than memorizing for a test” the software helps students “express themselves in a creative way.” “They come up with things I wouldn’t have come up with myself,” said Buenafe. “It helps my ideas come to life…I like being creative” said Navarro.

Monica Navarro (16, junior) creates an animation using SAM Animation software after school at Josiah Quincy Upper School in Boston, Mass., on Thurs., Feb. 3, 2012.

Alex Yen (18, senior) creates an animation using a LEGO figure and SAM Animation software after school at Josiah Quincy Upper School in Boston, Mass., on Thurs., Feb. 3, 2012.

Nancy Peng (16, junior) creates an animation in which an alien meets a crab using SAM Animation software after school at Josiah Quincy Upper School in Boston, Mass., on Thurs., Feb. 3, 2012.

Had a tough shoot in February for Education Week covering a startup called iCreatetoEducate. The startup puts animation software and webcams in the hands of children worldwide to approach math, science, and other subjects in a creative way. It was one of those assignments where you walk into a room and there are 4 people sitting quietly in the room using computers, but I got some images I like. Click through to see how Education Week published the images.

Inside a Sunny Delight plant for the Wall Street Journal

January 30, 2012

Joe Mertzic, an electrician, stands on the plant floor at the Sunny Delight Beverages Company Littleton Plant in Littleton, Mass., USA, on Thurs., Dec. 1, 2011. The Sunny Delight Beverages Company has received federal money for business improvement, allowing the company to purchase new equipment for their production line. This new equipment increases production efficiency and reduces the plant’s water and energy use. But with increased automation and efficieny, the company’s demand for workers has decreased, causing layoffs.

Area technical lead Tom Borden checks the performance of machines as they fill plastic bottles with a Fruit2O beverage in the “filler room” at the Sunny Delight Beverages Company Littleton Plant in Littleton, Mass., USA, on Thurs., Dec. 1, 2011.

Label operator Jenny Sovvannasack makes sure things are working properly as bottles of a Fruit2O beverage travel along the labeling and packing process at the Sunny Delight Beverages Company Littleton Plant in Littleton, Mass., USA, on Thurs., Dec. 1, 2011.

Kim Ang, a packer, checks on machine operations as bottles of a Fruit2O beverage travel along conveyor belts during the labeling and packing process at the Sunny Delight Beverages Company Littleton Plant in Littleton, Mass., USA, on Thurs., Dec. 1, 2011.

Stacks of finished beverage pallets stand on shelves in the Sunny Delight Beverages Company Littleton Plant in Littleton, Mass., USA, on Thurs., Dec. 1, 2011.

Carlos Munera, a packer operator, moves past a conveyor belt filled with Fruit2O bottles in the middle of the labeling and packaging process at the Sunny Delight Beverages Company Littleton Plant in Littleton, Mass., USA, on Thurs., Dec. 1, 2011.

Electrician Joe Mertzic watches as machines fill plastic bottles with a Fruit2O beverage in the “filler room” at the Sunny Delight Beverages Company Littleton Plant in Littleton, Mass., USA, on Thurs., Dec. 1, 2011.

Tom Wuth mixes up a batch of the Fruit2O beverage in the “batching room” at the Sunny Delight Beverages Company Littleton Plant in Littleton, Mass., USA, on Thurs., Dec. 1, 2011.

Late last year, I spent a day in a Sunny Delight plant in Littleton, Massachusetts, for the Wall Street Journal. The company recently used federal money to update equipment in the plant, improving the efficiency of the beverage bottling process. In doing so, the company has been able to grow, but this growth hasn't resulted in more jobs. I was pleasantly surprised with the access I was given to the plant for the few hours I was there, though unfortunately that day the plant was bottling a colorless product called Fruit20, rather than a more colorful Sunny Delight product. You can see how the pictures appeared in print and online in the Tearsheets section of this website: Tearsheet: Sunny Delight plant for the Wall Street Journal The article is also available online at WSJ.com: Man vs. Machine, a Jobless Recovery

Mitt Romney campaigns in New Hampshire

December 6, 2011

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, former governor of Massachusetts, speaks to supporters and the media at a rally in Manchester, New Hampshire, on Sat. Dec. 3, 2011. The rally was called, “Earn It with Mitt,” and was designed to bolster local efforts to help Romney “earn” voters’ support for the upcoming Republican primary.

Romney supporters gather to listen to Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, former governor of Massachusetts, as he speaks during a rally in Manchester, New Hampshire, on Sat. Dec. 3, 2011. The rally was called, “Earn It with Mitt,” and was designed to bolster local efforts to help Romney “earn” voters’ support for the upcoming Republican primary.

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, former governor of Massachusetts, speaks to the media during a “press availability” after a rally in Manchester, New Hampshire, on Sat. Dec. 3, 2011. The rally was called, “Earn It with Mitt,” and was designed to bolster local efforts to help Romney “earn” voters’ support for the upcoming Republican primary.

Protesters, including Planned Parenthood supporters, demonstrate for passing traffic outside a rally for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, former governor of Massachusetts, in Manchester, New Hampshire, on Sat. Dec. 3, 2011. The rally was called, “Earn It with Mitt,” and was designed to bolster local efforts to help Romney “earn” voters’ support for the upcoming Republican primary.

Romney supporters gather behind Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, former governor of Massachusetts, as he speaks to the media during a rally in Manchester, New Hampshire, on Sat. Dec. 3, 2011. The rally was called, “Earn It with Mitt,” and was designed to bolster local efforts to help Romney “earn” voters’ support for the upcoming Republican primary.

Romney supporter Barbara Clark, of Nashua, NH, waits for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, former governor of Massachusetts, to at a rally in Manchester, New Hampshire, on Sat. Dec. 3, 2011. The rally was called, “Earn It with Mitt,” and was designed to bolster local efforts to help Romney “earn” voters’ support for the upcoming Republican primary. Clark is a lifelong Republican, having voted for Republicans since Eisenhower. “The only Democrat I voted for Koch in New York,” said Clark.

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, former governor of Massachusetts, greets supporters and signs autographs after a rally in Manchester, New Hampshire, on Sat. Dec. 3, 2011. The rally was called, “Earn It with Mitt,” and was designed to bolster local efforts to help Romney “earn” voters’ support for the upcoming Republican primary.

Former governor of Minnesota and Republican presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty (brown jacket) speaks to the public in support of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, former governor of Massachusetts, during a rally in Manchester, New Hampshire, on Sat. Dec. 3, 2011. The rally was called, “Earn It with Mitt,” and was designed to bolster local efforts to help Romney “earn” voters’ support for the upcoming Republican primary.

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, former governor of Massachusetts, speaks with supporter James Conway at his home in Manchester, New Hampshire, on Sat. Dec. 3, 2011. The neighborhood traditionally votes Republican. Romney spent about an hour walking through the neighborhood knocking on doors to speak with likely primary voters in the area.

Members of the media watch as Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, former governor of Massachusetts, walks through a neighborhood and knocks on the doors of likely primary voters in Manchester, New Hampshire, on Sat. Dec. 3, 2011. The neighborhood traditionally votes Republican.

Joined by local politicians, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, former governor of Massachusetts, walks through a neighborhood and knocks on the doors of likely primary voters in Manchester, New Hampshire, on Sat. Dec. 3, 2011. The neighborhood traditionally votes Republican.

I've been following the 2012 Republican presidential race in New Hampshire whenever I get a chance. This weekend, I went to Manchester, NH, to photograph Mitt Romney's efforts to get out the primary vote with a rally for supporters and a short period of canvassing a neighborhood of likely Republican primary voters. It's been eye-opening to watch this process up close (literally close! I've been close enough to touch any of the candidates I've photographed.) and to see how manufactured the process is for the media. Every event is carefully coordinated so that members of the national media are present. I'm not always successful at finding a unique perspective of the pageantry, but I enjoy trying. More pictures from the day are available in my archive: 2012 campaign - Mitt Romney in Manchester, New Hampshire - 3 December 2011.

Outtakes: Professor Stephen Soldz for the Chronicle of Higher Education

November 20, 2011

Dr. Stephen Soldz, director of the Center for Research, Evaluation, and Program Development at the Boston Graduate School of Psychoanalysis, is seen here at the school in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, on Tues., Oct. 25, 2011. Soldz is critical of the a new collaborative program between the US Army and the American Psychological Association called Comprehensive Soldier Fitness.

Dr. Stephen Soldz, director of the Center for Research, Evaluation, and Program Development at the Boston Graduate School of Psychoanalysis

I recently had the good fortune to meet Professor Stephen Soldz to photograph him for a story in the Chronicle of Higher Education about a controversial plan by the US Army and American Psychological Association for "resilience training" of soldiers using positive psychology. Soldz is critical of the new program, known as Comprehensive Soldier Fitness, which is designed to prevent the psychological toll of combat on American soldiers. Soldz has many criticisms of the program, including that there has not been a pilot study of it and that positive psychology is not the best approach to something inherently negative, such as the killing of another person. Soldz teaches research methodology at the Boston Graduate School of Psychoanalysis. We spent a pleasant hour walking around the Boston Graduate School of Psychoanalysis for a variety of portrait locations. The Chronicle story is behind a paywall, unfortunately, so it's difficult to read.

Providence Afterschool Alliance for Education Week

November 12, 2011

Sixth grade students from Roger Williams Middle School in Providence, Rhode Island, walk along a trail at the Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge in Smithfield, Rhode Island, on Oct. 20, 2011. The students are part of the EcoExplorer program run by the Providence After School Alliance, which helps to kids in learning environments outside of school time. The students make a weekly visit to the refuge, operated by the Rhode Island Audubon Society, to learn about nature and ecology. M. Scott Brauer for Education Week

Jennifer Klein leads sixth grade students from Roger Williams Middle School in Providence, Rhode Island, as they walk along a trail at the Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge in Smithfield, Rhode Island, on Oct. 20, 2011. The students are part of the EcoExplorer program run by the Providence After School Alliance, which helps to kids in learning environments outside of school time. The students make a weekly visit to the refuge, operated by the Rhode Island Audubon Society, to learn about nature and ecology. Klein is an Urban Education Coordinator for the Rhode Island Audubon Society. M. Scott Brauer for Education Week

Jennifer Klein (right) shows a small plant to sixth grade students from Roger Williams Middle School in Providence, Rhode Island, as they walk along a trail at the Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge in Smithfield, Rhode Island, on Oct. 20, 2011. The students are part of the EcoExplorer program run by the Providence After School Alliance, which helps to kids in learning environments outside of school time. The students make a weekly visit to the refuge, operated by the Rhode Island Audubon Society, to learn about nature and ecology. M. Scott Brauer for Education Week

Manny Babbitt, 12, looks at foliage while he and other sixth grade students from Roger Williams Middle School in Providence, Rhode Island, walk along a trail at the Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge in Smithfield, Rhode Island, on Oct. 20, 2011. The students are part of the EcoExplorer program run by the Providence After School Alliance, which helps to kids in learning environments outside of school time. The students make a weekly visit to the refuge, operated by the Rhode Island Audubon Society, to learn about nature and ecology. M. Scott Brauer for Education Week

For Education Week, I recently photographed school children walking in the woods at an Audubon site in Smithfield, Rhode Island. The program is part of Providence After School Alliance and aims to increase the time in a day that children spend learning, often through nontraditional programs. In this case, children walked through the woods of northern Rhode Island (coming from Montana, I must confess, I didn't know Rhode Island had forests) and learned about biology and ecology. It was a really fast shoot; the children were outside for not much more than 30 minutes. Thirty minutes is fine, if not generous, for most portrait shoots, but it's tough for a situation such as this with kids running every which way in unpredictable lighting conditions and unsure footing. I nearly stumbled a few times over hidden roots and fallen branches! You can see how Education Week published the pictures elsewhere on this site, or find more images in my archive.

Outtakes: Education Week – Virtual Education Targets Rise of Autism

September 14, 2011

Jack Ursitti, age 7, poses for a portrait with his iPad in his home in Dover, Mass., on Monday, July 25, 2011. Jack uses the iPad both for leisure activities, such as listening to music and looking at photos of his family, and for educational activities. Jack has been diagnosed with autism. After school at his home, Jack works with his teacher and a therapist to do educational and independent leisure activities. ..Jack received an iPad for Christmas, according to his mother Judith Ursitti. “I wanted mine back,” said Judith. She had gotten an iPad for her birthday in 2010, and Jack used it constantly. “There’s something intuitive about it,” said Judith. In the beginning it was just a distraction, “but now we’re moving to use it for an educational purpose,” she said…Jack Ursitti wears a small GPS ankle bracelet at all times in case he runs off from his family or caretakers. The device will be activated if he goes missing, allowing police and other searchers to find him.

Jack Ursitti, age 7, looks at his schedule for the day’s activities with Sarah Hoey, of the Nashoba Learning Group, in his home in Dover, Mass., on Monday, July 25, 2011. Jack has been diagnosed with autism. After school at his home, Jack works with his teacher and a therapist to do educational and independent leisure activities…Jack Ursitti wears a small GPS ankle bracelet at all times in case he runs off from his family or caretakers. The device will be activated if he goes missing, allowing police and other searchers to find him.

Jack Ursitti looks at photos and listens to music on an iPad during a “sensory break” in his home in Dover, Mass., on Monday, July 25, 2011. Jack has been diagnosed with autism. After school at his home, Jack works with his teacher and a therapist to do educational and independent leisure activities. Periodically Jack takes “sensory breaks” to stop activity and play independently, allowing him to return to his tasks with greater concentration. During the “sensory breaks” Jack does a variety of things, including looking at his reflection, making faces, jumping on a small trampoline or cushions, or play with an iPad…Jack Ursitti wears a small GPS ankle bracelet at all times in case he runs off from his family or caretakers. The device will be activated if he goes missing, allowing police and other searchers to find him.

Jack Ursitti, age 7, walks on a treadmill in his home in Dover, Mass., on Monday, July 25, 2011. Jack has been diagnosed with autism. After school at his home, Jack works with his teacher and a therapist to do educational and independent leisure activities. In addition to educational and play activities, Jack does daily excerise including riding a bike or walking around his neighborhood with his teacher. On days with bad weather, such as this one, Jack walks on a treadmill for 8 minutes. Jack prefers outdoor activity, so makes a variety of faces while walking on the treadmill…Jack Ursitti wears a small GPS ankle bracelet at all times in case he runs off from his family or caretakers. The device will be activated if he goes missing, allowing police and other searchers to find him.

Jack Ursitii, age 7, plays on a couch during a “sensory break” in his home in Dover, Mass., on Monday, July 25, 2011. His teacher, Sarah Hoey from the Nashoba Learning Group, “squishes” Jack with a couch cushion, which is a favorite activity of Jack’s. Jack has been diagnosed with autism. After school at his home, Jack works with his teacher and a therapist to do educational and independent leisure activities. Periodically Jack takes “sensory breaks” to stop activity and play independently, allowing him to return to his tasks with greater concentration. During the “sensory breaks” Jack does a variety of things, including looking at his reflection, making faces, jumping on a small trampoline or cushions, or play with an iPad…Jack Ursitti wears a small GPS ankle bracelet at all times in case he runs off from his family or caretakers. The device will be activated if he goes missing, allowing police and other searchers to find him.

Jack Ursitti, age 7, poses for a portrait in his home in Dover, Mass., on Monday, July 25, 2011. Jack has been diagnosed with autism. After school at his home, Jack works with his teacher and a therapist to do educational and independent leisure activities…Jack Ursitti wears a small GPS ankle bracelet at all times in case he runs off from his family or caretakers. The device will be activated if he goes missing, allowing police and other searchers to find him.

Jack Ursitti, age 7, uses an iPad to play a spelling game in his home in Dover, Mass., on Monday, July 25, 2011. The game asks Jack to spell three-letter words that accompany pictures. Jack has been diagnosed with autism. After school at his home, Jack works with his teacher and a therapist to do educational and independent leisure activities. ..Jack received an iPad for Christmas, according to his mother Judith Ursitti. “I wanted mine back,” said Judith. She had gotten an iPad for her birthday in 2010, and Jack used it constantly. “There’s something intuitive about it,” said Judith. In the beginning it was just a distraction, “but now we’re moving to use it for an educational purpose,” she said…Jack Ursitti wears a small GPS ankle bracelet at all times in case he runs off from his family or caretakers. The device will be activated if he goes missing, allowing police and other searchers to find him.

Jack Ursitti, 7, plays with his reflection in a mirror during a “sensory break” in his home in Dover, Mass., on Monday, July 25, 2011. Jack has been diagnosed with autism. After school at his home, Jack works with his teacher and a therapist to do educational and independent leisure activities. Periodically Jack takes “sensory breaks” to stop activity and play independently, allowing him to return to his tasks with greater concentration. During the “sensory breaks” Jack does a variety of things, including looking at his reflection, making faces, jumping on a small trampoline or cushions, or play with an iPad…Jack Ursitti wears a small GPS ankle bracelet at all times in case he runs off from his family or caretakers. The device will be activated if he goes missing, allowing police and other searchers to find him.

About a month after visiting DC for portfolio meetings, I got an email from Charlie at Education Week with my first assignment for the publication. For a story in a package on the use of technology in education for students with special needs, I photographed Jack Ursitti, a seven-year-old with autism who uses an iPad for language learning and leisure activities. I spent a couple of hours with Jack as he worked with a therapist and teacher at his home outside of Boston. The story is behind Education Week's paywall, though you can see an excerpt here: Virtual Education Targets Rise of Autism You can see more pictures from the shoot at my archive: Education Week - Jack Ursitti - Virtual Education Targets Rise of Autism.

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