The Norman Transcript

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July 9, 2009

Engineering Academy instructs both teachers and students

By Julianna Parker Jones

Most summer science camps focus on either students or teachers.

The University of Oklahoma Summer Engineering Academy focuses on both. And they're getting some recognition for it.

The National Science Foundation wants to feature the program on its Web site, said Lori Johnson, public relations director for OU's K20 Center, which hosts the academy with the College of Engineering.

"It's a unique program, in that most programs if they work with teachers they only work with teachers," said Tim Laubach, the academy's director. This program brings teachers and students together, he said.

Monday through Wednesday, middle school and high school math and science teachers from around the region participated in the academy. They were taught about research principles by OU graduate students and participated in science experiments to illustrate the themes.

Those 10 teachers will turn around and instruct high schoolers at the academy next week.

"It's nice to be able to teach it soon after," said Brock VanCleave, a high school chemistry teacher in Chickasha. "I think that way we'll be able to remember it."

He said this method will help him remember what he's learned, which will help him as he brings it back to his students in the fall.

"It's something that we'll be able to take back to our students," VanCleave said.

High schoolers Monday through Wednesday of next week will learn the same things the teachers have been taught this week.

Monday, the group of teachers learned about water quality and experimented with water filters. Tuesday, the group learned about wind energy, making their own anemometers to measure wind speed. Wednesday, they learned about tissue engineering and experimented with fish proteins.

The activities and lessons were developed by graduate students from STEM majors (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) as part of a program called Engineering in Practice, funded by the National Science Foundation. The academy this week and next also was funded by the NSF, so there is no cost to the students or teachers.

Two high school teachers from Thailand also are participating in the academy as a result of a partnership with a university in Hat Hai, Thailand.

Surawut Saengmanee said he didn't usually use experiments to teach his students, he just told them things. He said he wants to change that and use experiences to teach.

"I think when I come back to my school I want to make a recycle program" for his students, he said.

Saengmanee said he learned a lot about wind energy Tuesday.

"I think the example of the wind turbine actually I can use," he said.

He and the other teachers made instruments to measure the wind out of paper cups. They then tested the wind with those and wind turbines at ground level and also on the roof of the National Weather Center.

"There's a big difference between wind at ground level and way up high," said Chris Dalton, one of the graduate student fellows leading the academy. That's why wind turbines are placed on high poles, he said.

"So we're just verifying that," Dalton said.

Julianna Parker Jones 366-3541 jparker@normantranscript.com

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