Have you received a class set of whiteboards in the mail free of charge???

Congratulations!!

Project Oklahoma Whiteboard is an initiative to promote active learning in the classroom by getting class sets of whiteboards in as many Oklahoma science classrooms as possible.  By providing  examples of their effective use, related resources and supporting research-based documentation, we hope classrooms across the state will welcome this versatile education tool.

At the beginning of the 2012-2013 academic year, the following were sent a set of 25 whiteboards (9" x 12") at no charge and with no obligation:

• 2011 & 2012 AAPT/PTRA NWOSU ToPPS Participants
• Active HS Physics Teachers in Oklahoma

Included with each shipment of whiteboards, teachers will receive

• Information on the AAPT/PTRA ToPPS Program at NWOSU
• AAPT application
• Physics First Informational packet
• AAPT calendar
• AAPT HS Physics photo contest poster
• Information on the AOK section of the AAPT (browse to www.nwosu.edu/AAPT)
• Example "best practice" activities to get started using whiteboards (via this website)
• A list of practitioner and research-based resources available on the web for using whiteboards in the classroom (via this website)

Near the close of the 2011 AAPT/PTRA NWOSU ToPPS grant cycle, some discussion began about what kinds of "takehome" items could have the greatest impact for participants and their students.  While higher end technology items were considered, some realizations about science teachers were identified:

• Most science teachers teach more than one subject/discipline
• Some science teachers are more proficient with technology than others
• Some science teachers use data acquisition materials, but not all
• Availability to IT within a district is not consistent across the state
• While data acquisition interfaces are nice, only one unit for a class of 25 - 30 is impractical and let's face it, probe/sensors are expensive

During the 2011 NWOSU ToPPS program, participants made regular use of "no frills" whiteboards.  Recalling this, we determined this could have the greatest impact given the demographics of our ToPPS participants and Oklahoma's science teachers -- despite it's "low technology:"

The PI for this project is Steven Maier, Associate Professor of Physics at Northwestern Oklahoma State University sjmaier@nwosu.edu . Significant contribution toward the project is from Brian Lamore, a PTRA from Houston, TX -- Thank You, Brian! Funding is made possible through Title II grants awarded by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.