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About the Program

The ITQ/TOPPS Project at Northwestern Oklahoma State University is designed to provide high quality professional development opportunities for high school and middle school science teachers across northwestern Oklahoma.

The program will help up to 30 area teachers gain physics content area knowledge, develop new teaching strategies, integrate instructional technology and attain “Highly Qualified” status. The ultimate goals are to enhance classroom teaching, learning effectiveness and improve student achievement in physics and physical science.

ToPPS III: This summer, ToPPS participants will be engaged in activities that further and deepen their understanding of electricity & magnetism.  Participation in ToPPS I or ToPPS II is not a requirement for attending ToPPS III.

During the summer of 2012, ToPPS II was held. The physics of energy, impulse, momentum and energy were  investigated. 

During the summer of 2011, ToPPS I was held.  During that institute, the physics/science content of kinematics, dynamics and Newton’s laws were investigated. 

ToPPS Program Components

• A five-day summer institute held at NWOSU, which includes intensive workshops, as well as evening educational and mentoring activities.
• One follow-up session and two regional outreach services will be scheduled during the regular academic year.  These will be about five hours of professional development each.
• Online sessions during which the Teacher Scholars can share their experiences of implementing institute techniques and pedagogies in their classrooms.

Program Features 

• Hands On
• Minds On
• Active Participation
• High Tech Labs
• Low Tech Labs
• Computer Interfacing
• Project Construction
• White-Boarding
• Constructing and Analyzing Graphs
• Mentoring and Fun Evening Activities

Program Benefits

• Ideas for and opportunities to do laboratory activities
• Tips on classroom demonstrations and presentations
• Updates and new approaches for standard topics
• Introduction to new approaches and teaching strategies
• Colleagues to contact for encouragement and suggestions
• The opportunity to enroll in 3 hours of graduate level Education (EDUC) , Physics (PHYS) or Physical Science (PHSC) credit

Additional Support

Each participant will receive:

• A $600 stipend to defray travel costs and incidental expenses
• On-campus housing for the summer institute
• Teacher resource guides and other instructional materials to take back and use in the classroom

NWOSU ITQ ToPPS Personnel

Brian Lamore & Evelyn Restivo

• Lead PTRAs

Karen Jo Matsler

• PTRA CEO

Steven Maier

• Principal Investigator for the OSRHE ITQ/ToPPS Program
• Associate Professor of Physics at NWOSU

Please Direct Correspondence To: