e-learning
Long before John would record eLearning projects for industry leaders such as Educational Research Bureau (ERB), he was part of an ensemble of voice actors in 2006 who worked on e-textbooks for middle school students. American History was a popular selection from McDougal Littell, a division of Houghton Mifflin. Back in the day this was an example of an “interactive textbook” in the form of a singular disc for a desktop computer’s DVD-ROM drive. This type of eEdition provided students with animation and interactive content for an audio-visual experience. John got the chance to voice Thomas Paine, author of Common Sense, the 47-page pamphlet published in January, 1776, that would encourage the residents of the Thirteen Colonies to embrace the concept of independence from England. Here is an audio sample of John’s favorite section of Common Sense as well as an audio sample of the final lines of the Declaration of Independence crafted, in part, by the Connecticut statesman Roger Sherman, who was the only person to have signed all four of the most significant documents in our nation’s early history.
Math Sample
Reading Sample
Now jump ahead 20 years. John’s recent voiceover work for ERB included eLearning projects for elementary, middle and high school levels of test-taking for reading comprehension, mathematics and other subjects as well. This popular alternative to the traditional SAT is a highlight of the eLearning industry. ERB is the trusted leader in assessment and data-driven insights for independent school educators and families, supporting the growth of the whole child. ERB is a not-for-profit member-based organization with a nearly century-long history of serving independent schools. Here are some audio samples of John’s work with Mathematics and Reading Comprehension.
John has always been attracted to the world of Education, beyond his B.A. in English Literature and M.B.A. from Fordham University, at the Rose Hill and Lincoln Center campuses, respectively. And whether it was playing the role of Professor Frank Lillie on stage in The Ernest Just Story at the Stella Adler Theater on Hollywood Boulevard or coaching his son’s Odyssey of the Mind middle school team in New Canaan, learning was always an adventure. John worked at his alma mater as an Adjunct and Advisor for five years at the Graduate School of Business Master’s in Investor Relations Program, hosting regular workshops for the MBA students who would learn from Manhattan’s top IR professionals. The students would discuss and try to solve current Public Relations-type challenges facing Corporate America and Wall Street’s leading financial institutions. Favorite topics included social media concerns, activist shareholders, and international business conflicts.
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John’s favorite experience in a Fordham classroom wasn’t at Lincoln Center however, but back at the Rose Hill campus where he was asked to be a guest speaker for the undergraduate Sports Media class taught by WFUV-FM’s outstanding Sports Director Bobby Ciafardini. John gave an overview of the voiceover industry, shared how he “broke in” to the entertainment industry, got his SAG card, etc. But the best part was passing out voiceover commercial copy to the students and discussing how to make really good choices before attempting their first take. Go Rams!
Adjunct Professor
Guest Speaker
