Oklahoma Christian University Workshop Puts New Technology in Teachers’Hands

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Oklahoma Christian University mathematics instructor Jason Holland stands before his class and proposes a simple equation. "Y equals X squared," he says to the 16 students, all of whom are Oklahoma City area middle school math teachers.

Holland holds a small calculator in his hand and punches in some numbers. Above him on a screen a line suddenly appears plotting the results of his equation on a graph.

Scattered about the classroom in the Herold Science Hall on the Oklahoma Christian campus, Holland's students are busy punching in the same numbers on calculators they hold in their hands. One by one, the line gets plotted on small screens throughout the room.

Welcome to "Using Graphing Calculators to Teach Middle School Math," an eight-day workshop held in mid-June that put new technology in the hands of math educators. They were learning to use the Texas Instruments TI-73 graphing calculator.

Most had little previous experience using a graphing calculator, which has the capabilities to instantly translate the most complicated equation into points on a graph. Teachers can connect the handheld calculator to an

overhead projector and the results are instantly displayed on a big-screen for high-impact visual emphasis to students.

Nancy Parker teaches 7th grade math and pre-algebra at Highland East Junior High in Moore. She had no experience with the graphing calculator before the workshop, but saw a lot of potential.

"Fractions are an area where middle school students struggle," Parker said. "This is another teaching tool that we can use to highlight the different aspects of fractions. It would take us forever to plot the points and draw

the graph, but with these calculators we can project it on an overhead screen and illustrate a variety of graphs quickly.

"For instance, we can show the positive slope of a line vs. a line with a negative slope so they can instantly see the difference. So, it's a big time saver for us and the students to instantly see what that line looks like."

Oklahoma Christian's Holland, an assistant professor of mathematics, said graphing calculators have been shown to make a big difference for students trying to grasp difficult concepts.

"You could go on for pages about the benefits of graphing calculators from the research that has been done," Holland said. "The short answer is that it gives students multiple ways of viewing many aspects of mathematics.

"They can manipulate fractions, plot different functions, study different plots of data, learn to program and many other features."

The workshop was funded by a grant from the Dwight D. Eisenhower Mathematics and Science Education Program. Each participating teacher received a calculator and an overhead projector kit that was funded in part by Conoco.

Assisting Holland in teaching the workshop were Phyllis Bolin, associate professor of mathematics, Oklahoma Christian University; Darlinda Cassel, adjunct professor of mathematics, Oklahoma Christian University; and Bill Arbuckle, mathematics instructor at Edmond Santa Fe High School.

For Holland, the workshop offered some rewards that can't be plotted on a graph. It acquainted a number of area teachers with the Oklahoma Christian campus and faculty. And it provided Holland the opportunity to be of service

to his profession.

"I enjoy seeing the teachers become re-energized after a long, hard year," he said. "I enjoy them becoming excited about being equipped with a new technology to take to the classroom."

Parker said the workshop gave her a new perspective on teaching mathematics. "I had all my math back in the '70s and we didn't have graphing calculators," she said. "I have learned a lot this week."

In addition to Parker, other teachers attending the workshop were: Jim Lawson, Central Junior High School, Norman; Beth Bryan, Sequoyah Middle School, Edmond; Barbra Parker, Harrah Middle School; Julia Cook, Central Middle School, Edmond; Billy Ray, Classen School of Advanced Studies, Oklahoma City; Mike Dershem, Central Junior High, Moore; Christina Mearse, Hefner Middle School, Putnam City; Kathleen Stover, Webster Middle School, Oklahoma City; Gowry Sivanesan, Emerson Secondary School, Oklahoma City; Janet Jennings, Jackson Middle School, Oklahoma City; Chris Friend, Del City

Junior High School; Sandra Smith, Jackson Middle School, Oklahoma City; Tamia Moaning-Norris, Jackson Middle School, Oklahoma City; Trish Carr, Bridge Creek Middle School; and David Helm, Gateway Academy, Oklahoma City.

-- Oklahoma Christian University-

Contact: Jim Stafford at (405) 425-5130 or e-mail at jim.Stafford@oc.edu



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It’s Summer Camp Season at Oklahoma Christian University

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Summer camp season is in full swing at Oklahoma Christian University, and more than 1,500 young people are participating in church-related camps hosted on the university's campus this summer.

Oklahoma Christian is home to four church camps this summer in addition to the basketball camps and engineering academies that are under way simultaneously.

"We are happy to be able to make our campus available for summer camps and to be able to serve the church in this way," said Alfred Branch, acting president. "Holding these camps at Oklahoma Christian gives the campers a comfortable place to have fun and strengthen their faith."

The church camps -- Genesis, Zenith, Impact and Cornerstone -- each offer a week packed with fun and non-stop activities.



"Our goal for the campers is to help them get to know God better and move them toward a lifelong walk with Him," said Kent Risley, Edmond Church of Christ associate minister and camp Impact director. "OC is a wonderful place to host these camps, and the staff of the school is very helpful."



Camp Genesis kicked off the church camp season the week of June 11-15 with 220 high school students in attendance. With a theme of "It's About Time," the camp was targeted at helping teens make good decisions about tough times

in their lives.

"That comes from trying to identify where kids are and what they're about," said Gary Cochran, Genesis camp director. "It's about how they make that decision."

Parts of the camp included worship times and small groups. In addition, the campers were involved with Helping Hands, a project where the teens work with different nonprofit organizations in the community.

"We have taken kids into p84

Oklahoma Christian University Students Combine Summer Travel, Learning

Oklahoma City-- Imagine spending 5 1/2 weeks traveling Europe, tasting Italian gelato, walking down London's Abby Road, and hearing the sopranos in the Vienna's Staatsoper--and getting college credit for the whole trip.

As part of Oklahoma Christian University's International Studies Program, 13 students and one sponsoring family from Oklahoma Christian University

are doing just that.

When the group returns June 28, they will have traveled to London, Vienna, Venice and Florence and will have had three weeks of free travel.

Each student in the program earns six hours of credit and is enrolled in philosophy, literature and humanities courses.

As part of the curriculum the students also keep a journal reflecting their daily experiences.

"Our International Studies programs are a living laboratory for learning about world history, diverse languages, cultures and peoples," said John Osborne, director of the International Studies Program at Oklahoma Christian and this summer's sponsor.

"Every student who participates in these programs gains a unique understanding of our world."

Seniors participating on the trip are Christopher Austin, Yukon, Okla., who is majoring in English and psychology and Mark Houts, Stillwater, Okla., who is majoring in English with certification.

Juniors are Raymond Bailey, Sheridan, Colo. and Tam Bo, Deer Park, Texas, both are majoring in communication studies and

theatre.

Sophomores are Brandi Drasky, Denver, Colo., who is majoring in English writing with certification and Chisato Sekine,

Ibaraki, Japan, who is majoring in business.

Freshmen include Amy Nickerson, who is majoring in advertising design and public relations, and Tiffany Willis, whose major is undecided; both are from Edmond, Okla.

Also participating are five students from Cascade College, Oklahoma Christian University's branch campus in Portland, Ore: Sarah Dutcher, Gelin Rodas, Shannon Salisbury, Stephanie Wright, and Charlotte Wilson.

Sponsoring the group is Osborne, along with his wife Kelly and their children Samuel (6), Riley (2), and Seth (1).

Oklahoma Christian University's International Studies Program includes the summer program as well as semester programs in Vienna with study and travel throughout Europe and the Pacific Rim that includes study and travel in Hawaii, Japan, China, Australia and New

Zealand.



-- Oklahoma Christian University--

For more information contact: Katie Hartman at 405-425-5130 or at kate.hartman@oc.edu83

Three Business Leaders Join Executive Committee

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Oklahoma Christian University Board of Trustees has elected three new members to its executive committee and a new member to the board.

Don Millican was elected vice chairman of the executive committee.

Millican is a certified public accountant and a partner in the international accounting firm of Ernst & Young and serves on its Board of Partners for the Americas practice. He lives in Tulsa.

The board also elected Terry Childers as secretary of the executive committee. Childers is president of The Childers Corporation in Edmond where he resides.

David Seat has been elected member at large on the executive committee. Seat, an alumnus, is president of BancFirst, Oklahoma City and lives in Edmond.

The new members succeed three outgoing members, Charles Floyd, Houston; Dr. Charles Branch, San Antonio, Texas; and Dr. Joe Stafford, Enid, Okla., who recently retired from their service on the executive committee.

Other members of the executive committee include Chairman Ralph Chain, Canton, Okla., Treasurer Lyle Harms, Ponca City, Okla., and Member-at-large Jack McGraw, Midland, Texas.

In addition, the board recently elected Dwain Chaffin to the Board of Trustees. Chaffin, a retired executive of Texas Instruments, lives in Sherman, Texas.

The Board of Trustees is the governing board of Oklahoma Christian University, which has an enrollment of more than 2,000 students and offers programs in a wide variety of disciplines including engineering, education,

communication, business and Biblical studies.

With a mission to create purposeful lives of leadership and service, Oklahoma Christian has been nationally recognized by U.S. News & World Report for its academic quality.

This fall, the university will launch a laptop computer program that will provide an IBM Thinkpad computer with wireless Internet to every student.

-- Oklahoma Christian University -



Contact: Dawn Shelton at 823-6936 or e-mail at dawn.shelton@oc.edu

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