Description
Doreen Gehry Nelson, Professor of Education and Adjunct Professor in the College of Environmental Design at California Polytechnic
University in Pomona and Professor of Design-Based Learning at Art Center College of Design in Pasadena began researching
transfer of learning to develop an educational theory, methodology, and practical application for K-12 classroom teachers
while working within the Los Angeles Unified School District. She founded the Center for City Building Education™ in 1974
where she pioneered the educational methodology Backwards Thinking™ which led to her development of the educational reform
movement called The Doreen Gehry Nelson Method of Design-Based Learning. The collection spans from 1959-2014 and consists
of the Center for City Building Education™ (CBE) administrative and research files which include 3,000 CBE slides created
by the Office of Ray and Charles Eames, the Doreen Gehry Nelson Method of Design-Based Learning (DBL) California State Polytechnic
University and Art Center College of Design files, and publications which document the creation, development, and international
implementation of Nelson's educational theories and methodologies.
Background
Doreen Gehry Nelson, a public school teacher who was determined to improve the level of information retention by her students,
and to promote their higher-level thinking skills, researched transfer of learning to develop an educational theory, methodology,
and practical application for K-12 classroom teachers. She earned her Bachelor of Arts, Arts & Humanities and Elementary Teaching
Credential at UCLA in 1959 under the mentorship of Corrine A. Seeds and began her teaching practice at what is today called
the UCLA LAB School Corrine A. Seeds Campus. She earned her Master of Arts Degree in Educational Administration with Distinction
from California State University, Northridge in 1971.
Extent
51.8 Linear Feet
(93 document boxes, 5 record storage boxes, 10 flat boxes and 1 telescope box)
Restrictions
Property rights to the objects belong to UCLA Library Special Collections. All other rights, including copyright, are retained
by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue
the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.
Availability
Open for research. All requests to access special collections materials must be made in advance using the request button located
on this page.