Oklahoma Christian professor to serve on national panel
After years of testing students in reading, writing and math for the Nation’s Report Card, the National Assessment of Educational Progress will incorporate technological literacy into the test. 
Oklahoma Christian University journalism professor Philip Patterson was selected to serve on the panel.The panel’s work will shape the National Assessment of Educational Progress test from 2012 to 2027.
This will be the first time technological literacy will be evaluated on The Nation’s Report Card. Patterson said he is excited to help assess such a crucial matter.
“If schools know that tech literacy will be tested, they are more likely to teach it,” he said in a news release. “That means colleges get the benefit of better qualified students, as well.”
During the next 18 months, Patterson will make trips to Washington to help evaluate current and proposed assessment models with the committee. The committee consists of technology experts, engineers, teachers, scientists, business representatives and state and local policymakers. The committee will determine how to evaluate whether children are comfortable with and objective about the use of technology.Patterson said one of the reasons he was selected was because of Oklahoma Christian University’s reputation for graduating technologically literate students. In 2001, university officials offered wireless Internet throughout campus and a free laptop to every student who was enrolled full time.The university also offers free iPhones.
Eat chili to help students
The University of Oklahoma School of Art and Art History will host a chili cook-off fundraiser from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Jan. 29 at the Lightwell Gallery, 520 Parrington Oval, in Norman.
Chili will be sold in ceramic bowls made by art students. Cost is $15 for chili in a bowl or $8 for chili not in a ceramic bowl. The bowls are dishwasher and oven safe.
Money raised through the event will go to student scholarships.
For more information, contact David Akbaran at (405)325-2691 or dakbaran@ou.edu.
Northeastern State University announces interim optometry dean
TAHLEQUAH – Lynn Cyert has been named interim dean of the Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry.
Cyert assumes the position with 28 years experience at the college.
She has been a professor of optometry at NSU since 1981 and pediatric clinic chief since 1986.
During her tenure, she has served as associate dean for Academic Affairs twice and also as interim dean of the college of optometry during a previous transition. Cyert replaces George Foster who retired in December after 11 years of service.
Prior to teaching at NSU, Cyert was assistant professor in physiological optics at the New England College of Optomery in Boston, and assistant professor of psychology at Ithaca College in New York.
OCU benefit set for Saturday
The Oklahoma Wizards League and Oklahoma City University will host Mistletoe Masquerade at 5 p.m. Saturday (Jan. 17) in the campus ballroom,
The event will feature performances from seven bands, an auction and refreshments.
Cost is $35 for adults and $15 for children. Proceeds will benefit the Harry Potter Alliance, a nonprofit organization that helps raise awareness about genocide, poverty, AIDS, discrimination and global warming by relating these issues to the Harry Potter series.
For more information, go to www.thehpalliance.org.
Teacher of the Year to speak at OCU
Oklahoma City University will have its fall commencement ceremony at 4 p.m. Dec. 19 in the university’s wellness center, 2501 N Blackwelder.
Heather Sparks will be the featured speaker. Sparks is the 2009 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year recipient and an OCU graduate. She teaches mathematics at Taft Middle School.
In 2007, she received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.
Also during the commencement, Jacque Fiegel and Cathy Leichter will be given the Oklahoma Servant Leader Award.
Fiegel is president of the university’s alumni association and Leichter volunteered with various fundraising projects.
ORU Scholarships
Oral Roberts University will offer 25 full scholarships and other partial scholarships for the fall 2009 semester. “We are looking for well-rounded students who have already started to excel as a whole person. Then we can provide them with the education they need to realize their full potential,” Mart Green, chairman of the ORU Board of Trustees, “Like a basketball coach wants to find the best basketball players for the team, we want to find the best whole-person students to attend ORU.”
To be considered for the Whole Person Scholarship, a freshman or transfer student must be nominated by a school, church, or community leader or a member of the ORU faculty staff, or alumni. Nominees who are selected will be invited to campus for a Scholarship Day Competition Jan. 23 or Feb. 27, 2009.
For more information or to nominate a student, see wholeperson.oru.edu.
Nader to speak in Tulsa
Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader will speak about Oklahoma’s ballot access law and the current presidential campaign at Oklahoma State University-Tulsa on Thursday at 1 p.m. in the Auditorium.
“Open the Debates” is the theme of Nader’s remarks, which reflect the Nader and vice presidential candidate Matt Gonzalez campaign’s call for inclusive, democratic presidential debates.
Nader will also address
OSU-Tulsa is located at 700 North Greenwood Avenue, near I-244 and Detroit Avenue. For more information, contact the Nader campaign at 202-471-5833.
Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribal College honors first graduates
Congratulations to the first graduating class of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribal College!
Last week, 13 students graduated from the college that shares the Weatherford campus of Southwestern Oklahoma State University.
Above are a couple photos from the event. The first photo shows College President Henrietta Mann and 2008 Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribal College Princess Cristina “Cricket” Yellowman. In the next one, John Haumpo receives a stole, Pendleton blanket,
Good luck to them all!
Who’s the Best?
The U.S. News and World Report annual ranking of colleges is out today, and nods are made to several Oklahoma campuses. The ranking formula takes account of factors such as SAT scores, peer reputation, selectivity and alumni giving. Predictably, the Ivy Leagues schools dominate the top spots nationally.
Here’s a story from The Associated Press about the Oklahoma rankings:
TULSA, Okla. (AP) — The best college in the state is the University of Tulsa, according to rankings released Friday by U.S. News and World Report magazine.
TU ranks 83rd on the list of the nation’s top universities, up eight spots from 2007, while the University of Oklahoma in Norman is tied for 108th, the same as last year.
Oklahoma State University in Stillwater remained in the third tier of the magazine’s ratings, while Oral Roberts University in Tulsa remained in the fourth, and last, tier. The magazine does not numerically rank schools in those two tiers.
Nationally, Harvard University topped the magazine’s rankings, followed by Princeton University and Yale University. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford University tied for fourth.
TU said that a 25 percent decrease in its acceptance rate — which notes a more selective university — was the biggest change made by the school in the last year.
TU officials said the school has a 10-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio and an average class size of 19 students.
“Our deliberate actions during the past decade have allowed TU to select a student body from among the nation’s top students while creating a vibrant, residential campus experience for these students once they arrive in Tulsa,” TU President Steadman Upham said in a statement.
Among Oklahoma colleges that focus primarily on bachelor’s and master’s degree programs, Oklahoma City University was tops in the state, ranking 25th in the West region, two spots lower than last year.
Oklahoma Christian University of Oklahoma City and Southern Nazarene University of Bethany both improved their ranking, finishing in a six-way tie for 53rd in the region.
Among baccalaureate universities, Oklahoma Baptist University of Shawnee tied for second in the West region, up one spot from 2007, while Oklahoma Wesleyan University of Bartlesvile and the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma in Chickasha ranked 11th and 15th, respectively.
Will Q-W-E-R-T replace A-B-C?
Crayons? Check.
Lunchbox with hidden note from Mommy? Check.
Pink Backpack? Check.
Notebook computer able to run Windows, Word and Webkins? Ummm…. not yet. After all, my child is only 5.
So I didn’t get her a computer this year — nor was I asked to. But there could be a time when elementary school children tote laptops to school as easily as they now pack lovenotes and lunchables.
Already, many high school students rely on laptops to keep up in class, and you’d never dream of sending a college student to campus without a computer.
What do you think? Will old-fashioned “paper” notebooks become a relic someday?
Comment here or e-mail me at ssimpson@oklahoman.com
Susan Simpson, Education Writer
