Teachers have the amazing ability to broaden our worldview, open our eyes, and shape our lives. However, we live in an economy where teachers are forced to do more with less. In fact, after graduation, few teachers have the luxury of returning to a learning environment. With fewer resources and larger classrooms, being a teacher can be a daunting task.

Fortunately, there is an organization right here in Norman, Oklahoma, that is changing the face of education, and positively affecting the way teachers teach. The K20 Center, in collaboration with the University of Oklahoma and the Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education, promotes innovative learning through school, university, and community collaboration. The K20 Center teaches leaders, educators, parents, and students how to succeed through shared learning, leadership development, and technology integration. The overarching goal is to transform kindergarten through graduate education into inclusive, technology-enriched learning communities that encourage and support student learning.

The K20 Center teaches leaders, educators, parents, and students how to succeed
through shared learning, leadership development, and technology integration.

How do they do this? The K20 Center’s philosophy is a “whole school” approach.  It starts at the top with professional development of superintendents, principals and other school district leaders and then filters down to teachers, parents and students. Leadership development begins with a traditional two-day seminar that incorporates technology training and a focus on practices of high-achieving schools.  After the seminar, professionals engage in smaller follow-up sessions throughout the year to develop action plans and technology implementation plans in their schools. The belief is that by helping school leaders identify opportunities for growth within their schools, they will be able to create true and meaningful change.

Although the solution may begin with school leadership, it doesn’t end there.  Classroom teachers may use the K20ALT website for help with creative lesson plans that may help their students better retain concepts. For example, a classroom teacher in rural Oklahoma may need an engaging, hands on lesson for a math concept. The website http://k20alt.ou.edu contains copious concept-based lesson plans available atno charge. Better still, the rural teacher can contact the creator of the lesson plan (sometimes an expert from the K20 Center staff, sometimes a fellow teacher), read other teachers’ additions and comments on the plan, or even co-author his own lesson plan with teachers from across the globe. The online forum allows teachers interested in innovative education tools to connect with each other for support and tips on engaging students in a fun, memorable experience. Although the majority of teachers using the online forum are from Oklahoma, teachers may collaborate with other teachers in all 50 states and the 70 countries represented among the 1600 registered users. The K20 Center is designed to stimulate and engage all students, regardless of school level, size, context, ethnicity or socioeconomic status, the strategies vary in appearance. In addition to providing teacher tools and educator training, the K20 Center also works diligently to develop, implement, and test
innovative learning strategies for today’s technologically savvy students. Designed to
stimulate and engage all students, regardless of school level, size, context, ethnicity or socioeconomic status, the strategies vary in appearance. One such approach includes the development of a Massive Multiplayer Online Game (MMOG). The education-charged video game teaches students to solve complex problems while developing and applying basic skills and knowledge in math, reading, science and social studies. The final mandate of the K20 Center is to create connections and collaborations that support learning beyond high school.

The K20 Scholars program supports students in their post-secondary experience through graduation. By connecting students back to their Oklahoma schools and communities with service learning projects, both the student and their home school benefit. Through these projects, students serve as role models for younger students and develop critical thinking and leadership skills as they help solve a local problem. Ultimately, the K20 Scholars program seeks to increase the number of college graduates ready to pursue science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) related careers and encourages them to remain in Oklahoma. The K20 Center has emerged as a dynamic leader of innovative education. K20 partner schools report significant increases in high-achieving school practices, show a 70% greater than average increase over the
state average increase in the Oklahoma Academic Performance Index, while the K20 Scholars program creates career-ready students. By addressing student needs through innovative collaboration, the K20 Center is re-shaping the face of education in Oklahoma and across the globe.

For more information on how your school can become a K20 partner school, or to arrange
a tour of the K20 Center, contact AutumnMcMahon at (405) 325-1266 or amcmahon@
ou.edu or visit www.K20Center.ou.edu.

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