The Eastern Oklahoma State College GEAR UP hosted a Texas Instruments Mini-Conference for over forty southeastern Oklahoma and southwestern Arkansas educators this summer. The Mini-Conference showcased the use of TI technology in math, science, or STEM classroom instruction. Six local educators led sessions by demonstrating lessons they have used with the technology in their classrooms. These educators include Liz Belcher (Panama), Tim Collier (McAlester), Keith Craig (Spiro), Angela Ervin (Rattan), Preston Fenn (McCurtain), and Lisa Goddard (Wilburton). Along with three Texas Instruments instructors included Harshal Chhaya, an engineer who is the STEM Product Manager, Marco Gonzalez, the Educational Technology Consultant for Oklahoma, and Valerie Hudson, the TI Systemic Professional Development Supervisor.
The conference focused on middle and high school math and science. Ervin showcased how TI technology was used in her elementary-level STEM class. Chhaya was amazed at how she used the technology to help kindergarteners learn about math topics, and third-grade students to code on the TI-Nspire calculators. “This is the kind of instruction the TI technology was designed for,” said Harshal. “However, I never imagined that it could be used with such young students. Teachers of all levels need to see how they can enhance their instruction with this technology.”
EOSC GEAR UP has provided Texas Instruments training and equipment to teachers from partner schools since 2011. The teachers who presented at the Mini-Conference have used their training to enhance instruction in their classrooms and wanted to share their ideas with the other teachers in the area.
This event was hosted by Eastern Oklahoma State College’s 2017 GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) grant. GEAR UP is a federal initiative to increase the number of low-income students who enter and successfully transition into postsecondary education. Eastern has finished its seventh year of the $17 million grant, serving students, teachers, parents, and administrators in 39 partner schools in Southeast Oklahoma.
