[Will you please forward this to high school physics & chemistry
teachers (including student teachers) in your network? April 1
deadline. -- Jane J]
March 7, 2016
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)?
* Most teachers take 3 summers, but some finish in two. Flexible; no cohorts.
* Courses begin on June 6, 2016. 2 sessions in summer. 2nd session
ends on July 29.
LOWER-COST! Teachers in 15 western states can apply for IN-STATE
tuition, a considerable savings! This opportunity is through WICHE.
The 15 states are listed at http://www.wiche.edu/states .
(Mark McConnell of Colorado and Kathy Dao of southern California are
enrolled for in-state tuition. Their dorm rent last summer was about
$22/day, for a private bedroom and kitchen privileges.)
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.
* 70 high school teachers have earned the MNS degree since it was
founded in 2001 by Prof. David Hestenes. It is based on Modeling
Instruction, of proven effectiveness.
* 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. See
http://modeling.asu.edu/MNS/DualEnroll-MNScourses15.htm
* 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 among the highest in
the world in test scores of 15-year-olds, as you know.)
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FINANCIAL AID for TEACHERS NATIONWIDE:
1) Teachers in high poverty (usually Title I) schools nationwide can
get FORGIVABLE Direct 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) Ask your principal for Federal Title II-A funds.
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.
* 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 6-24.)