STEM Center 
NSF - Developing a Learning-centered Environment for Algebra-based Physics, 2008 - 2011
LEAP is a three year course development initiative generating a coherent, inquiry-based, algebra-based physics course sequence for medium enrollment, general education settings. LEAP addresses the unique needs of small regional universities and community colleges by using the general pedagogical structure of the Physics for Elementary Teachers curriculum as a coherent framework within which the conceptual and mathematical aspects of the algebra-based sequence are integrated. The initiative enables students to attain an understanding of the major conceptual themes of force, motion and energy as they apply to mechanical, electrical and magnetic contexts, optics and select modern physics concepts.
Project Director: Dr. Paula V. Engelhardt
Project Co-Director: Dr. Stephen J. Robinson
Project Support: Mrs. Jill Debord
Pre-Engineering Math Science Partnership, July 2008
The Tennessee Pre-Engineering Math Science Partnership Program is a comprehensive, three-year, research and professional development program for math, science, and career-technical teachers. The program is administered by the Millard Oakley Center for Teaching and Learning in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics at Tennessee Tech University.
Project Director Mr. Ken Hunter, Associate Professor, Basic Engineering
Project Co-Director Dr. Roy Loutzenheiser, Associate Dean, College of Engineering
Project Co-Director Dr. Margaret Phelps, STEM Center Director
Faculty Dr. Jessica O. Matson, Industrial & Systems Engineering
Dr. Jeffery Austen, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Dr. Sandi J. Smith, Curriculum & Instruction
Dr. Holly Anthony, Curriculum & Instruction
Mr. Terry Webb, Dir./Career Tech. Teacher
Developing Algebraic Reasoning in Grades 3-5, July 2008 (ITQ)
A 5-day summer institute providing activities and strategies for developing students' algebraic reasoning skills in preparation for pre-algebra concepts in middle school.
Project Director Dr. Holly Anthony, Assistant Professor, Curriculum and Instruction
Project Evaluator Dr. David Smith, Assistant Professor, Mathematics
Faculty Dr. Wendy Smith, Instructional Leader
Sheryl Webb, Instructional Leader
Learning from Data: Sense, Nonsense, & Statistics, June 2008 (GEAR-UP)
A 5-day summer institute providing activities and strategies for developing students' numerical literacy, statistical thinking, and critical thinking. This institute will focus on understanding basic descriptive statistical measures both graphically and numerically.
Project Director Dr. Holly Anthony, Assistant Professor, Curriculum and Instruction
Project Co-director Dr. David Smith, Assistant Professor, Mathematics
Faculty Dr. Wendy Smith, Instructional Leader
Upper Cumberland Middle Grades Science Partnership, June 2008
TTU Departments of Curriculum & Instruction, Biology, Physics, Earth Science, & Chemistry provide instruction for middle grades science teachers in content while modeling research-based strategies. Fifty teachers will be randomly assigned to an intervention group and fifty teachers will be assigned to a control group.
Project Director Dr. Susan Gore, TTU College of Education
Project Assistant Ms. Julie Baker, Curriculum & Instruction
Project Evaluator Dr. Wendy Smith, TTU Department of Mathematics
Project Support Ms. Ellen Wolfe, Office of Research
Dr. Margaret Phelps, Millard Oakley STEM Center Director
Evaluator Assistant Dr. Margaret Phelps, Millard Oakley STEM Center Director
NSF - Effects of Teaching with Tablet PC's with Asynchronous Student Access in Postsecondary STEM Courses on Students with Learning Disabilities
PI: Dr. Margaret Phelps, STEM Center Director
Co-PI: Dr. Michael Allen, Assistant Professsor, Mathematics
Co-PI: Dr. Kenneth Wiant, Associate Professor, Economics Finance & Marketing
Co-PI: Dr. Laura Graves, Curriculum and Instruction
Co-PI: Dr. Sandi J. Smith, Associate Professor, Curriculum and Instruction
Co-PI: Dr. David Smith, Assistant Professor, Mathematics
Co-PI: Sammie Young, Disability Services Director
*This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0726449.
Developing Conceptual Understanding of Fractions and Decimals in K-4 Classrooms, July 2007
A one-week summer institute for K-4 mathematics and special education teachers.
Project Director Dr. Holly Anthony, Assistant Professor, Curriculum and Instruction
Project Evaluator Dr. David Smith, Assistant Professor, Mathematics
Faculty Dr. Wendy Smith, Instructional Leader
Ms. Sheryl Webb, Instructional Leader
Developing Conceptual Understanding of K-4 Mathematics Core Content, June 2006
A one-week summer institute for K-4 mathematics and special education teachers.
Project Director Dr. Holly Anthony, Assistant Professor, Curriculum and Instruction
Faculty Dr. Wendy Smith, Instructional Leader
Sheryl Webb, Instructional Leader
Visual Quantum Mechanics, June 2006
A one-week workshop designed to teach some of the formalism of quantum mechanics to high school students and non-science students at the college level who lack a background in modern physics and higher-level mathematics.
Project Director Dr. Paula Engelhardt, Assistant Professor, Physics
Project Co-Director Dr. Margaret Phelps, Millard Oakley STEM Center Director
Instructor Dr. Paula Engelhardt, Assistant Professor, Physics
