Francis Mechner
Encyclopedia
Francis Mechner is an American research psychologist
best known for having developed and introduced (in 1959) a formal symbolic language for the codification and notation of behavioral contingencies that he has applied to various fields including economics, education, environmental impact, business management, biology, clinical applications, law, and the analysis of macroeconomic and financial phenomena. Mechner is also known for a variety of contributions in instructional technology and in basic research on learning.
. As a member of the Department’s teaching faculty from 1955 to 1960 he developed and taught a novel type of laboratory course in experimental psychology in which the students learned to design and conduct experiments on learning, perception, and concept formation, and to analyze and interpret data. He taught two sections of that course—one for Columbia Teachers’ college graduate students and one for Columbia graduate and undergraduate students.
Mechner applied this technology first to the development of programmed texts for elementary school and high school courses in science and mathematics, nursing and medical education, for the training of industry personnel, and in 1962 for interpersonal skill training via the audio-lingual programs “Effective Listening” and “Professional Selling Skills.” The latter, when marketed by Xerox Corporation and later by Learning International, Inc., became the most widely used training system of all time, and its multiple descendants are still being marketed today. Another Basic Systems-Xerox program that applies this technology and is still being sold today is “Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess.”
From 1960 through 1978 Mechner applied his technology to the creation of large-scale training systems and manpower development programs for governmental agencies in the United States and Brazil. In 1970 he worked with the Carnegie Corporation’s Children’s Television Workshop project in the original design of Sesame Street
. As a consultant to UNESCO
from 1963 to 1965 he introduced his technology for the modernization of physics teaching in South America and chemistry teaching in Asia. In 1967 he founded Media Medica, Inc. through which he introduced the use of instructional materials for patient education. Through his company Universal Education Corporation, which he founded in 1968, he developed and installed innovative statewide early childhood development and educational daycare programs for Pennsylvania, Georgia, Nebraska, and Alabama. In 1969 he founded the Paideia School, an innovative K–12 independent school that he operated until 1974 in Armonk, NY. This was the model for the individualized instruction approach currently being implemented at the Queens Paideia School
in Long Island City, NY.
Since 1960 Mechner has funded his research work through businesses that he founded and built. Among these, in addition to those described above, were Chyron Corporation
with engineer Eugene Leonard (1967), best known for its digital graphics generators widely used in the broadcast industry; TeleSession Corporation (1970); EDUTEC, S.A. in Brazil (1973); General Clutch Corp. with physicist Martin Waine (1980); TorqMaster, Inc. also with Martin Waine (1996); and Pragma Securities, LLC (2002), with his son David Mechner
. This business experience also provided Mechner with some of the insights on which his recent behavioral contingency analysis of economic and financial phenomena is based.
and the Queens Paideia School. The Mechner Foundation has also carried out an extensive research program of its own. Mechner has been a trustee of the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies
since 1985.
and Prince of Persia
(video game) both developed by his son Jordan Mechner
.
Psychologist
Psychologist is a professional or academic title used by individuals who are either:* Clinical professionals who work with patients in a variety of therapeutic contexts .* Scientists conducting psychological research or teaching psychology in a college...
best known for having developed and introduced (in 1959) a formal symbolic language for the codification and notation of behavioral contingencies that he has applied to various fields including economics, education, environmental impact, business management, biology, clinical applications, law, and the analysis of macroeconomic and financial phenomena. Mechner is also known for a variety of contributions in instructional technology and in basic research on learning.
Relationship with Columbia University
Mechner received his PhD in 1957 at the Columbia University Department of Psychology under Professors F. S. Keller and William N. SchoenfeldWilliam N. Schoenfeld
William N. Schoenfeld was an American psychologist and author.Born in New York City, he conducted original research in experimental psychology, and advocated behaviorism, which seeks to understand behavior as a function of environmental histories of experiencing consequences. Dr...
. As a member of the Department’s teaching faculty from 1955 to 1960 he developed and taught a novel type of laboratory course in experimental psychology in which the students learned to design and conduct experiments on learning, perception, and concept formation, and to analyze and interpret data. He taught two sections of that course—one for Columbia Teachers’ college graduate students and one for Columbia graduate and undergraduate students.
Research and Applied Work
Mechner continued to conduct basic and applied research in the fields of learning and educational technology. In 1957 he built the first computerized behavior research laboratory at Schering Corporation in which he conducted psychopharmacology and basic research with rats, pigeons, monkeys, and humans. In 1960 he introduced a new instructional technology in conjunction with his founding of Basic Systems, Inc. with business partner David Padwa, a company they sold to Xerox Corporation in 1965. Key aspects of this technology are the specification of learning objectives at the outset of the development process, analysis of the subject matter in terms of its component skills and concepts, the systematic cumulative sequencing of these, active response by the learner, and cycles of testing and revision of the material on the intended target population.Mechner applied this technology first to the development of programmed texts for elementary school and high school courses in science and mathematics, nursing and medical education, for the training of industry personnel, and in 1962 for interpersonal skill training via the audio-lingual programs “Effective Listening” and “Professional Selling Skills.” The latter, when marketed by Xerox Corporation and later by Learning International, Inc., became the most widely used training system of all time, and its multiple descendants are still being marketed today. Another Basic Systems-Xerox program that applies this technology and is still being sold today is “Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess.”
From 1960 through 1978 Mechner applied his technology to the creation of large-scale training systems and manpower development programs for governmental agencies in the United States and Brazil. In 1970 he worked with the Carnegie Corporation’s Children’s Television Workshop project in the original design of Sesame Street
Sesame Street
Sesame Street has undergone significant changes in its history. According to writer Michael Davis, by the mid-1970s the show had become "an American institution". The cast and crew expanded during this time, including the hiring of women in the crew and additional minorities in the cast. The...
. As a consultant to UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
from 1963 to 1965 he introduced his technology for the modernization of physics teaching in South America and chemistry teaching in Asia. In 1967 he founded Media Medica, Inc. through which he introduced the use of instructional materials for patient education. Through his company Universal Education Corporation, which he founded in 1968, he developed and installed innovative statewide early childhood development and educational daycare programs for Pennsylvania, Georgia, Nebraska, and Alabama. In 1969 he founded the Paideia School, an innovative K–12 independent school that he operated until 1974 in Armonk, NY. This was the model for the individualized instruction approach currently being implemented at the Queens Paideia School
Queens Paideia School
The Queens Paideia School is a progressive, independent school in Long Island City, Queens. Established in 2009, the school serves students in kindergarten through 8th grade...
in Long Island City, NY.
Since 1960 Mechner has funded his research work through businesses that he founded and built. Among these, in addition to those described above, were Chyron Corporation
Chyron Corporation
The Chyron Corporation is a Melville, N.Y.-based company that develops products and services for digital broadcast graphics creation. The company’s solutions, which include the AXIS Graphics online content creation software and order management system and a range of on-air graphics systems, clip...
with engineer Eugene Leonard (1967), best known for its digital graphics generators widely used in the broadcast industry; TeleSession Corporation (1970); EDUTEC, S.A. in Brazil (1973); General Clutch Corp. with physicist Martin Waine (1980); TorqMaster, Inc. also with Martin Waine (1996); and Pragma Securities, LLC (2002), with his son David Mechner
David Mechner
David Mechner is an American amateur 6-dan Go player. He was a student of professional player Janice Kim and later an insei in Japan, studying under Oeda Yusuke ....
. This business experience also provided Mechner with some of the insights on which his recent behavioral contingency analysis of economic and financial phenomena is based.
The Mechner Foundation
Mechner has published numerous technical papers and articles and has lectured and taught courses at dozens of national and international conferences and universities. As President of the Mechner Foundation, he sponsored collaborative research projects in the field of behavioral science with several major universities and funded several socially valuable projects in other fields, including the Blacksmith InstituteBlacksmith Institute
Founded in 1999, Blacksmith Institute is an international non-for-profit organization dedicated to eliminating life-threatening pollution in the developing world. Blacksmith identifies and cleans up the world's worst polluted places, focusing on communities where children are most at risk. Based in...
and the Queens Paideia School. The Mechner Foundation has also carried out an extensive research program of its own. Mechner has been a trustee of the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies
Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies
The Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies was founded in 1981 by American psychologist Robert Epstein as an advanced studies institute devoted to promoting the scientific study of behavior and its humane applications in human affairs...
since 1985.
Life
Born in Vienna, Austria, in 1931, Mechner came to the United States in 1944 after having spent three years in France and two years in Cuba. By age 19 he was an accomplished classical concert pianist, portrait painter, and USCF-rated chess master. In the late 1980s he composed the soundtracks for the original versions of Karateka (video game)Karateka (video game)
Karateka is a 1984 computer game by Jordan Mechner, the creator of Prince of Persia. Karateka was Mechner's first hit game, and was designed while he was attending Yale University. The game was renowned at the time for its realistic animations. In the United States, Karateka was published by...
and Prince of Persia
Prince of Persia
Prince of Persia is a platform game, originally developed by Jordan Mechner and released in 1989 for the Apple II, that represented a great leap forward in the quality of animation seen in video games....
(video game) both developed by his son Jordan Mechner
Jordan Mechner
Jordan Mechner is an American video game designer, screenwriter, author, and filmmaker, best known for creating the Prince of Persia video game franchise.- Life and career :Mechner was born in New York City...
.