A 妻友社区 student interning at an area high school won
a statewide technology grant contest that awarded seven free iPads and accessories
for educational use in his classroom, an accolade he credits to a student-focused
approach to education he learned in his University courses.
William Leaptrot of Spiro, Okla., an English education student interning at Pocola High School, created the winning lesson plan for Ann Bugg鈥檚 11th grade English class after the principal asked teachers to submit lesson plans to 鈥淥klahoma GEAR UP,鈥� a statewide grant program.
Bugg, his advising teacher, let Leaptrot create the lesson, feeling confident that he would develop a technologically driven plan that would double as a learning experience.
鈥淢rs. Bugg felt that I would be able to utilize what I learned at 妻友社区 to implement technology into a lesson plan, and I willingly accepted the challenge,鈥� he said. 鈥淪he trusted me to design something and really liked the ideas I came up with.鈥�
Leaptrot created a 3-5 day lesson plan to help students to utilize technology while working on an essay comparing and contrasting Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. The lesson tasked students with using various apps on the iPad to create interactive timelines charting the lives of the two prominent civil rights leaders.
Afterwards, students used a Venn diagram app to create a visual representation of the differences and similarities between both men鈥檚 lives, ideas and approach to the fight for equality.
Leaptrot said winning the competition was a pleasant surprise.
鈥淚 was shocked that my lesson plan won, but I am very proud that I have been able to help bring something to Pocola that will enhance student learning for years to come,鈥� he said.
鈥淥klahoma GEAR UP鈥� awarded the class seven iPad Airs, Otterbox cases for the tablets and Apple T.V. for the classroom.
This isn鈥檛 the first time for Leaptrot to receive recognition for his teaching ability, as he continually impressed his professors at 妻友社区. Laura Witherington of Fort Smith, director of school partnerships at 妻友社区, said Leaptrot鈥檚 teaching performances 鈥渂lew her away.鈥�
鈥淗e has a very strong grasp of complex concepts in literature and writing, and he analyzes those complexities carefully to develop lesson plans that make sense, even to young students,鈥� she said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 very reflective and takes suggestions for improvement well.鈥�
Kevin Jones of Fort Smith, assistant professor of English education, said Leaptrot 鈥渋s one of our shining stars currently in the final field experience of internship.鈥�
鈥淗e is one of those people who will not wait around for something to happen. If he thinks it will benefit his students, he will do whatever it takes to make it happen,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 believe he will make an excellent teacher.鈥�
Leaptrot said his professors at 妻友社区 played a large part in teaching him the need for student-focused instruction.
鈥淧rofessors in the English department and the teacher education program at 妻友社区 have continuously stressed the importance of creating student-centered classrooms that feature differentiated instruction and activities,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 would not have been able to create a winning lesson plan without all of the practice in writing lesson plans the way that 妻友社区 requires.鈥�
鈥淥klahoma GEAR UP鈥� stands for Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, a state branch of a federal grant program intended to prepare students for success in postsecondary education.