Printable Course Catalog - Center for Science, Mathematics ...

Secondary Computer Science & Mathematics Teachers:CSCE 896: Alice: A Gateway to Computer Science / Grade 7-12 Teachers / June 7-11 and June 14-18 / LincolnDescription: Designed to introduce secondary-school teachers to the Alice programming environment, a 3D graphical environmentwith drag-and-drop programming (see www.alice.org for more information) with the goal of helping teachers develop an introductorycourse at their schools or integrating the use of technology in their own teaching. No prior computer science or programmingbackground is required. Call #: 4330MATH 896: Functions for High School Mathematics Teachers / Grade 9-12 Teachers / June 7-11 and June 14-18 / LincolnDescription: A study of functions in the pre-calculus, high school mathematics curriculum from an advanced viewpoint. Functions willbe investigated by examining their utility in more advanced courses and applications, enabling teachers to better understand the importantaspects and appropriate emphasis of a concept. Content will include polynomial, circular (trig), and exponential functions, and theirconnections to calculus. May be taken concurrently with TEAC 892. Call #: 4331TEAC 892: Integrating Mathematics Learning & Teaching / Grade 9-12 Teachers / June 7-11 and June 14-18 / LincolnDescription: This course will focus on the learning and teaching of functions and other key ideas in the pre-calculus curriculum withthe goal of explicitly applying the advanced mathematics learned to the improvement of classroom instruction. The course employs amodified Lesson Study design that repeatedly cycles through (1) the learning of a concept, (2) the development of an exemplary classroomlesson about the concept and (3) the improvement of the lesson through reflection. May be taken concurrently with MATH 896: Functionsfor High School Math Teachers. Call #: 4332MATH 807: Capstone Course: Mathematics for High School Teachers I / Teachers seeking secondary math endorsement /June 28-July 2 / LincolnDescription: This workshop-style course will analyze the connections between college-level calculus and abstract algebra and highschool math. It will emphasize the development of skills necessary to recognize these connections and then use them to help studentsexplore and deepen their understanding of math concepts. Prerequisites: undergraduate calculus and abstract algebra. Call #: 4341MATH 896: Topics in Differential Equations / Grade 9-12 Teachers / July 12-16 and July 19-23 / LincolnDescription: After a brief review of basic concepts and theorems in a standard undergraduate differential equations course, linear and nonlinearpredator-prey systems will be investigated using phase plane (graphical) analysis and linear approximations. Methods for approximatingsolutions and transform techniques also will be investigated. Graphical motivation will be used extensively. Prerequisite: two semesters ofundergraduate calculus. May be taken concurrently with TEAC 880E. Call #: 4344TEAC 880E: Classroom Functions with GeoGebra / Grade 9-12 Teachers / July 12-16 and July 19-23 / LincolnDescription: There are 35 built-in functions in GeoGebra, including familiar functions (such as trig functions), less familiar functions(gamma function), and actions that are not typically thought of as “functions” (addition). This course will develop knowledge of thesefunctions and explore their uses in algebra, geometry and pre-calculus curricula. This course may be taken concurrently with MATH896: Topics in Differential Equations. Call #: 4346Science Teachers:CHEM 898: Matter Matters: Chemistry, Society & Popular Culture / Grade 9-12 Teachers / June 7-11 / LincolnDescription: The goal of this course is to generate enthusiasm for chemistry among young people. The course will explore manyways to increase the appreciation of chemistry among both science-interested and non-science-interested students. One focus will bechemistry as an intellectual enterprise that is deeply embedded in our society, with references and imagery from popular culture. Afew low-cost, safe and effective laboratory exercises will be introduced. Call #: 4387TEAC 842E: Teaching Science through Inquiry / Grade 7-12 Teachers (Secondary: K-12) / June 7-11 and June 14-18 / LincolnDescription: An advanced science methods class for practicing science teachers with the purpose of learning how to build a scientificclassroom discourse community by integrating diverse instructional strategies that support learning science through scientific inquiry,the use of oral and written discourse, learning principles and promoting academic language development. Call #: 4146Continued ...