Role reversal: teachers become students at OMRF

Tag : Students' Shoes
For six Oklahoma science teachers, including one from Deer Creek,this summer has provided the chance to put on different shoes:those of students.

The educators, all middle and high-school teachers, were selectedfrom a statewide applicant pool as Foundation Scholars at theOklahoma Medical Research Foundation. In the four-week program, theteachers work together in an OMRF laboratory, performingexperiments and learning laboratory techniques they can take backto their classrooms.

During the course, the teachers design and perform a series ofexperiments and computer exercises working from intact cells tomolecules. Beyond learning new experiments, they gain experiencedesigning an integrated series of projects centered around aninitial observation or idea of their own for use in theirclassrooms.

For Deer Creek High School’s Jennifer Bush, the experiencehas given her new ideas, which will help enhance her lesson plans.“If I can get them talking about science, it makes adifference. I’m already making plans to use what I’velearned at OMRF in my classes this fall.”

“Already, I feel more confident about teaching higher levelcontent in my classes,” said Meredith Wronowski, a teacher atCapitol Hill High School. “The labs we have learned here aresimple and inexpensive to set up and will be easy for students todo. But they drive home sophisticated science concepts and processskills. Students will learn to be critical thinkers, and that willhelp them in all their school subjects.”

“I teach sixth graders, but the basic lab skills I’velearned here can be passed on to them and will help them in thefuture,” Mayfield Middle School teacher Vanessa Berry said.“Students always enjoy hands-on experiences, and it’s afun way to learn. I’m looking forward to returning to myclassroom with new ideas.”

In addition to the experience, the teachers receive a $2,000stipend and up to $1,000 in classroom supplies or equipment.

“This program has also opened my eyes to what’savailable in my own backyard right here in Oklahoma City,”said Westmoore High School teacher Jeffrey Baughman.“Learning about the advancements made by researchers at OMRFand being able to share my experiences with my students may sparksome of them to consider a career in research. That pathdoesn’t always get the attention it deserves.”

Joanne Peterson, who teaches at Putnam City High School, plans touse the information she has collected as an exercise in dataanalysis for her students. “Everything I’ve learnedhere is student-friendly, easily implemented in the classroom, andour experiments have inspired me to use real data to help mystudents learn to think critically.”

“Everything we are learning here parallels the objectivesthat the State Department of Education requires teachers to coverin their classrooms,” said Medford’s Julie Angle.“I’ve been able to grow as an individual whilestrengthening my professional skills, as well, and that will helpme provide students with the best science educationpossible.”

The 2008 OMRF Foundation Scholars are:

Julie Angle, Medford, Medford High School

Jeffrey Baughman II, Oklahoma City, Westmoore High School

Vanessa Berry, Norman, Mayfield Middle School

Jennifer Bush, Edmond, Deer Creek High School

Joanne Peterson, Moore, Putnam City High School

Meredith Wronowski, Yukon, Capitol Hill High School