Oklahoma organizations have an opportunity to reinvent the way they train and educate online through a $15k Wonder Grant. The Oklahoma Wonder Grant Group is facilitating the second Wonder Grant in conjunction with NextThought, an Oklahoma based online learning solutions company. NextThought’s learning management system is a robust cloud-based software platform, allowing organizations to create custom course layouts for e-learning purposes.

“Whether you’re teaching students, members, customers, or employees, you need a learning platform that is easy to use and effective,” said Ken Parker, NextThought CEO and Co-Founder. “Our collaborative learning platform enables you to quickly create courses with your content. Reach and connect your users, and keep them learning together for the long run.”

The Oklahoma Wonder Grant will subsidize the development of a custom course layout in-kind for one winning Oklahoma-based business, non-profit or public sector entity. The grant is designed to further the organization’s mission and innovate new ways to train and educate virtually. In addition to a one-year Enterprise subscription that includes unlimited students and courses, onboarding support, and many other features, the grant will provide commercialization and implementation consulting focused on the idea's potential for growth and sustainability, thanks to the Ronnie K. Irani Center for the Creation of Economic Wealth (I-CCEW) at the University of Oklahoma. Applications are now open, and close February 25th, 2020. The winning applicant will be announced in March.

NextThought and I-CCEW are hosting two live webinars to discuss the application and answer questions on Friday, January 29th at 12pm and Wednesday, February 10th at 3pm. Registration is free and can be accessed through the website.

“Helping Oklahoma organizations and inventors launch new ideas is an important part of I-CCEW’s mission, and we believe NextThought’s online learning platform is a great emerging tool for educational creativity and engagement,” said Jeff Moore, I-CCEW Executive Director. "Regardless of your industry or non-profit type, you are always teaching and engaging your employees, customers, or stakeholders in some way. We are looking for the most innovative and impactful application of NextThought's robust and unique platform for our next Wonder Grant winner."

A selection panel has been assembled to review grant applications. Panelists include Von Royal, Executive Director, OneNet and OK Higher Education CIO; Linda Dzialo, President and CEO, Great Expectations; Susan Moring, Associate, Cortado Ventures; Selena Skorman, Director of Strategic Partnerships, Oklahoma City Innovation District; Stacy Eads, Business Strategist, Stacy Eads Coaching & Consulting; Jeff Moore, Executive Director, I-CCEW; Armand McCoy, President, Trifecta Communications; Jeff Price, Department Head, Gaming & Animation Degree Program, Oklahoma City University.

The first Oklahoma Wonder Grant subsidized the development of a $15k augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) or mixed reality (MR) in-kind project. The Coltrane Group, led by Co-Founder/CEO, André L. Head, who recently passed from COVID-19, received the first Oklahoma Wonder Grant to use augmented reality as a means to bring experiential learning to the Historic Black Town of Boley, OK.

The Oklahoma Wonder Grant is the brainchild of Trifecta Communications, an Oklahoma based marketing/technology firm. The grant is influenced by Isaac Newton’s amazing year in 1666 when he developed many of his now-famous concepts for physics, calculus and gravity; while sheltering at home during an outbreak of the Bubonic Plague. It was such a pivotal year, he labeled it his “year of wonders.”

“By studying Isaac Newton, we’ve learned you can do a lot in the middle of a pandemic,” said Brent Wheelbarger, CEO of Trifecta Communications. “While challenging, this unique time is an opportunity to think about the future in new ways. The Oklahoma Wonder Grant is designed to spur that kind of thinking.”

Detailed information including project examples, webinar registration information and the application form is available online at www.OKwonderGrant.com.