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CI 510 The Young Child as Scientist (3 credits)
In this course developmentally appropriate science for preschool and primary age children is explored. Activities focus on experimentation and problem solving. Using the book by Chaille and Britain, The Young Child as Scientist, participants experience and design activities for young children around three questions that derive from traditional science content. They are: Can I make it move? Can I make it change? and How does it fit? In the process, they learn more about constructivist teaching and curriculum, particularly as applied to science education. (Totally online)
CI 510 Engaging in Science: Inquiry Investigation for Elementary Teachers (3 credits)
Successful inquiry is empowering. Examine the philosophy of science and practice the skills of presenting inquiry investigations. Participate in 10 ready-made inquiry lessons to take with you, and gain comfort and confidence to present rich inquiry-based science in your classroom.
- Develop more exciting and engaging lessons by integrating mathematics and science across the curriculum by the inclusion of hands-on laboratories (including those that can be tied into the fifth grade work sample. As you explore what science is, learn approaches for guiding your students, and how you can best engage all students into the scientific process.
- Your class will develop the skills to solve real-world problems by thinking mathematically and scientifically, as you understand the philosophy of science, and current science education research and apply that into your own classroom.
- Your students will apply mathematics and science principles to their own lives, families, and communities. Utilizing these skills, your students can develop projects for science fairs, environmental issues, and family science nights.
- Your students make the connections and reach the understandings in science and mathematics that will enable them to achieve more and will prepare them for practice.
CI 510 Numeracy Development in Young Children (3 credits)
Ages: Focus is on numeracy development in 3-5 year olds but also interesting for first grade teachers and teachers of children slightly younger than 3 years
Learn the importance of helping children becoming numerate, which is as vital to success as being literate in the 21st century. Learn how to overcome math anxiety, understand math concepts, and teach for understanding. Know how to facilitate developmentally appropriate activities in the areas of number sense and operations (yes, 4-year-olds can and should learn the basics of algebra, geometry, measurement, data analysis, problem solving, communication, and connections). This course is oriented toward teachers of children who are 3-5 years old, but it is of interest to those who teach slightly younger children as well as kindergartners and first graders. Participants in the course need to have access to young children with which to try out numeracy activities. (Totally online)
G 510 Earth/Space Science in the Elementary Classroom (3 credits)
An integrated study of concepts from geology, astronomy, and climatology appropriate for primary and upper elementary students. Emphasis on place-based strategies that employ appropriate inquiry frameworks used in the earth/space science disciplines. (Online with workshops held throughout the state)
G 510 Integrated Science: Crater Lake and Geohydrology of the Upper Klamath Basin (3 credits)
The eruption of Mount Mazama to form Crater Lake impacted the surrounding landscape and set the stage for evolution of the modern hydrologic system. This course is a systems investigation of the geology, hydrology, ecology, and human interactions in this region since the eruption. Field measurements and observations are integrated to build understanding of system dynamics. (Online plus field trip)
CI 510 Deepening Algebraic Reasoning in the Elementary Classroom (3 credits)
This is a hybrid mathematics course. It is designed to offer support to elementary teachers in developing a deeper understanding of one of the central themes of “Principles and Standards of School Mathematics” (National Council of Teachers of Mathematics [NCTM] 2000).
Algebra is an essential component of contemporary mathematics and its applications in many fields. Viewing algebra as a strand in the curriculum from pre-kindergarten on allows teachers to help their young students build a solid foundation of understanding and experiences as preparation for more sophisticated work in algebra in the middle grades and high school. By developing a deeper understanding of their own math content knowledge, classroom teachers are able to respond to and enhance their students’ mathematical proficiency. Lessons published by PSU's CEED are utilized in this course to show students how to apply what they have learned to practices in their own classrooms (Online with two face-to-face meetings).
CI 510 Deepening Your Understanding of Number Sense and Operations for Pre-K through Grade 4 (3 credits)
Topics will include how children develop the concept of number, basic counting strategies, whole number addition, subtraction, and multiplication fact strategies as well as work with double-digit computation.
CI 510 Deepening Your Understanding of Number Sense and Operations for Grades 3 through 8 (3 credits)
Topics will include whole number multiplication and division, fractions, decimals, ration, proportion, and percentages.
CI 510 Deepening Geometrical and Measurement Understandings for Elementary Teachers (3 credits)
Look at geometric reasoning as a method for problem solving. Explore the properties of geometric figures, and make constructions and practice using mathematical language to express ideas and justify reasoning. Also examine some of the major ideas in measurement, including procedures for measuring and learning about standard units in the metric and customary systems, the relationships among units, and the approximate nature of measurement. Learn how to apply what you have learned to practices in your own classrooms. This course is organized around the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), Curriculum Frameworks to help you better understand the mathematics concepts underlying the content that you teach and to help you know what standards-based lessons look like in the classroom.
CI 510 Deepening Mathematical Understanding in Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability for Elementary Teachers (3 credits)
Look at statistics as a problem-solving process. Explore investigations of different ways to collect and represent data, and describe and analyze variation in data. Learn how to apply what they have learned to practices in your own classroom. This course is organized around the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) is Curriculum Frameworks to help you better understand the mathematics concepts underlying the content that you teach and to help you know what standards-based lessons look like in the classroom.
CI 510 Mathematics and Culture (3 credits)
Although many acknowledge that mathematics is taught differently in different parts of the world, we rarely consider how to weave the cultural connections of mathematics into school curriculum. From the perspective of ethnomathematics, explore the diversity of mathematical practices and the roles they play in people's lives. For example, we will analyze the intricate designs woven on baskets from different cultures. Since one can identify sophisticated mathematical thinking manifested in these designs, are the basket-makers – who may be mathematically “illiterate” in a formal sense – engaged in a mathematical practice while making these beautiful artifacts? Based on our investigations, with supplementary material, we will design curriculum to enrich K-8 math classes with an ethnomathematical perspective.
CI 510 Engaging in Science: Astronomy for Classroom Teachers (3 credits)
Develop more exciting and engaging lessons by integrating astronomy mathematics and science across the curriculum. Your students will make the connections and reach the understandings in astronomy science and mathematics that will prepare them for the new rigorous graduation requirements. Using the State of Oregon Mathematics and Science Benchmarks together with the goals of NASA in the 21st century, examine the concepts in astronomy, planetary science, and cosmology. Your students will apply mathematics and science principles to their own lives, families, and communities when you hold your own star party modeled after our class (together with your family or significant other) star party at the Goldendale Observatory State Park in Goldendale, Washington, one of the largest telescopes for public use in the world.
CI 510 Engaging in Science: Ecological Evolution Inquiry for Elementary Teachers (3 credits)
Successful inquiry is empowering. Examine the philosophy of science and practice the skills of presenting inquiry investigations. Participate in 10 ready-made inquiry lessons to take with you, and gain comfort and confidence to present rich inquiry-based science in your classroom.
- Develop more exciting and engaging lessons by integrating mathematics and science across the curriculum by the inclusion of hands-on laboratories (including those that can be tied into the fifth grade work sample. As you explore what science is, learn approaches for guiding your students, and how you can best engage all students into the scientific process.
- Your class will develop the skills to solve real-world problems by thinking mathematically and scientifically, as you understand the philosophy of science, and current science education research and apply that into your own classroom.
- Your students will apply mathematics and science principles to their own lives, families, and communities. Utilizing these skills, your students can develop projects for science fairs, environmental issues, and family science nights.
- Your students make the connections and reach the understandings in science and mathematics that will enable them to achieve more and will prepare them for practice.
CI 510 Engaging in Science: Life Science for Elementary Teachers (3 credits)
Meet and exceed the life science standards in your classroom. Examine the major concepts underlying life science and augment your understanding with hands-on labs and outdoor fieldwork (including those that can be tied into the fifth grade work sample) as well as learn how to incorporate current science education research into in your classroom today. In this primarily online course, explore how you can best engage your students in the scientific process. Gain confidence not only to prepare your students for the high stakes tests but also to present them with a solid foundation of scientific concepts and process. (Online with two face-to-face labs)