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Hall of Fame Profile: Tom Snyder - Modern Renaissance ManInventor. No better word encompasses both the professional career and lifelong philosophy of AEP Hall of Fame Inductee Tom Snyder. As co-founder and former chairman of Tom Snyder Productions (TSP), Tomís accomplishments in the field reflect his endless curiosity and his dedication to the betterment of classroom education. Since its inception in 1980, TSP has been at the forefront of the educational software industry. Well before his days of developing educational software or producing innovative television series', Tom established himself as a legend in the classroom. His talent for translating complicated ideas into plain terms and his affinity for discussion and interaction made him an immediate success among his students at Shady Hill School in Cambridge, MA. Tom was always looking for new ways of presenting curriculum, and his creative, hands-on demonstrations--structures made out of pens and pencils, scotch tape and rulers--established a legacy that still lives on today. In fact, the best-selling author Sebastian Younger (The Perfect Storm), a former student of Tomís, not only remembered his fourth grade teacher but was thrilled and humbled when he found out that Tom remembered him and knew of his success. By the early 80's, Tom's creative spirit and forward thinking had pulled him into the realm of technology, at which point he began developing ideas for using computer software in the classroom. He taught himself how to write programs by reading the manual to his TRS 80, one of the earliest models of personal computers. A business deal offered by a student's father gave him the means to pursue programming full-time, and Tom spent the next year designing "Geography Search," his first venture into educational software. Whereas many in the industry at the time viewed the computer as an individual learning tool, Tom designed his program to encourage social interaction. Geography Search's success convinced the right people that TSP was a profitable investment, and served as the model for much of the company's subsequent product lines. Over the next ten years, Tom Snyder Productions went on to develop a number of award-winning software programs, including ìTimeliner;" "Fizz & Martina's Math Adventures;" and "Decisions, Decisions." However by 1990, Tom's continuing search for classroom innovation had led him into the field of video production. An avid reader, Tom had developed an interest in the concept of narrative and believed that embedding lessons within the context of a story could be an extremely effective educational tool. After developing a series of math videos for the classroom, Tom collaborated with comedian Jonathan Katz on a series of animated vignettes that eventually evolved into the Emmy Award-winning comedy series "Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist." Tom used the contacts and experience he'd gained from Dr. Katz to create "Squigglevision" (originally known as "Science Court"), which got its name from the low-cost animation process Tom had invented for Dr. Katz. Based on existing Tom Snyder Productions software, "Squigglevision" was an educational show that mixed humor and music with hands-on science activities that were authenticated by a team of MIT researchers. In addition to general production responsibilities, Tom wrote and performed all the songs featured on the show. ABC began airing it in 1997 as a response to the Children's Television Act, and the last episode appeared in 2000. Many friends and former colleagues agree that Tom's ability to educate without "teaching," in the formal sense of the word, is one of his most striking talents. "You're always learning something from Tom, but it's not always apparent," says David Dockterman, one of Tom's early collaborators and current Vice President of Product Development at TSP. By 2001, Tom had educated and instructed the people around him so well that, as Jonathan Katz puts it, "he showed up to work one day and realized he didn't need to be there." He retired that year from his position as chairman at Tom Snyder Productions and is currently pursuing his interests in music and composition.
Questions, ideas, or in need of more information? Please contact Stacey Pusey at 302-295-8349. |
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