Professional Biography
Dr. Frye’s first teaching and research appointment was abroad at Cambridge University. He returned to the United States to pursue research in computer science at Yale and subsequently resumed teaching and research at New York University. He joined the faculty at Penn GSE in 1998.
Research Interests and Current Projects
Dr. Frye’s research efforts are concentrated on two topics in cognitive development, children’s theories of mind and early mathematical development. The first considers the developments that are important for theory of mind and the effects those developments subsequently have on children’s social competence. This research investigates the relation of theory of mind to executive control in particular and to early childhood development in general. It examines the benefits theory of mind has for young children’s social-emotional understanding and for their understanding of teaching and learning.
The goal of the second research effort is to understand how children initially acquire mathematical reasoning skills. This research assesses the cognitive changes that occur in early math learning and employs that information to design interactive classroom and computer settings to improve math understanding. Present projects include collaborating with urban Head Start centers to support emergent numeracy and social competence to ensure young children’s readiness for the transition to school.