Steven B. Silvern is professor in the department of Curriculum and Teaching. He teaches and conducts research in the area of Early Childhood Education at the undergraduate and graduate level. Dr. Silvern has been at Auburn University since 1978. Besides teaching at the University he has taught in public and private schools and has consulted internationally. Dr. Silvern's classes implement the early childhood programs focused on constructivist education. Students construct knowledge through research projects and group problem solving about interesting ideas. Dr. Silvern conducts research on children's learning through play. He has examined play with stories, play with computers, and playful interactions. More broadly Dr. Silvern also conducts research on children's learning in social environments and constructive learning priciples.

Dr. Silvern's vita:

Silvern, S. B., Ph.D.
Professor of Early Childhood Education
Graduate and Undergraduate Faculty
Appointed 1978

1.  Academic Degrees

Ph.D.	University of Wisconsin, 1977	Child Development/Early Childhood Education, Reading minor
M.Ed.	University of Maryland, 1974	Early Childhood Education/Human Development
B.S.	University of Maryland, 1971	Speech and Drama, Secondary Education, English minor

2.  Professional Experience

1978-Present		Auburn University
1999-2000		Visiting Professor, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
1976-1978		University of Texas--Arlington, Assistant Professor of Child Development
1973-1974		Prince Georges County, Maryland, Beltsville Elementary School, Teacher
1971-1973		Prince Georges County, Maryland, Maryland Park Junior High, English Teacher
1970-1971		Silver Spring, Maryland, Silver Spring Nursery Learning Center, Head Teacher

3.  Selected Publications

Chaille C., & Silvern, S. B. (1996). Understanding through play. Childhood Education, 72, 274-277.

Katainen, L. with Silvern, S. (2000). Lagniappe: Roberto Benigni's Life is Beautiful: Daring to laugh in the face of the Unthinkable. National Forum, 80(2), 37-43.

Silvern, S. B. (1998). Educational implications of play with computers. In D. Fromberg & D. Bergen (eds.). Play from birth to twelve and beyond: Contexts, perspectives, and meanings (pp. 530-536). New York: Garland.

Silvern, S. (2002) Friendship, autonomy and multiple solutions. In Jacob Aarom and Navah Masloveti (eds.) Arranging for connections in instruction and education [Hebrew].