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Program Requirements — Master of Arts in Teacher Leadership in Earth and Space Science

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George Williams College of Aurora University has created a master's degree in Teacher Leadership in Earth and Space Science Education.  The program is designed for Pre-K-12 teachers who want to increase their knowledge of earth and space science and learn new ways to work with students in the classroom.  The program is designed to explore how humans affect the environment and how the environment affects humans.

 All classes in the program are taught on the George Williams Campus in Williams Bay, Wisconsin.  The classes include field work, lab work and classroom discussions.  Geneva Lake, Yerkes Observatory, glacial, and other landscapes in the area are used to provide hands-on experiences for the teachers.

The courses are designed so that teachers can take the materials from the class directly to the classroom.  The program emphasizes how to develop curriculum and assessment to go along with the subject matter that the teacher is learning.  Science classroom and laboratory management are discussed in connection with the science activities in the program.  As a part of the program, teachers will research current topics in science and science education.  This program can lead to an endorsement in science.

General program goals are to:

• Establish teacher leaders in earth and space science education in order to be able to lead the effort to improve teaching and learning of earth and space science in the teacher's own school and district.
• Deepen teachers' understanding of earth and space science content knowledge by focusing on concepts and connections among the various branches of earth and space science so it is understood as a coherent whole.
• Become reflective teachers by using action research to assess and improve their own teaching.
• Improve earth and space science teaching skills of graduate student participants so their middle school and high school students understand, apply and retain knowledge of earth and space science over time.
• Understand scientific literacy, identify scientific issues, explain phenomena scientifically, and use scientific evidence.

Program requirements are organized into two parts:

PART A. Teacher Leadership Requirements — 18 semester hours
TLDR5100    Teacher Leader Roles and Attributes (3)
TLDR5200    Curriculum Development and Assessment in Mathematics and Science (3)
TLDR5400    Mathematics and Science Classroom Dynamics (3)
TLDR6000    Action Research for Teacher Leaders in Mathematics and Science (3)
TLDR6300    Completion of Action Research for Teachers of Earth and Space Science (3)
TLDR6500    Technology in Teaching Mathematics and Science (3)

PART B. Earth and Space Science Content and Pedagogy Requirements — 18 semester hours
NSM5010   Physical Geology of Earth's Surface for Educators (3)
NSM5020   Fundamentals of Meteorology for Educators (3)
NSM5030   Water Resources for Educators (3)
NSM5040   Severe Weather and the Physics of Meteorology for Educators (3)
NSM5710   Planets and Moons for Educators (3)
NSM5715   The Sun and Life Cycles of Stars for Educators (3)
NSM5720   The Milky Way, Galaxies, and the Structure of the Universe for Educators (3)
NSM6010   Oceanography/Limnology for Educators (3)
NSM6020   Current Topics in Earth Science for Educators (3)

PART A.  Teacher Leader Endorsement Requirements — 18 credit hours

TLDR5100  Teacher Leader Roles and Attributes  (3 semester hours)
This is the first course in the teacher leader strand of courses. The goal of this experience is to increase participants' understanding of teacher leader roles in schools through a study of teacher leader attributes and behaviors. Students will create a personalized learning plan that demonstrates their understanding of teacher leadership attributes and behaviors, and provides evidence of their own professional growth in order to be able to act as role models for others. Such evidence might take the form of participant-created lessons, activities, assessment tasks, presentations, journal articles, and/or action research into teacher leadership issues.
No prerequisites.

TLDR5200   Curriculum Development and Assessment of Learning (3 semester hours)
This course will focus on curriculum goals and implementation, a mix of theoretical research-based foundations and classroom-reform-based perspectives on assessment and evaluation in schools; recent developments in curriculum; learning research; and alternate modes of presentation.
No prerequisites.

TLDR5400  Mathematics and Science Classroom Dynamics  (3 semester hours)
In this course, students, who are already in-service teachers, will explore the dynamic context and needs of the mathematics and science classrooms. This course focuses on managing the active mathematics and science classroom engaged in inquiry-based learning. Safety issues, learning engagement, special learning needs (e.g., ELL, special education, gifted, other health and cognitive impairments), and the community and family issues that impact the classroom will be addressed. Connections between classroom management, the environment, curriculum choices, and teaching methods will be examined. Teachers will investigate the processes of creating dynamic classroom learning environments where mathematics and science students are motivated, supported, engaged and responsible learners, and discover best practices through the use of motivation, organization, communication and instructional strategies.
No prerequisites.

TLDR6000  Action Research for Teacher Leaders in Mathematics and Science (3 semester hours)
Action research is a disciplined process of inquiry conducted by and for those taking action. The primary reason for engaging in action research is to assist the teacher leader in improving and/or refining his or her actions.  This course  launches individual or group investigation of research questions with application to the student's classroom. The course initiates a professional conversation among the candidates about the major issues in the teaching and learning of mathematics and science. The questions that emerge become the focus for independent inquiry to develop topics for further investigation in this course and in the following course action research project.
Prerequisite: TLDR5100.

TLDR6300  Completion of Action Research for Teachers of Earth and Space Science (3 semester hours)
This course serves as a review of the development of emerging best instructional practice in the American classroom. Emphasis is given to implementation of instructional strategies resulting from educational research. Teacher internships may be appropriate for the completion of this research course.
Prerequisite: EDU6000

TLDR6500 Technology in Teaching Mathematics and Science (3 semester hours)
This course studies the impact of technology on curriculum design, classroom practice, and the learning patterns of candidates with emphasis on the integration of multimedia, telecommunications, authoring systems, and interactive resources throughout the instructional program. This course can be taken as an internship with members of the partnership. Elements of the course will be distributed throughout the curriculum.
No prerequisites.

PART B. Earth and Space Science Requirements — 18 semester hours

NSM5010   Physical Geology of Earth's Surface for Educators (3 semester hours)
This course will provide a general overview of the physical processes that have formed earth's surface. Covered topics will include rocks and minerals, the rock cycle, sedimentation, volcanism, plate tectonics, weathering and mass wasting, and landforms. The study of landforms will include streams, deserts, and glaciers. The course will include a one-day field trip to study local glacial topography. Google Earth, topographic maps, aerial photographs, and topical videos will be used to augment lecture topics. Teaching materials and methods of teaching geology will be discussed in relationship to these topics. Methods of teaching reading in science will be a focus of this course. Students will be involved in activities, group discussions, data analysis, sharing experiences and readings. There are no prerequisites for this class, but basic knowledge of mathematics (scientific notation, contour and elevation calculation, probability, slope) and previous experiences with teaching science and/or mathematics will be helpful. Lab work will be integrated into classroom study and will include hands-on, written, and web-based exercises to provide educators with a variety of choices for classroom use.
No prerequisites.

NSM5020  Fundamentals of Meteorology for Educators (3 semester hours)
This course will provide a general overview of the meteorological processes that drive earth's weather. Covered topics will include forecasting; basic meteorological processes, such as air pressure, temperature, wind and water states; storm development; global weather patterns; and climate history and change. Topical videos will be used to augment lecture topics. Teaching materials and methods of teaching meteorology will be discussed in relationship to these topics. Students will be involved in activities, group discussions, data analysis, sharing experiences and readings. There are no prerequisites for this class, but basic knowledge of mathematics and previous experiences with teaching science and/or mathematics will be helpful. Lab work will focus on weather forecasting and will include short-term forecasts made from sky observations and short- and long-term forecasting using online and computer sources. Group discussions will be held to compare and discuss forecasting results.
No prerequisites.

NSM5030  Water Resources for Educators (3 semester hours)
Water is the very thing that makes earth habitable for life as we know it. This course will provide the student with an understanding of water, the water cycle and its components.  Students will explore some basic principles of water and why it behaves the way it does. These principles will be related to everyday life and our dependence upon water for our survival.  Basic concepts of water use, water quality, quantity and water law will be discussed. Teaching materials and methods of teaching will be discussed in relationship to these topics. Methods of teaching reading in science will be a major focus of the class. Students will come out of the class with a better understanding of the importance of water to everyday life and the need to better manage it for sustainability. They will be exposed to researching the literature and preparing and evaluating water resource curriculum. There are no prerequisites for this class. A basic knowledge of mathematics, scientific notation, chemistry and physics will help. Field trips will expose the students to some of the present techniques in water quality monitoring for surface, ground and atmospheric water and they will visually experience a watershed.
No prerequisites.

NSM5040   Severe Weather and the Physics of Meteorology for Educators (3 semester hours)
This course will provide an in-depth study of severe weather processes and the physics behind those processes. Covered topics will include the physics of pressure, temperature, motion (wind), and moisture; atmospheric instability; severe storm development and the characteristics of severe storms (supercells, squall lines, microbursts, outflow boundaries); unusual cloud and wind patterns; lightning (charge imbalance and static electricity); supercell tornadoes; and forecast models. Topical videos will be used to augment lecture topics. Teaching materials and methods of teaching meteorology will be discussed in relationship to these topics. Students will be involved in activities, group discussions, data analysis, sharing experiences and readings. Fundamentals of meteorology is a prerequisite for this class. Basic knowledge of mathematics and previous experiences with teaching science and/or mathematics will be helpful. Lab work will focus on weather forecasting using a variety of computer models. Group discussions will be held to compare and discuss forecasting results.
Prerequisite: Knowledge of fundamentals of meteorology.

NSM5710  Planets and Moons for Educators (3 semester hours)
This course will provide a general overview of the solar system including planets, moons, asteroids, and comets. The relationship between gravity and the structure of the solar system will be examined. Teaching materials and methods of teaching astronomy will be discussed in relationship to these topics. Methods of teaching reading in science will be a focus of this course. Students will be involved in activities, discussions, astronomical observations, data analysis, sharing experiences, and readings. This course is about the structure of planets, moons, and methods of teaching science and mathematics. There are no prerequisites for this class, but previous experiences with teaching science and/or mathematics will be helpful.
No prerequisites.

NSM 5715 The Sun and Life Cycles of Stars for Educators  (3 semester hours)
This course will provide a general overview of the relationships between the sun and the earth, the structure of the sun, and the life cycle of stars. The physical processes that drive solar processes and the life cycle of stars will be examined. Teaching materials and methods of teaching astronomy will be discussed in relationship to these topics. Methods of teaching reading in science will be a focus of this course. Students will be involved in activities, discussions, astronomical observations, data analysis, sharing experiences and readings. This course is about the earth-sun relationships, the structure of the sun, the life cycle of stars and methods of teaching science and mathematics. There are no prerequisites for this class, but previous experiences with teaching science and/or mathematics will be helpful.
No prerequisites.

NSM5720  The Milky Way, Galaxies, and the Structure of the Universe for Educators  (3 semester hours)
This course will provide a general overview of the structure and physical processes in the Milky Way.  The course continues with an examination of other galaxies compared to the Milky Way and implications for understanding the structure of the universe.  Teaching materials and methods of teaching astronomy will be discussed in relationship to these topics. Methods of teaching reading in science will be a major focus of the class. Students will be involved in activities, discussions, astronomical observations, data analysis, sharing experiences, and readings. This course is about the structure of galaxies, the universe, and methods of teaching science and mathematics. There are no prerequisites for this class, but previous experience in teaching science and/or mathematics will be helpful.
No prerequisites.

NSM6010 Oceanography/Limnology for Educators (3 semester hours)
Lakes and oceans are unique environments that are similar yet different in many ways. This course will provide the student with an understanding of both fresh water lakes and salt water oceans. Students will explore the basic chemical, physical and biological aspects of both. Students will be exposed to researching the literature and preparing and evaluating curriculum for both. Teaching materials and methods of teaching oceanography and limnology will be discussed in relationship to these topics. Methods of teaching reading in science will be a major focus of the class. There are no prerequisites for this class. A basic knowledge of mathematics, chemistry and physics will help. A field trip and lab exercises will expose the students to some of the present techniques in water quality monitoring for lakes and oceans.
No prerequisites.

NSM6020 Current Topics in Earth Science for Educators  (3 semester hours)
This course will serve as a capstone course. It will explore the controversy surrounding the current topics in earth science focusing on earth's four spheres. Both man-made causes and natural variability will be studied. Students will study how the current topic affects the earth's cycles. Topical videos will augment lecture topics. The course will include online research of articles pertinent to the day's lecture. Students will be asked to find controversial articles and use small groups to discuss and think critically about the topics. After learning about a topic, students will discuss how that topic affects the earth and humans. Students will keep a journal of these discussions.  A typical day will include lecture, followed by individual research and web-based topical activity, followed by group discussion. There are no prerequisites for this class, but basic knowledge of mathematics and previous experiences with teaching science and/or mathematics will be helpful.
No prerequisites.