Authentic Lessons for 21st Century Learning
In this lesson, students will be able to identify the family to which a function belongs using characteristics of graphs. This is a great lesson to use at the beginning of Algebra 2, before students begin to study any of the specific function families (absolute value, quadratic, radical, exponential,... Read more »
Created by: K20 Center
Date Updated: October 21st, 2026
Exploring Families of Functions
In this K20 career talk video, Shane Sanders talks about being the Executive Director of OKCPS Athletics. By engaging with this career talk, students will gain awareness of careers, day-to-day job functions, and educational pathways to become an Athletic Executive Director.
This career talk is part of the K20 Center’s Zoom Into Your Career (ZIYC) series on careers within the Investing in the Future Career Cluster Group. The ZIYC videos include the professional’s career talk in addition to a live Q&A using student submitted questions.
For more lessons, strategies, and games visit K20's LEARN website here: learn.k20center.ou.edu.
This lesson about the Cold War invites students to further examine the concepts of brinkmanship and mutually assured destruction (MAD). Students first engage with the topics by considering how to set up a community in a fallout shelter. They further explore the idea of brinkmanship by playing a dice... Read more »
Created by: K20 Center
Date Updated: October 6th, 2026
Impact of the Cold War
In this lesson, students analyze primary source documents, maps, and graphs to explore the underlying causes of World War I. Students extend their learning by evaluating a quote about war and summarize their learning by responding to the lesson’s essential question. Read more »
Created by: K20 Center
Date Updated: October 5th, 2026
World War I
In this K20 Career Talk video, Perry Sook talks about being a Podcast Sports Reporter. By engaging with this Career Talk, students will gain awareness of careers, day-to-day job functions, and educational pathways to become a Podcast Sports Reporter.
This Career Talk is part of the K20 Center’s Zoom Into Your Career (ZIYC) series on careers within the Creating and Experiencing Career Cluster Group. The ZIYC videos include the professional’s Career Talk in addition to a live Q&A using student submitted questions.
Zoom Into Your Career videos were recorded during a live webinar event where a practicing professional shared about their career, day-to-day job functions, and educational pathway. These webinar recordings include the professional's Career Talk as well as a live Q&A using submitted student questions.
Topics covered by the interview include:
Job title and description
Speaker's path to their current career
Example(s) of education required for the career
Challenging and enjoyable aspects of their job
Advice for students interested in learning more about or pursuing this career
[This career is in the STEM Career Cluster.]
James Hocker serves as the program manager for OK-First. In this capacity, James serves as a lead instructor at all OK-First classes, develops training content, provides input and direction for software and tool development, and manages the program budget. James has B.S. and M.S. degrees in meteorology from the University of Oklahoma.
Zoom Into Your Career videos were recorded during a live webinar event where a practicing professional shared about their career, day-to-day job functions, and educational pathway. These webinar recordings include the professional's Career Talk as well as a live Q&A using submitted student questions.
Topics covered by the interview include:
[This career is in the Marketing Career Cluster.]
Justin Hutto is a drag racer for the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA). Born in Houston, TX, he began his racing career in 2008 at the young age of 10. In his first two races in a Jr. Dragster, Hutto accomplished runner-up finishes. In 2013, he raced in his first full points series, won three races as well as his first championship, and received the most improved driver award for the series. The following year he won six races, winning the NHRA’s Jr. Dragster Top Performer Award (for which he received national recognition) and two more championships. He qualified for the International Hot Rod Association World Finals—an invite-only event for the top 16 drivers in the world.
Zoom Into Your Career videos were recorded during a live webinar event where a practicing professional shared about their career, day-to-day job functions, and educational pathway. These webinar recordings include the professional's Career Talk as well as a live Q&A using submitted student questions.
Topics covered by the interview include:
Scott Salesky, Assistant Professor at the University of Oklahoma, works at the National Weather Center. He holds a Ph.D. in Meteorology. Scott teaches classes and conducts research for the university. One of his research topics includes turbulence in the atmosphere.
Zoom Into Your Career videos were recorded during a live webinar event where a practicing professional shared about their career, day-to-day job functions, and educational pathway. These webinar recordings include the professional's Career Talk as well as a live Q&A using submitted student questions.
Topics covered by the interview include:
Job title and description
Speaker's path to their current career
Example(s) of education required for the career
Challenging and enjoyable aspects of their job
Advice for students interested in learning more about or pursuing this career
[This career is in the Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security Career Cluster.]
Lieutenant Rod C. Sanders has been a police officer with the University of Oklahoma Police Department since 2003. He is currently a patrol lieutenant on the day shift. Lieutenant Sanders is the SWAT Commander for OUPD and a member of the Joint SWAT Team with Norman Police Dept and OUPD, where he serves as a Crisis Negotiator.
Zoom Into Your Career videos were recorded during a live webinar event where a practicing professional shared about their career, day-to-day job functions, and educational pathway. These webinar recordings include the professional's Career Talk as well as a live Q&A using submitted student questions.
Topics covered by the interview include:
[This career is in the Law, Public Safety, Corrections, and Security Career Cluster.]
Jason Marshall has been a practicing attorney with the Cathcart & Dooley Law Firm in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma since 2010. Jason’s practice areas include a wide range of civil law, including product liability, construction defect cases, general negligence, and defense cases.
Zoom Into Your Career videos were recorded during a live webinar event where a practicing professional shared about their career, day-to-day job functions, and educational pathway. These webinar recordings include the professional's Career Talk as well as a live Q&A using submitted student questions.
Topics covered by the interview include:
