She earned her Ph.D. at the University of Colorado, Boulder. She is the faculty advisor to the One Laptop per Child – Santa Barbara program. In addition, Harlow has worked on the development of several inquiry-based physics curricula designed to help elementary teachers develop appropriate content knowledge for teaching, including Physics & Everyday Thinking (PET) and Learning Physical Science (LEPS). At UCSB she has recently taught Elementary Science Methods, Physics for Elementary Teachers, and Technology in Educational Contexts. Prior to her graduate work in science education, she completed a B.S. in physics and a M.S degree in geophysics and taught physics in Tanzania, East Africa with the Peace Corps.