[Colleagues: Will you please forward this to high school physics &
chemistry teachers in your network? -- Jane Jackson, ASU]
March, 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 Nov. 1, each year. The 15 states are listed
at http://www.wiche.edu/states .
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.
* 65 high school teachers have earned the MNS degree since it was
founded in 2001 by Prof. David Hestenes.
* Teachers love the courses. Teaching is more 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.)
* Most teachers take 3 summers, but some finish in two. Flexible; no cohorts.
* Courses begin on June 9, 2014. 2 sessions in summer. 2nd session
ends on August 1.
Visit http://modeling.asu.edu/MNS/MNS.html for a list of courses this
summer (2014).
To apply to ASU, click on "ASU logistics and the application process".
Questions? ask jane.jackson@asu.edu .
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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.
6) We hope that a private donor will again contribute MODELING
INSTRUCTION SCHOLARSHIPS if you teach in any state except Arizona.
(Apply to reserve a seat & dorm apartment at the MNS webpage.)
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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!
(Many teachers take PHS 530, modeling workshop in mechanics, BEFORE
they apply for the MNS degree. Consider doing that, next June 9-27.)