John Parris began his involvement with computers and educational technology in 1983 as part of early efforts at the Children’s Television Workshop to design educational software based on Sesame Street. In 1986 John joined the Center for Children and Technology, then a part of Bank Street College of Education, as a technical adviser to projects integrating new technologies into formal and informal educational settings, such as schools and museums. In this role he has worked closely with educators and children to understand the implications of technology on learning, staff development and curriculum design.

In recent years John has served as visual editor, graphic designer, and project manager on efforts to design software products and prototypes for science, social studies, and other interdisciplinary curricula. He has worked with leading cultural institutions, such as The Whitney Museum of American Art, The Smithsonian Institution, the American Museum of Natural History, the Library of Congress and Carnegie Hall. Currently, John is helping design and produce online professional development materials that incorporate streaming video and interactive learning objects. John also uses his experience with museums and informal learning environments to contribute to research and evaluation projects such as the DesignIT Studio IT education program in Fort Worth, Texas.