Dr. Robert Titzer with daughter Aleka
Robert C. Titzer, Ph.D., an educator and researcher in the field of infant
learning and father of two beautiful daughters, currently lives in San Diego,
CA. A decade ago, Titzer taught in the public schools in Guam and in California
after earning his teaching credentials from San Diego State University. Titzer
completed a master of science degree from Penn State University and a Ph.D.
in Human Performance from Indiana University where he worked in developmental
psychology laboratories conducting theoretically important experiments related
to infant learning. While a professor at Southeastern Louisiana University,
Dr. Titzer's fascinating research on multi-sensory reading during the infant
and toddler years captivated the attention of parents, other researchers, and
the media.
Dr. Titzer has become a recognizable expert in the area of infant learning
and his work has been published in scientific journals -- including the prestigious
Psychological Review. He has spoken with thousands of parents around the country
and demonstrated fun learning activities that they can do with infants and toddlers
to stimulate brain development. Dr. Titzer has appeared on hundreds of TV programs
and networks including Good Morning America, MSNBC, CNN, Headline News, CBS
This Morning, ABC World News Now, Knowledge TV, Real TV, Parenting Principles
(on PBS), and The Learning Channel.
"My daughters learned to read as infants by watching our homemade reading
videos. They were often at the babysitter's house or sitting in a highchair
eating -- so it didn't take away from any of their other activities. I was so
amazed by how easily they learned to read words that I helped develop this videotape
so other babies could benefit. Now, other families can share this joy and amazement.
Astonishingly, after viewing this video about two times a day for several months,
many infants will learn to recognize these words when they see them in books
or other locations."
- Robert C. Titzer, Ph.D.
EDUCATION
Indiana University
Dissertation Area: Infant Learning and Development
Dissertation Title: Infants’ Understanding of Transparency:
A Reinterpretation of Studies Using the Object Retrieval Task and Visual Cliff
Minor: Statistics
Ph.D. in Human Performance (Defended in September, 1996)
The Pennsylvania State University
Major: Kinesiology
Emphasis in Motor Learning
Master of Science (December, 1990)
San Diego State University
Single Subject Credentials in Math, Physical Education, Social Studies and Speech
Multiple Subject Credentials in Elementary Education (June, 1988)
University of Southern Indiana
Major: Communications
Minor: Physical Education
Bachelor of Science (May, 1985)
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Spokesperson (1997-present) - The Infant Learning Company.Creator
of fun, stimulating products for infants and toddlers, based on infant research.
Consultant (2006-2007) - Private consultations with parents
to craft fun, stimulating environments for babies and toddlers; prepare parents
and nannies to provide language-rich settings for infants and toddlers; provide
fun, multi-sensory activities for babies and toddlers to help them learn logic,
math skills, music, receptive, expressive, and written language.
Speaker (2005-2007) - Paid keynote speaker for corporations,
baby expos and conventions.
High School and Middle School Teacher (2000-2004) - San Diego
Unified School District.Mathematics teacher at La Jolla High School and mathematics
and social studies teacher at Marston Middle School.
Adjunct Faculty Member (1998-2000) - California State University
at Fullerton. Instructor of graduate and undergraduate courses in child development
and
kinesiology.
Assistant Professor (1996-1998) - Southeastern Louisiana University.
Director of the Infant Behavior Laboratory; infant researcher; taught undergraduate
and graduate motor learning and graduate motor development courses; other faculty
duties.
Developmental Training Grant Researcher (1996) - Indiana University.Conducted
infant research, trained undergraduates to conduct research, attended and
presented studies at seminars and conferences and audited classes.
Visiting Lecturer (1993-1995) - Indiana University. Instructor
of motor learning laboratories, teaching methods, coaching, research, and
activity classes. Supervisor of associate instructors and teaching assistants.
Started the department’s first electronic classroom. Initiated several
courses.
Volleyball Club Advisor (1993-1995) - Indiana University.
Named Advisor-of-the-Year by the Division of Recreational Sports.
Advisor of the women’s team and the men’s team.
Associate Instructor (1991-1993) - Indiana University. Instructor
of teaching methods, motor learning laboratories and activity classes.
Middle School Teacher (1991) - Wilson Academy., San Diego,
CA. Teacher of mathematics at an inner-city school. Instructed 7th and 8th grade
students in algebra and basic math.
College Instructor (1989-1990) - The Pennsylvania State University
High School Teacher (1998) - George Washington High School,
Barrigada, Guam.
High School Teacher (1988) - Mira Mesa High School, San Diego,
CA.
Elementary School Teacher (1987) - School of Creative/Performing
Arts, San Diego, CA
PUBLICATIONS
Titzer, R. (in preparation). Learning written language during infancy.
Titzer, R. & Shea, J.B. (in preparation). The effect of learner control
on the
acquisition and retention of a motor task.
Titzer, R., Thelen, E., & Smith, L.B. (in revision). The developmental
dynamics of learning about transparency. Child Development.
Smith, L.B., Thelen, E., Titzer, R., & McLin, D. (1999). Knowing in the
context of
acting: The task dynamics of the A-not-B error. Psychological Review, 106(2).
pp.
141-162.
Titzer, R. (1998). Does the A-not-B error really disappear at age 12 months?
(Abstract). Journal of Exercise and Sport Psychology, 17. p. 82.
Titzer, R., & Thelen, E. (1996). The role of experience in infant perceptual-motor
learning. (Abstract). Journal of Exercise and Sport Psychology, 17. p. 84.
Titzer, R., Thelen, E., & Smith, L.B. (1995). The effect of experience
on the
Visual cliff and reaching task. (Abstract). Journal of Exercise and Sport
Psychology, 17. p. 82.
Shea, J.B., & Titzer, R.C. (1993). The influence of a reminder on the
contextual interference effect. Journal of Motor Behavior, 25 (4), pp. 264-
274.
Titzer, R.C., Shea, J.B., & Romack, J. (1993). The effect of experience
on the visual
cliff and reaching task. (Abstract). Journal of Exercise and Sport Psychology,
15.
p. 84.
PRESENTATIONS
Titzer, R. (2007, June) The influence of the environment and nutrition on infant
development. Keynote speaker, Raffles Convention Centre, Singapore.
Titzer, R. (2004-2007) Parent workshops. Keynote speaker at baby expos in Brisbane,
Toronto, London, Honolulu, Belfast, Hong Kong, Dublin, Fort Lauderdale, Chicago,
San Diego, Sacramento and Newark.
Titzer, R. (1997-2007) Early learning workshops. Invited speaker at DaimlerChrysler
(nine workshops), University of Sydney, University of Queensland, University
of
Western Australia, Victoria University, Usborne Books at Home National Convention,
Dan Marino Center, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (three workshops) and
hundreds of other venues.
Titzer, R. (1998, April). Infant research, public policy, and the media. Invited
panelist for the Presidential Symposium at the International Conference on Infant
Studies.
Titzer, R. (1998, April). Infants’ and toddlers’ abilities to visually
discriminate
written words. Paper presented at the International Conference on Infant Studies,
Atlanta.
Titzer, R., & Thelen, E. (1996, June). The role of experience in infant
perceptual-
motor learning. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting, North American Society
for Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity, Muskegon, CA.
Titzer, R., Thelen, E. & Smith, L.B. (1995, June). The effect of experience
on visual cliff and reaching task performances. Paper presented at the
AWARDS AND HONOURS
Invited speaker at the Presidential Symposium of the International Conference
on Infant
Studies in Atlanta, GA (April, 1998)
Talked with two U.S. Senators about the importance of early learning (1997-1998)
Outstanding Student Research Award for Motor Development (1996)
awarded by the international research society NASPSPA
IU Recreational Sports “Faculty Advisor-of-the-Year” (1994)
Recipient of Indiana University Fellowship (1991-1993)
Tennis Scholarship (1982-1985)
W.E.H.T. Channel 25 Communication Scholarship (1984)
MEMBERSHIPS AND AFFILIATIONS
North American Society for Psychology of Sport and Physical Activity
International Conference on Infant Studies
Society for Research in Child Development
MEDIA COVERAGE OF RESEARCH
Good Morning America, Canada AM, Prime Time Morning – Channel News Asia,
Channel 5 – UK, UTV – Ireland, A Current Affair – Australia,
Good Morning TV – Northern Ireland, David & Kim Show – Australia,
The Washington Post, Chicago Sun-Times, Baltimore Sun, CNN, ABC World News Now,
The Early Show, MSNBC, CBS This Morning, The Parenting Principle (A PBS Documentary),
Global TV, British Columbia TV News, The Learning Channel, Knowledge TV, Headline
News, Real TV, EXTRA and over 2000 local TV news broadcasts.
