For the third year, middle school science teachers from across Ohio came to Otterbein’s campus in June to learn new teaching strategies. Approximately 30 teachers from 11 school districts participated in OP2: Operation Physics, a tuition-free, five semester-hour graduate course that combines basic physical science concepts with hands-on materials and activities. It is modeled after a successful program developed by the National Science Foundation. OP2: Operation Physics was made possible this year by a grant of $106,480 from the Ohio Board of Regents.
“Our goal is to produce teachers who are excited and confident about teaching physical science in the middle grades, and who are competent to do so,” said Wendy Sherman Heckler, OP2: Operation Physics instructor.
“I anticipate more hands-on activity in my classroom, more asking why, predicting what’s going to happen, what’s the science behind it,” said LeeAnn Hoerle, a fifth-grade teacher for South-Western City School District.
Below is a photo of the event. For more information about OP2: Operation Physics, visit www.otterbein.edu/graduate.
Operation Physics