Alumni Spotlight: Brian Jerome
Science Videos for the Classroom
Brian Jerome grew up in Chittenango, about 15 miles from the Syracuse campus Both of his parents graduated from Syracuse, as did his grandfather. Although Jerome left Syracuse to earn a B.S.degree in science education at the University of Vermont at Burlington, he too returned to Syracuse for all his graduate work. “The School of Education was one of the best schools around when I was looking to go back to graduate school,” Jerome says. “I have orange in my veins, so it was just a natural thing to come back here, and it’s an excellent school.”
After teaching for five years, Jerome found a new way to apply his talent and training to education. Today, he works with teachers to develop instructional materials for the classroom. His business, Visual Learning Company (www.visuallearningco.com), makes curriculum-based videos for elementary and middle school teachers on such topics as simple machines, microscopic life, and photosynthesis.
“When I think about what I gained from all my graduate work at SU that I use in my job—I’m still in education—I realize I learned a lot of things there that help me everyday,” he says. “The biggest thing I learned was how to write well. Sari Biklen taught me how to write clearly and well, and there was a heavy emphasis on writing all the time. I took Bob Bogdan’s class in qualitative research, and I took several statistics classes. I spent a lot of time at the library doing research. The whole process of ferreting out and analyzing information is another skill I use all the time.”
The videos produced by Jerome’s company are recognized for their excellence in the United States and abroad, winning best of show at the National Media Market awards and beating such companies as Discovery and WGBH. His videos have been translated into several languages, including Spanish, Swedish, and a number of eastern European languages. Visual Learning Company has received outstanding reviews from professional teaching and library journals, including School Library Journal, NSTA Recommends Video Librarian, Booklistand the National Association of Media Technology Centers.