Cynthia Solomon PhD | |
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![]() Cynthia Solomon | |
Born | 1938 (age 86–87) |
Citizenship | United States |
Education | BA, Radcliffe College, 1959 MS, Boston University, 1976 PhD, Harvard University, 1985 |
Known for | Logo Technology education |
Awards | NCWIT Pioneer Award, 2016 Constructionism Lifetime Achievement Award, 2016 |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Computer science Technology education |
Institutions | MIT Bolt, Beranek and Newman Logo Computer Systems Atari Cambridge Research Laboratory |
Website | Logo Things |
Cynthia Solomon is an American computer scientist known for her work in popularizing computer science for students.[1] She is an innovator in the fields of computer science and educational computing. While working as a researcher at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Solomon took it upon herself to understand and program in the programming language Lisp. As she began learning this language, she realized the need for a programming language that was more accessible and understandable for children.
Throughout her research studies in education, Solomon worked full-time as a computer teacher in elementary and secondary schools. Her work has mainly focused on research on human-computer interaction and children as designers. While working at Bolt, Beranek and Newman, she worked with Wally Feurzeig and Seymour Papert, to create the first programming language for children, named Logo.[2] The language was created to teach concepts of programming related to Lisp.
Solomon has been active in a number of public and private organizations. She was vice president of R&D for Logo Computer Systems, Inc., when the Apple Logo product was developed. She was also the Director of the Atari Cambridge Research Laboratory. Solomon later worked on the program committee of Constructing Modern Knowledge and the Marvin Minsky Institute for Artificial Intelligence in 2016.
Solomon has published a range of books and articles based on original research in the fields of child education and technology use in the classroom.[3] She has conducted workshops in elementary schools, high schools, and colleges regarding academic research and writing. Solomon continues to contribute to the field by speaking at conferences and working with the One Laptop per Child Foundation.