Phd in Cognitive Science in Education, BAS in Systems Engineering

Teachers College, Columbia University

Hi! I’m Azi, A GIANT dreamer. Founder of The GIANT Room

I have a PhD in Cognitive Science in Education from Columbia University’s Teachers College. After grad studies, I co-founded Tiggly, an early learning company that pioneered the integration of physical play with digital applications, to provide a rich and interactive learning experience for children. Next, I joined littleBits as their head of education strategy. Millions of children got to love learning math and writing their first words with Tiggly. Millions more are inventing the world they want to live in with littleBits.

I’m a TED speaker, former TED resident, have published journal articles and book chapters on a broad range of topics such as designing learning platforms for children, emerging educational tech, game design, mathematical education, and cognition. I’m honored to have received numerous awards including “IES Prize for Excellence in Research on Cognition and Student Learning” and “The Cooney Center’s certificate of innovation in Children’s Learning”.

Today, I’m the CEO at The GIANT Room, giving every child the opportunity and community support they need to act on their most ambitious dreams.

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PhD in Science Education

Teachers College, Columbia University

Hi! I’m Jess. A GIANT curiosity catalyst. Co-founder of The GIANT Room

I have a PhD in Science Education from Columbia University. I am a former HS biology teacher and informal educator. I have a passion for play based learning and believe mistakes are portals to discovery! In my research, I studied science educators' perceptions of play and how that influences pedagogy. I stay active in online teacher networks and am a National Geographic certified educator with a love and deep respect for the out of doors.

While always being an educator, postgraduate school, I worked for early-stage organizations helping them build and scale. I worked as an Instructional Designer and then as an Education Program Manager at a start-up called Mendeley that invented an iTunes like platform for researchers, and was acquired by publisher Elsevier. I was the Director of Research at a privately owned incubator generating solutions focussed on Nature-based education and the Skills Gap. I then moved forward developing a new platform based on intel from the Skills Gap incubator project. I product managed a human capital technology called Frontier Signal using machine learning to help companies more effectively onboard, train and retain talent.

I am a mom and believe children need space to express their creativity on their own terms. I am apart of The GIANT Room to empower children to act on their curiosities!

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MA in Neuroscience and Education

Teachers College, Columbia University

Hi, my name is Maria Eugenia, but you can call me Maru. I am a passionate early childhood educator from Monterrey, Mexico. I recently graduated with my Master of Neuroscience and Education from Teachers College at Columbia University. When working with children, I love establishing a safe and nurturing environment where children feel free to explore and create without judgement. I can't wait to meet all of you at The GIANT Room and spark your imagination with some fun play-based STEAM activities.

BM in Flute Performance, MA in Arts Entrepreneurship

Mannes School of Music & The New School

Rebecca Schifilliti is an educator and artist with an entrepreneurial spirit. Rebecca is the co-founder and co-executive director of Art Beyond the Ink, an arts education organization which supports students and early-career artists through musical storytelling and interdisciplinary collaboration. At The GIANT Room, she runs their daily Creative Bootcamp program and builds curriculum and content for STEAM (STEM + Arts) workshops, including a collection of over 300 educational videos and lesson plans. As a musician, Rebecca has participated in the Krymov Lab, working with visionary Russian theater artist Dmitry Krymov on the creation of an original theater piece. She has also performed in venues throughout NYC and abroad.

BA in Liberal Arts with focuses in Screenwriting and Women’s History

Sarah Lawrence College

Maya Hood-Wilson has been a proud member of the GIANT team for two years. With a background in creative writing, Maya contributes a majority of the posts featured on the GIANT Room blog and social media. She also provides support to families and educators when it comes to GIANT’s programs and partnerships. Outside of The GIANT Room, Maya has written for BuzzFeed and is the Editorial Director of Arcanum Magazine.

MA in Interactive Telecommunications [ITP]

NYU

Nathier is a multidisciplinary designer, researcher and artist, with a Master’s in Interactive Telecommunications [ITP] from NYU. As a designer, she creates rich visual landscapes that materialize in sets, experiences and interactive installations. Her current research focuses on the relationship between human and non-human interactions and what arises when emerging technologies are involved. She has an interest in living materials and possible intersections between biological and computational systems.

As a generalist, her practices extends to education were she explores the intersection between art, technology, and science through workshops and lectures in experimental media, digital art, and biodesign/biomedia for children and adults alike. As part of her teaching ethos, errors are encouraged, expected and welcomed both aesthetically and metaphorically.

MA in Instructional Technology and Media

Teachers College, Columbia University

Hi! I’m Hongjin. You can also call me Jackie. I am a graduating master’s student of the Instructional Technology and Media program at Teachers College, Columbia University. I have a very persistent interest in human learning and focus my research on kids' collaborative learning experience design. Besides being a huge fan of innovative, technology-based classroom interventions, I’m a makerspace enthusiast, a nature lover, a Chinese/English/Japanese speaking chatterbox, and a marathon runner. I’m looking forward to starting a meaningful journey with you at the GIANT Room!