Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
May 2010
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2010aas...21641602a&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, AAS Meeting #216, #416.02; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 41, p.826
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Scientific paper
In South Florida, science teacher preparation is often weak as a shortage of science teachers often prompts administrators to assign teachers to science classes just to cover the classroom needs. This results is poor preparation of students for college science course work, which, in turn, causes the next generation of science teachers to be even weaker than the first. This cycle must be broken in order to prepare better students in the sciences. At St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens, Florida, our School of Science has teamed with our Institute for Education to create a program to alleviate this problem: A Master of Science in Education with a Concentration in Earth/Space Science. The Master's program consists of 36 total credits. Half the curriculum consists of traditional educational foundation and instructional leadership courses while the other half is focused on Earth and Space Science content courses. The content area of 18 credits also provides a separate certificate program.
Although traditional high school science education places a heavy emphasis on Earth Science, this program expands that emphasis to include the broader context of astronomy, astrophysics, astrobiology, planetary science, and the practice and philosophy of science. From this contextual basis the teacher is better prepared to educate and motivate middle and high school students in all areas of the physical sciences.
Because hands-on experience is especially valuable to educators, our program uses materials and equipment including small optical telescopes (Galileoscopes), several 8-in and 14-in Celestron and Meade reflectors, and a Small Radio Telescope installed on site.
(Partial funding provided by the US Department of Education through Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program grant P120A050062.)
Ajhar Edward A.
Blackwell E.
Quesada D.
No associations
LandOfFree
Preparing Science Teachers: Strong Emphasis on Science Content Course Work in a Master's Program in Education does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Preparing Science Teachers: Strong Emphasis on Science Content Course Work in a Master's Program in Education, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Preparing Science Teachers: Strong Emphasis on Science Content Course Work in a Master's Program in Education will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1891345