EHA Hosts Education Preview Day

Wednesday, April 4, 2018

The Oklahoma State University College of Education, Health and Aviation recently hosted more than 40 high school students from across the state of Oklahoma for an education preview day. Participants attended interactive sessions, explored education career paths and learned more about OSU.

The event was supported by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education Oklahoma Teacher Connection Collegiate Grants, which are one-year grants that encourage the recruitment, retention and placement efforts of teachers in Oklahoma.

“We were really excited to receive this grant and use it as a recruitment opportunity for the College of Education, Health and Aviation,” said Robin Fuxa, director of the OSU Professional Education Unit. “We have a great need for teachers in the state of Oklahoma. This event allowed us to generate excitement about education and encourage students to commit to teaching.”

The day began with a powerful opening session, emphasizing what makes teaching a great job and why teachers matter. Students then attended five breakout sessions, designed to promote and showcase the teaching profession. Current EHA students and faculty used engaging examples to demonstrate what it’s really like to be a teacher in the classroom. From a mixed-reality teaching experience with avatars to a musical call to join the teaching revolution, students experienced the creativity, imagination and passion that goes into the teaching process.

The day also had a strong advocacy focus. Whether or not these students become future teachers, this event fostered a more positive perspective on the teaching profession and gave students a better understanding of why it’s important to support teachers. Students also learned more about the admissions process, scholarship opportunities and the OSU experience.  

“I brought my students to this event to broaden their horizons,” said Amy Jenkins, teacher preparatory instructor for Great Plains Technology Center. “We are faced with a tough time right now. The more interest and excitement we can get from our students about becoming teachers, the better it is for our state. We have to grow education in Oklahoma.”