Programs (A-Z)

Advancing Biotechnology and Climatology: Educating for Economic Growth in Oklahoma

  • Agency: NSF Partnerships for Innovation (PFI)
  • Principal Investigator: Dr. Mary John O’Hair
  • Co- Principal Investigators: Dr. Linda Atkinson, Dr. Jean Cate, Dr. Gordon Uno, Dr. Kelvin Droegenmeire and Dr. Lee Williams
  • Director: Quyen Arana
  • March 31, 2006 - February 28, 2008
  • $598,559
  • Description: A funded workforce development partnership between K-12 and higher education (K-20) and the industries of biotechnology and climatology.
  • Impact: 100 teachers and 3,000 students

Anadarko Public School’s Link2Literacy Program

  • Agency: Anadarko Public Schools
  • Director: Dr. Linda Atkinson
  • August 2006 - June 2007
  • $6202
  • Description: Library Grant External Evaluation.
  • Impact: 89 teachers and 1017 students

Ardmore Science and Technology Project (ASTP)

  • Agency: Ardmore Public Schools from SOMF
  • Principal Investigator: Dr. Mary John O’Hair, Dr. Jean Cate and Dr. Linda Atkinson
  • Coordinator: Vicki Medlin
  • December 1, 2005 - August 30, 2007
  • $180,000
  • Description: A community-wide systemic change model that focuses on increasing student learning in science and technology.
  • Impact: 100 teachers and 3,000 students

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, OK-ACTS: A Gates Partnership

  • Agency: Gates Foundation
  • Principal Investigator: Dr. Mary John O’Hair
  • Timeline: 2001-2005
  • $1,200,000
  • Description: Leadership development for technology and school renewal
  • Sustained by OETT as OETT/OK-ACTS Leadership

Engineering in Practice for a Sustainable Future (EiP)

  • Agency: NSF Graduate through K-12 (GK-12)
  • Principal Investigator: Dr. Mark Nanny
  • Co- Principal Investigators: Dr. Mary John O’Hair, Dr. Deborah Trytten, Dr. Susan Walden and Dr. Leslie Williams
  • Director: Dr. Tim Laubach
  • Timeline: 2005-2011
  • $2,000,000
  • Description: Work in secondary school classrooms with experienced teachers as they expand the previously-tested activities to incorporate the engineering method to solve local and global societal issues.

Engineering Service Learning

  • Staff: Monica Cook, College of Engineering Liaison
  • Description: Connects undergraduate and graduate College of Enginneering students with opportunities in the K20 Center’s network of K-12 schools.

Informal Science Program

  • Timeline: Ongoing 
  • Description: Regularly provided programs for PreK through adult audiences at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History (SNOMNH).
  • Contact: Dr. Wendy Gram

Institute for Communication Research (ICR)

  • Principal Investigator: Dr. Dan O’Hair
  • Description: An interdisciplinary organization that seeks to enhance research, teaching, and service opportunities for professionals focusing on communication issues involving contexts of education, health, risk, crises, disasters, terrorism and safety.

K-12 Biotech Schools

  • Agency: Inasmuch Foundation
  • Principal Investigator: Dr. Mary John O’Hair
  • Director: Dr. Tim Laubach
  • November 30, 2005 - November 29, 2007
  • $50,000
  • Description: To increase interest and achievement in science, technology, and mathematics by connecting K-12 students and teachers with bioscientists and the biotechnology professions through research experiences, summer institutes, internships, and lesson study; and by strengthening and expanding the existing curriculum in science, mathematics, and technology in 5th - 12th grades.
  • Impact: 100 teachers and 3,000 students

K-12 Biotechnology Schools: Recruiting and Retaining the Next Generation of Scientists

  • Agency: Presbyterian Health Foundation
  • Principal Investigator: Dr. Mary John O’Hair
  • Co- Principal Investigators: Dr. Jean Cate and Dr. Gordon Uno
  • Director: Dr. Tim Labauch
  • August 1, 2005 - July 31, 2008
  • $150,000
  • Description:To increase interest and achievement in science, technology, and mathematics by connecting K-12 students and teachers with bioscientists and the biotechnology professions through research experiences, summer institutes, internships, and lesson study; and by strengthening and expanding the existing curriculum in science, mathematics, and technology in 5th - 12th grades.
  • Impact: 100 teachers and 3,000 students

K20Connections

  • Agency: OK-EPSCoR and OU VPR
  • Director: Quyen Arana
  • Sept 2005 - July 2006
  • $60,000
  • Description: An innovative program that bridges pre-college science classrooms with OU research laboratories and principal investigators through a wireless mobile videoconferencing system.

K20: Improving Science Education across Oklahoma (Science PDI)

  • Agency: Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation
  • Principal Investigator: Dr. Mary John O’Hair
  • Co- Principal Investigators: Dr. Linda Atkinson, Dr. Jean Cate and Dr. Jon Pedersen
  • Director: Janis Slater
  • Specialists: Sharlene Kleine and Vicki Medlin
  • July 1, 2005 - June 30, 2008
  • $900,000
  • Description: K-8 science teacher professional development institutes designed to improve and deepen science content knowledge and implement instructional strategies in classrooms that will improve science learning.
  • Impact: 100 Teachers and 3,000 Students

K20 Networks of Emerging Technology (NET): Math and Literacy Lesson Studies (STAR Schools)

  • Agency: United States Department of Education
  • Principal Investigator/Director: Dr. Mary John O’Hair
  • Co- Principal Investigators: Dr. Linda Atkinson, Dr. Sally Beach, Dr. Jean Cate, Dr. Deborah Trytten and Dr. Leslie Williams
  • Associate Directors: Glenne Whisenhunt (lesson study),  Scott Wilson (gaming) and  Dr. Phil Applegate (dissemination)
  • Lesson Study Facilitators: Perri Applegate, Nancy Cline, Sharlene Kleine and Vicki Medlin
  • October 2005 – September 2008
  • $4,956,765
  • Description: Developing advanced computer gaming and simulations delivered through hand-held computing devices used by students and teachers targeting math, science and reading.
  • Impact: 100 teachers and 3,000 students

Norman Public Schools SLC Evaluation

  • Agency: Norman Public Schools
  • Director: Dr. Jean Cate
  • August 31, 2005 – June 30, 2007
  • $15,000
  • Impact: 200 teachers and 3,000 students

OETT/OK-ACTS Leadership

  • Agency: Oklahoma Educational Technology Trust (OETT)
  • Principal Investigator: Dr. Mary John O’Hair
  • Director: Dr. Jean Cate
  • Renewal: 9/1/2004 thru 7/31/2012
  • $838,980
  • Description: Leadership development for school renewal and technology integration
  • Impact: 1150 school and district leaders

OETT and OK-ACTS: Partnering for Professional Learning Community (PLC)

  • Agency: Non Profit -Oklahoma Educational Technology Trust
  • Principal Investigator: Dr. Mary John O’Hair
  • Co- Principal Investigators: Dr. Jean Cate, Dr. Linda Atkinson and Dr. Mark Nanny
  • Co-Directors: Dr. Linda Atkinson, Dr. Leslie Williams and Perri Applegate
  • Field Technology Specialists: Nancy Cline and Gayla Mears
  • Oklahoma Department of Career Technology Specialist: Brenda Craige
  • OETT Network Director: Janna Walters
  • August 1, 2002 – July 31, 2012
  • $8,544,120
  • Description:Develops teachers, principals and superintendents to lead systemic change and technology integration in their schools and districts.
  • Impact: 187 schools, 5,700 teachers, and 250,000 students

Oklahoma Science Project

  • Agency: OMRF – Howard Hughes Medical Institute
  • Principal Investigator: Dr. Mary John O’Hair
  • Co- Principal Investigators: Dr. Jean Cate, Dr. Linda Atkinson and Dr. Gordon Uno
  • Specialist: Sharlene Kleine
  • Research Scientist: Dr. Mark Nanny
  • Renewal 9/1/05 thru 8/31/07
  • $140,000
  • Description: A professional development continuum designed to introduce secondary science teachers in Oklahoma public schools to novel instructional approaches that can be used to acquaint students with the nature of science and scientific inquiry.
  • Impact: 100 teachers and 3,000 students

Salina Public Schools Project LIFE (Literacy for Everyone)

  • Agency: Salina Public Schools
  • Director: Dr. Linda Atkinson
  • August 2006 - June 2007
  • $3600
  • Description: Library Grant External Evaluation.
  • Impact: 22 teachers and 426 students

Sooner Elementary Engineering and Science Clubs (SeeS)

  • Principal Investigator: Dr. Susan Walden
  • Director: Dr. Susan Walden
  • Description: An elementary engineering and science after school program for Norman elementary schools.

Stidham Schools One-on-One Initiative

  • Dr. Linda Atkinson and Dr. Leslie Williams
  • July 1, 2006 – June 30, 2007
  • Description: Develops systemic whole school change through 1-1 laptop initiative for technology integration
  • Impact: 10 Teachers and 120 Students

Teacher Quality and Student Success: Testing the K20 Science Professional Development Model (K20 Science) for Rural Science Teachers

  • Agency: National Science Fundation (NSF) Research and Evaluation on Education in Science and Engineering (REESE)
  • Principal Investigator: Dr. Mary John O’Hair
  • Co-Principal Investigators: Dr. Dan O’Hair, Dr. Barbara Greene, Dr. Jean Cate, Dr. Mark Nanny, Dr. Gordon Uno and Dr. Jon Pedersen
  • Director: Janis Slater
  • September 15, 2006 to August 31, 2009
  • Award: $994,297
  • Description: A professional development program and field experimental study that utilizes the K20 Science model and involves teachers in authentic research experience and inquiry pedagogy.