Reminder: Will you please forward this to physics & chemistry
teachers (& student teachers) in your network?
September, 2014
ATTENTION HIGH SCHOOL PHYSICS & CHEMISTRY TEACHERS:
Would you like to apply for the Master of Natural Science (MNS)
degree in physics at Arizona State University (ASU), to start next
summer?
NEW -- LOWER-COST! Teachers in 15 western states can apply for
IN-STATE tuition -- a considerable savings! This is a NEW
opportunity, through WICHE. The deadline is November 1, each year.
The 15 states are listed at http://www.wiche.edu/states .
(Mark McConnell of Colorado was accepted last fall and attended for
the 8 weeks in summer 2014, for in-state tuition -- a huge saving!
The dorm cost $20/day, for a private bedroom and kitchen privileges
-- convenient. HIs public school reimbursed some tuition.)
Physics and chemistry teachers find the ASU summer MNS program to be
of great value. It is an effective implementation of STEM! Courses
are hands-on, minds-on, and practical for the high school classroom.
Interdisciplinary courses make it useful for chemistry teachers too.
* Almost 70 high school teachers have earned the MNS degree since it
was founded in 2001 by ASU Prof. David Hestenes.
* Teachers love the courses. Teaching is satisfying because students
learn more.
* It can qualify you to teach Dual Enrollment physics courses for
community colleges.
* It is similar to Finland's Master degree for high school physics
teachers, in that courses combine content with research-based
pedagogy, and teachers do research. (Finland is tops in the world in
test scores of 15-year-olds, as you know.)
* Modeling Workshops are aligned with the 8 NGSS science practices.
* Most teachers take 3 summers, but some finish in two. Flexible; no cohorts.
* Courses begin on June 8, 2015. 2 sessions in summer. 2nd session
ends on July 31.
Visit http://modeling.asu.edu/MNS/MNS.html for info & a tentative
list of courses through 2016.
To apply to ASU, click on "ASU logistics and the application process".
Questions? ask jane.jackson@asu.edu .
-------------------------
FINANCIAL AID for TEACHERS NATIONWIDE:
1) Teachers in high poverty (usually Title I) schools nationwide can
get FORGIVABLE Stafford loans.
See http://modeling.asu.edu/MNS/MNS.html
2) New out-of-field physics teachers nationwide can apply for TEACH
grants of up to $2000 per summer if you teach in a high-poverty
school. See http://modeling.asu.edu/MNS/MNS.html
3) Possibly NCLB Title II-A funds in your school district.
4) Teachers in small rural schools can possibly tap into the Small,
Rural School Achievement program (REAP) of the U.S. Department of
Education.
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MNS degree TIPS:
* The GRE is no longer required.
* NEW! Teachers can transfer up to TWELVE credits into the degree program!
Some teachers take PHS 530, modeling workshop in mechanics, BEFORE
they apply for the MNS degree. Consider doing that, next June 8-26.
--
peace,
Jane
Jane Jackson, Co-Director, Modeling Instruction Program
Box 871504, Dept.of Physics, ASU, Tempe, AZ 85287
480-965-8438/fax:965-7565 http://modeling.asu.edu
Jane.Jackson@asu.edu
For 24 years, Modeling Instruction has helped teachers attain
knowledge and skills needed to benefit their students. Modeling
Instruction is designated as an Exemplary K-12 science program by the
U.S. Department of Education. The American Physical Society
recognized it with the 2014 Excellence in Physics Education Award.
The American Modeling Teachers Assn (AMTA) is expanding the work:
http://modelinginstruction.org . AMTA is a 100Kin10 Partner.