Frontier STEM Teacher Receives Grant from WGU Missouri

Dr. Ummuhan Malkoc Geyik, a chemistry and AP chemistry teacher at Frontier STEM High School in Kansas City, has received a $500 grant through WGU Missouri’s “Fund My Classroom” initiative. The funds will be used by Geyik to purchase a 3D printer, which will allow students at this high-poverty school to learn many abstract chemistry concepts and provide them with real-life, hands-on experience

Geyik believes that engaging students through multimodal learning gives them an opportunity to improve their abstract conceptualization, which is significant in science, especially in chemistry. Providing them with the opportunity to work with a 3D printer will not only teach students how to use a new and modern technology device but will also allow them to learn many abstract chemistry concepts by using it and producing their own models. The 3D printer will enable students to make relative size calculations and then print the models based on their calculations. Geyik believes this hands-on process will really help them understand the various chemistry concepts, including molecular geometry, polarity, writing chemical formula, atomic models and chemical bonds.
The innovative classroom project is one of 29 across Missouri chosen by WGU Missouri to receive funding. The nonprofit, fully online university issued a call in March for K-12 teachers across the state to nominate proposed classroom projects for the opportunity to receive full or partial funding through its second “Fund My Classroom” initiative. Geyik’s proposal was one of more than 100 nominations received statewide. All grants were awarded during Teacher Appreciation Week in May.
“We are happy we can bring so many of these innovative projects to life through our ‘Fund My Classroom’ initiative and give the impacted teachers something to look forward to in the midst of all the uncertainty COVID-19 is causing for schools across the region,” said Dr. Angie Besendorfer, Chancellor of WGU Missouri. “This initiative is an opportunity for WGU Missouri to celebrate teachers and is a great way to thank them for the lasting, positive impact they have on their students. We were excited to hear from so many great teachers with excellent ideas that will enhance learning both in and out of the classroom.”
To learn more about the “Fund My Classroom” initiative and the work WGU Missouri is doing to help teachers advance their careers, visit missouri.wgu.edu.

About WGU Missouri
WGU Missouri is a competency-based, online university created to expand access to higher education for Missouri residents. The university offers more than 60 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the fields of business, K-12 teacher education, information technology, and health professions, including nursing. WGU Missouri faculty members provide one-on-one guidance, support, and instruction.
Established through a partnership with nationally recognized Western Governors University, WGU Missouri is open to all qualified Missouri residents. The university is nonprofit and self-sustaining on flat-rate tuition of about $7,000 per year for most programs.
Degrees are granted under the accreditation of Western Governors University, which is accredited through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). Teachers College programs are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), and nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE*).