Northwestern Oklahoma State University’s Department of Social Sciences will play host to “The Constitutional Convention,” a free one-day seminar for teachers presented by Teaching American History. The seminar runs Friday, Nov. 13, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. on the Northwestern Enid campus in Enid, Oklahoma.
Dr. Todd Estes, professor of history at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan, will lead the discussion. Lunch will be provided for attendees.
Event Details
- Event: “The Constitutional Convention,” a Teaching American History one-day teacher seminar
- Date: Friday, Nov. 13, 2026
- Time: 8:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.
- Location: Northwestern Oklahoma State University Enid campus, 2929 E. Randolph St., Enid, Oklahoma, Room 124
- Cost: Free
- Meal: Lunch provided
- Discussion leader: Todd Estes, professor of history, Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan
- Who should attend: All educators, especially teachers of history, civics, government and English; school librarians have also attended
- Certificate: Teachers receive a letter of attendance at the end of the seminar
- Registration: Register for The Constitutional Convention seminar on the Teaching American History website
Constitutional Convention Seminar Schedule
- 8:30-8:50 a.m.: Registration
- 8:50-9 a.m.: Welcome and introduction
- 9-10:30 a.m.: Session I, “The Ends of Government”
- 10:30-10:45 a.m.: Break
- 10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m.: Session II, “A New Order for the Ages”
- 12:15-12:45 p.m.: Lunch
- 12:45-2:15 p.m.: Session III, “Slavery and the Constitution”
- 2:15 p.m.: Conclusion and Teaching American History resources
What Teachers Will Study at the Seminar
The seminar offers an overview of the debates at the Constitutional Convention. The group will examine the purposes of the American political order, the defects of the Articles of Confederation, the debates over the reform of the Confederation government and the challenges of addressing the institution of slavery.
Participants will attempt to understand the interests and principles that divided the members of the convention. They will also study how the delegates arrived at a compromise that defined the Constitution of 1787.
The program is a discussion, not a lecture. Primary source documents are the only readings, and Estes will facilitate the conversation instead of lecturing or presenting. Registrants are highly encouraged to read all the documents in advance and come ready with questions.
Teaching American History provides more than 150 one-day seminars per year at no cost to the host or the teachers.
About Discussion Leader Dr. Todd Estes
Estes is a professor of history at Oakland University. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee and master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Kentucky, all in U.S. history. His teaching specialty is early American history from the American Revolution through the Jacksonian era. His research focuses on early U.S. political history and political culture.
He is the author of the book “The Jay Treaty Debate, Public Opinion, and the Evolution of Early American Political Culture,” published in 2006, in addition to many articles and essays. He is working on a book about the debate over ratification of the U.S. Constitution in 1787-88.
Estes has won several teaching prizes, including the 2001 Oakland University Teaching Excellence Award. In 2009, the Organization of American Historians named him a Distinguished Lecturer. Read Dr. Todd Estes’ biography on the Teaching American History website.
Why Northwestern Brings Teacher Seminars to Enid
Dr. Jana Brown Pittman, coordinator of social science teacher education at Northwestern, organizes the seminars.
“My goal in offering these seminars is to bring educational resources here so it is more convenient for our area teachers to participate in professional development,” Pittman said.
“Participants gain valuable resources and also have the opportunity to deepen their knowledge of history and government through primary source documents,” Pittman said. “We always have an insightful discussion, and it is a great opportunity to meet other teachers from Oklahoma and Kansas who come to our campus for the seminars.”
How to Register for the Free Teacher Seminar
Media Contact:
Sean J. Doherty, University Relations Specialist
Email: sjdoherty@nwosu.edu
Phone: 580-327-8480