2012 Course Catalog |
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| Click course numbers for full course information | Audience Legend |  |
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| NMSSI Courses for Mathematics Teachers | |
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EDPS 991 - Cognition and MotivationPaired With: MATH 810T (Lincoln) Audience: K123456789101112Credit Hours: 3 Location: Lincoln Dates: June 4-8, 11-15, 1pm - 5pmThis course is designed to provide mathematics and science teachers with a framework for thinking about how human cognition, motivation and self-regulation influence students and instructional practices. More specifically, this course emphasizes core concepts in educational psychology. | |
MATH 800T - Math as a Second Language Audience: K123456789101112Credit Hours: 3 Locations: Scottsbluff, Ainsworth, Hastings Dates: multipleThis course will help you align your teaching with the new Nebraska standards and the new Common Core standards in mathematics by focusing on the development of "habits of mind of a mathematical thinker". The approach is to understand arithmetic (number) and (introductory) algebra as a means of communicating mathematical ideas, and will stress a deep understanding of the basic operations of arithmetic, as well as the interconnected nature of arithmetic, algebra and geometry relating to the grades 3-7 curriculum. | |
MATH 802T - Functions, Algebra & Geometry Audience: K123456789101112Credit Hours: 3 Locations: North Platte, Holdrege, Lincoln Dates: multipleThis course is designed to help teachers gain a deep understanding of the concept of function and the algebra and geometry concepts taught in the middle-level (through early high school) curriculum. Studying this content at a deeper level will help teachers better prepare their students for the NeSA-M. Participants also will study measurement with an emphasis on length, area and volume. Functions, Algebra and Geometry is the second course in the Math in the Middle curriculum and has been successfully taught to both elementary and high school teachers. | |
MATH 804T - Experimentation, Conjecture & Reasoning Audience: K123456789101112Credit Hours: 3 Locations: Lincoln, Columbus Dates: multipleThis course focuses on problem solving, reasoning and proof and communicating mathematics. The overall goal for this course is to bring participants to the next level in the development of their mathematical habits of mind: A person who is an effective mathematical thinker has a toolbox of skills and knowledge to experiment, conjecture, reason, and ultimately solve problems. | |
MATH 805T - Discrete Mathematics for Teachers Audience: K123456789101112Credit Hours: 3 Location: Kearney Dates: June 25-29, 8am - 4:30pmDesigned to deepen knowledge of discrete mathematics as it relates to topics covered in middle through high school curricula. Course topics (such as graph theory and counting techniques) are introduced through "hands-on" explorations through which various problem-solving strategies are emphasized. | |
MATH 806T - Number Theory & Cryptology for Secondary Teachers Audience: K123456789101112Credit Hours: 3 Locations: Scottsbluff, Lincoln Dates: multipleThis course focuses on basic number theory results which are needed to understand the number theoretic RSA cryptography algorithm (an encryption algorithm which is in use today to secure information sent via the internet). The course emphasizes connections to middle level mathematics and promotes a deep understanding of the integers and their properties. Elementary methods for encoding and decoding are introduced to elucidate the nature of cryptology. These methods are readily adaptable as enrichment activities in the classroom. | |
MATH 808T - Concepts of Calculus for Middle Level Teachers Audience: K123456789101112Credit Hours: 3 Location: Omaha Dates: June 18-22, 8am - 5pmDevelops a fundamental understanding of the key mathematical ideas of calculus in order to broaden teachers' mathematical perspective and gain insight into concepts contained in the middle-level curriculum which are related and foundational to the development of calculus. Topics include limits, differentiation, integration, applications and the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus. | |
MATH 810T - Algebra for Algebra TeachersPaired With: TEAC 851P (Lincoln), EDPS 991 (Lincoln) Audience: K123456789101112Credit Hours: 3 Locations: Lincoln, Lincoln Dates: multipleThe main goal of the course is to help Algebra I teachers better understand the conceptual underpinnings of school algebra, and how to leverage that understanding into improved classroom practice. Emphasis is placed on developing the habits of mind of a mathematical thinker. | |
MATH 811T - Functions for High School TeachersPaired With: TBA Audience: K123456789101112Credit Hours: 3 Location: Lincoln Dates: June 4-8, 11-15, 8am - noonA study of functions in the pre-calculus, high school mathematics curriculum from an advanced viewpoint. Functions will be investigated by examining their utility in more advanced courses and applications, enabling teachers to better understand the important aspects and appropriate emphasis of a concept. Content will include polynomial, circular (trig), and exponential functions, and their connections to calculus. | |
MATH 812T - Geometry for Geometry TeachersPaired With: TEAC 892 (Omaha) Audience: K123456789101112Credit Hours: 3 Location: Omaha Dates: June 18-22, 25-29, 8am - noon, The main goals of the course are to strengthen your mathematical background for teaching Geometry. We will focus on undamental concepts of Euclidean geometry, with explorations of non-Euclidean geometry for contrast. We will make extensive use of manipulatives and the dynamic geometry software GeoGebra. | |
MATH 896 - Algebraic Thinking for the Elementary Classroom Audience: K123456789101112Credit Hours: 3 Location: Grand Island Dates: June 4-8, 8am - 5pmDiscussion will revolve around student understanding of Algebraic properties of mathematics as participants examine case studies, video segments and student work samples. Participants will explore instructional strategies for fostering Algebraic thinking that are appropriate for both the primary (K-2) and intermediate (3-5) elementary classrooms. | |
MATH 896 - Problem Solving & Critical Thinking for Elementary TeachersPaired With: , TEAC 890 (Lincoln) Audience: K123456789101112Credit Hours: 3 Locations: Omaha, Lincoln Dates: multipleThe course seeks to build a strong foundation for the teaching and communication of mathematical concepts by the hands-on development of critical-thinking skills via problem-solving experiences. It provides a guided opportunity for the implementation of problem-solving instruction that is aligned with the new Nebraska mathematics standards in both the primary (K-2) and intermediate (3-5) elementary classroom. | |
MATH 896 - Mathematical Modeling for High School TeachersPaired With: TEAC 892 (Lincoln) Audience: K123456789101112Credit Hours: 3 Location: Lincoln Dates: July 9-13, 16-20, 8am - noonThis course is designed around a series of projects in which students examine the mathematics underlying several socially-relevant questions which arise in a variety of academic disciplines (i.e. real-world problems, such as how to use mathematics to understand the spread of a disease). Students learn to extract the mathematics out of the problem in order to construct models to describe them. The models are then analyzed using skills developed in this or previous mathematics courses. | |
STAT 892 - Statistics for High School TeachersPaired With: TEAC 892 (Lincoln) Audience: K123456789101112Credit Hours: 3 Location: Lincoln Dates: June 4-8, 11-15, 8am - noonThis course will cover the statistical concepts typically taught in a high school Statistics class. These include: linear regression, two-way tables, sampling distributions, statistical inference for means and proportions, chi-square tests, and inference for regression. Some experience with basic statistical concepts (mean, standard deviation, elementary probability) is necessary. The course will be inquiry-based, and will emphasize applications and statistical thinking. Software and calculators will be used for most analyses. | |
TEAC 800 - Inquiry into Teaching and Learning Audience: K123456789101112Credit Hours: 3 Location: Lincoln Dates: June 4-8, 11-15, 18-22, 1:30pm - 4pmThis course will introduce you to the assumptions about what counts as knowledge underlying particular approaches to scholarly inquiry and will help you identify the factors, forces and audiences that shape any and all forms of educational research. | |
TEAC 851P - Learning and Teaching Secondary MathematicsPaired With: MATH 810T (Lincoln) Audience: K123456789101112Credit Hours: 3 Location: Lincoln Dates: July 9-13, 16-20, 23-27, 1pm - 5pmExploring innovative methodologies related to teaching and learning secondary school mathematics. | |
TEAC 890 - Responsive Instruction in the Mathematics ClassroomPaired With: MATH 896 (Lincoln) Audience: K123456789101112Credit Hours: 3 Location: Lincoln Dates: July 16-20, 8am - 5pmThe new Nebraska state and Common Core standards for mathematics are based largely on learning progressions. Thus, the aim of this course is to familiarize elementary teachers with mathematical learning progressions by utilizing a set of frameworks developed to provide teachers with a way to analyze student thinking and respond with instruction that guides students through the "next steps" needed to advance and deepen understanding. | |
TEAC 892 - Teaching High School StatisticsPaired With: STAT 892 (Lincoln) Audience: K123456789101112Credit Hours: 3 Location: Lincoln Dates: June 4-8, 11,15, 1pm - 5pmThe course will focus on current research and practices of teaching, learning and assessing statistics from multiple perspectives. Participating teachers will be challenged to understand statistics at a deeper level and become more effective through improved lesson design, reflection, and collaboration. This course is designed to be taken concurrently with STAT 892: Statistics for Statistics Teachers. | |
TEAC 892 - Integrating Geometry Teaching and LearningPaired With: MATH 812T (Omaha) Audience: K123456789101112Credit Hours: 3 Location: Omaha Dates: June 18-22, 25-29, 1pm - 5pmThe course focuses on current research and practices of teaching, learning and assessing geometry from multiple perspectives. Participating teachers will be challenged to understand geometry at a deeper level and become more effective through improved lesson design, reflection, and collaboration. This course is designed to be taken concurrently with Math 896: Geometry for Geometry Teachers. | |
TEAC 892 - Teacher Learning about Reasoning & Sense Making in Secondary MathematicsPaired With: MATH 896 (Lincoln) Audience: K123456789101112Credit Hours: 3 Location: Lincoln Dates: July 9-13, 16-20, 1pm - 5pmThis course will focus on three main issues: exploring the nature of reasoning-and-proving in secondary mathematics; establishing criteria for judging the validity of mathematical arguments; and, developing strategies for modifying current textbook tasks to provide more reasoning opportunities for students. Course materials include math tasks, cases drawn from real secondary mathematics classrooms, related student work, and prompts for mathematical and pedagogical discussions and reflections. This is an excellent course to help secondary teachers make immediate improvements to their mathematics classrooms in order to better prepare students for the NeSA-M. | |
TEAC 892 - Connecting Geometric Concepts in the Classroom Audience: K123456789101112Credit Hours: 3 Location: Lincoln Dates: June 25-29, 1pm - 5pmThis course is designed for teachers who want to improve their instructional strategies along with the improved Geometry curriculum. We will look at how to teach conceptually, create high-quality lesson plans, lead classroom discussions, and adjust to the changing course structures and resources. | |
TEAC 923 - Seminar in the Curriculum & Teaching of Secondary School Mathematics Audience: K123456789101112Credit Hours: 3 Location: Lincoln Dates: in person: June 1, July 2-3, 8am - 5pm, online: TBATEAC 923 is an advanced course in mathematics education research. To enroll in this course, you should hold a master's degree in mathematics/education and/or have taken TEAC 800 and 801 or equivalent. This course is designed to give K-12 math teachers an opportunity to read and analyze research in the areas of mathematics teaching, preservice teacher education, and professional development. We will examine various ways of studying these topics and analyze what has been learned from their study. The main goal of this course is for teachers to become knowledgeable about the theoretical and empirical research literature on mathematics teaching and teacher education. The course is also designed to help teachers cultivate practices that are important for scholarly work such as critical analysis, argumentation, and writing. | |
| NMSSI Courses for Science Teachers | |
|---|---|
CHEM 898 - Matter Matters: Chemistry, Society & Popular Culture Audience: K123456789101112Credit Hours: 3 Location: Lincoln Dates: June 4-8, 9am - 5pmThe goal of this course is to generate enthusiasm for chemistry among young people. The course will explore many ways to increase the appreciation of chemistry among both science-interested and non-science-interested students. One focus will be chemistry as an intellectual enterprise that is deeply embedded in our society, with references and imagery from popular culture. A few low-cost, safe, and effective laboratory exercises will be introduced. | |
GEOS 898 - Methods in Geoscience Field Instruction Audience: K123456789101112Credit Hours: 3 Location: Fieldwork Dates: June 8 (on campus), June 9 (depart at 8am), June 23 (return by 5pm)A 15-day, inquiry-based geology field course in which participants will enhance their inquiry skills and experience learning (and camping) in the great outdoors across Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming. The primary aim of this course is to improve educators' ability to teach inquiry, gain knowledge and understanding of geoscience, and to demonstrate effective teaching methods for 6-12 learning environments. Participants will discover, observe and study a variety of natural phenomena, focusing on Earth processes and geological history. Enrollment is limited to 12. | |
GEOS 898 - Geology of North America Audience: K123456789101112Credit Hours: 3 Location: Lincoln Dates: July 9-13, 16-20, 1pm - 5pmThis course will discuss how the geology of the North American continent contains classic examples of nearly every geologic process that has acted to form the crust of the Earth (e.g the San Andreas Fault, Yellowstone National Park, Nebraska Sandhills) and will explore the processes of plate tectonics and the way that the surface of the Earth (and life thereon) has evolved throughout geologic time. | |
