John L. Taylor's Course Site

Curriculum Vitae

John L. Taylor

johnnylogic@gmail.com

 

 

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS


 

I have a strong background in philosophy, psychology, and computer science. I am experienced in instruction in both business and academic settings. I have a B.A. in Philosophy, a B.A. in Psychology, and a minor in Computer Information Systems. Additionally, I have a wide array of applicable experience, ranging from co-teaching a course, lecturing, and presenting papers at professional meetings, to research, analysis, and training personnel.



EDUCATION


 

Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA


M.S. in Logic and Computation (incomplete)

2005


Thesis: “Truth, Simplicity and Ockham’s Razor”

Areas of Specialization: Philosophy of Science, Formal Epistemology, and Philosophy of Mind


 

Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA


B.A. in Philosophy

2003


Areas of Concentration: Philosophy of Science, Logic, and Epistemology.
Minor: Computer Information Systems (AOC: mathematical models of computation)


Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA


B.A. in Psychology

2003


Areas of Concentration: Cognitive, Social, and Biological Psychology.


College of the Redwoods, Eureka, CA


A.A. in Liberal Arts

1999


 


HONORS AND AWARDS


 

Fellowship, CMU Philosophy Department, Logic and Computation

2004 – 2005


Travel Award, Humboldt State University Philosophy Department

2003


Member of Sigma Xi: The Scientific Research Honor Society

2002 – 2003


Student Member of Psy Chi: National Honor Society in Psychology

2002 – 2003



 


TEACHING AND ASSISTING


 

Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA

 


Teaching AssistantIntroduction to Ethics.

2005


I created and moderated class forums, maintained grade spreadsheets, graded exams and papers, and advised students on effective writing, critical analysis and class subject matter. I held open office hours and met with students upon request.


Teaching Assistant– “What Philosophy Is.”

2004


I taught recitations held in the form of Socratic dialogue for two sections of approximately 30 students each, maintained online records, graded homework and papers, while providing extensive written comments. Furthermore, I advised students on effective writing, critical analysis, and class subject matter. I held open office hours and met with students upon request.


Columbia Community College, Columbia, CA

Tutor

 

2003


As a tutor in Columbia College’s Academic Achievement Center, I aided students in relevant subjects in which I had received a B or better (approx. 20). The wonderfully diverse students ranged from learning disabled to gifted and from 17 years old to senior citizens.


Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA

Teaching Assistant
– “Biological Basis of Behavior.”

 

2003


Graded exams, developed course web page, notes and glossary.


Research Assistant – “Modeling Unsupervised Category Learning.”

2002


Aided in original research for the modeling of unsupervised category learning with Bayesian methods, especially in translating a computer model from Fortran to C++.


Co-Instructor (with Professor John Powell) – “How the Mind Works.”

2001


Developed syllabus and overall course structure and co-led the class.

 


RELATED EXPERIENCE


 

Condor Earth Technologies, Columbia, CA


IT & Business Systems Analyst

I provide comprehensive information systems analysis, support, network administration, and junior project management for a geotechnical and engineering consulting company. Additionally, I perform risk and reliability analysis using probabilistic methods (especially Monte Carlo Simulation). My Quality Process Analyst (QPA) certification is in progress.

2006 - Present


Carnegie Mellon University, Durham, NC


Computer Lab Administrator

As lab assistant, I maintained four servers running Apache and Microsoft Server, sent out mailings, and administrated software in development (http://caae.phil.cmu.edu/picola/). Additionally, I provided support for faculty and had to troubleshoot server problems. As a website designer, I developed and maintained five different sites (e.g. http://www.hss.cmu.edu/philosophy/).

1995 - Present


Condor Earth Technologies, Columbia, CA


GIS/GPS Surveyor

My duties included driving to new locations every day—and sometimes many locations in one day—at a precise time to set up a GPS receiver, taking detailed notes and coordinating with five co-workers at separate locations.

2004


Self-Employed, Sonora, CA


Web Designer

I designed, developed content for and maintained sites.  For example:
http://www.kleenslate.com/

2004


Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA


Logic Grader

As a logic grader, for a year and a half, I evaluated student proofs, proctored tests, and graded final exams.

 

2001- 2002


PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS


 

  • Taylor, J.L. and Burgess, S.A. (2004). “Steve Austin Versus the Symbol Grounding Problem”. In Proc. Selected Papers from the Computers and Philosophy Conference (CAP2003), Canberra, Australia. Conferences in Research and Practice in Information Technology, 37. Weckert, J. and Al-Saggaf, Y., Eds., ACS. 21-25.
  • Taylor, J. L. "The Computational Stance" at CAP North America 2004, Pittsburgh, PA
  • Taylor, J. L. "Experimentally Informed Tutoring" in a session on Defining Tutor Pedagogy; 2004 NCWCA Conference, Stanford CA
  • Taylor, J. L. & Scott Burgess "Steve Austin Versus the Symbol Grounding Problem" at CAP Australia 2003 Conference, Canberra, AU
 

PROFFESIONAL SERVICE


 

  • Referee, Journal of Philosophical Logic (Summer 2005)
  • Student Track Referee, North American-Computing and Philosophy 2005 Conference
  • Student Representative, Philosophy Department, Humboldt State University (Fall 2002- Spring 2003; Fall 1999- Spring 2000).


OTHER ACTIVITIES (PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS, VOLUNTEER WORK, ETC.)


 

  • ·Student Member of American Philosophical Association (2001-2004)
  • Member, HSU Philosophy Club (Fall 2002- Fall 2003)
  • Founding President, HSU Philosophy Club (Fall 2001- Spring 2002)
  • Art Instructor, Children’s Art Program, Strawberry Music Festival (1998-2002).
  • Webmaster: http://www.crumpled.com/cp/

 


SKILLS


 

Operating Systems

·     Windows

·     Macintosh

·     Linux

Productivity

·     MS Office Applications®

·     Windows® SharePoint

·     MS Exchange

Media/Production

·     Dreamweaver

·     Adobe Photoshop

·     Paintshop Pro

·     Acid Pro

Utilities

·     Symantec Antivirus Corporate Edition

·     Norton Ghost

Programming Languages

·     Visual C++/Visual Studio

·     Visual Basic/Studio

·     Scheme (LISP Variant)

·     Prolog

Mark-up/Scripting

·     HTML

·     XML

·     PHP

·     VBScript

Modeling/Mathematical Software

·     DecisionTools Suite

·     Mathematica

·     R (Statistical Software)

·     Weka/RapidMiner








 

 

REFERENCES

 

  • ·John Powell, PhD, Professor of Philosophy, Humboldt State University
  • Barry Hillman, PhD, President, Condor Earth Technologies, Inc.
  • Jeff Fitzwater, MA, Faculty, Columbia Community College
CONTACT INFORMATION AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST