Curriculum
Purdue’s STEM Goes Rural project proposes a 38-41 credit hour Master of Science in Education degree program that incorporates a transition to teaching (TTT) program leading to licensure for Woodrow Wilson Fellows. (See the attached diagram.) Key features of the proposed program include:
- WW Fellows will be licensed in one or more of the following teaching disciplines: biology, chemistry, earth/space science, mathematics, physics, or technology. While each Fellow is expected to have one primary licensure area based on his/her content background, our goal is to have each Fellow licensed in two areas for greater flexibility and marketability in the rural school environment. To accomplish this, Fellows will complete two methods courses and complete a 10-week student teaching placement that will allow for teaching two subjects.
- Fellows will be accommodated in existing TTT and methods courses. Field experiences in rural schools will be integrated into methods courses as well as into courses designed specifically for the Fellows. Signature program content (e.g., rural-oriented curriculum, engineering education, problem-based learning) will be threaded into the program both through seminars for the Fellows and modifications of existing methods courses.
- The general candidate/practitioner assessment approach will be organized around an individualized Professional Growth Plan (PGP) that includes supporting evidence and self-assessments related to key elements of quality teaching, school improvement, and disciplined inquiry directly related to the Fellow’s own learning community. Fellows will begin the PGP upon entry into the program and will follow a basic five-year template that includes milestones for coursework, licensure, employment, induction, action research for degree completion, school improvement initiatives, and National Board Certification.
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Plan of Study TENTATIVE: Courses and credits subject to final approval by Curriculum Committee | ||
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Summer 1 |
Fall 1 |
Spring 1 |
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EDCI 590T – TTT Seminar (1) |
Seminar in STEM Education for Rural Schools* (1) |
6-wk Classroom Mgmt (adapted EDPS 430) (3) |
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Credits: 7 |
Credits: 10-13 |
Credits: 8 |
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Summer 2 |
Fall 2 |
Spring 2 |
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Seminar in STEM Education for Rural Schools* (2) |
First-Year Teaching Seminar + (2) |
First-Year Teaching Seminar + (2) |
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Credits: 7 |
Credits: 2 |
Credits: 2 |
| Summer 3 | ||
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First-Year Teaching Seminar + (2) | ||
| Credits: 2 | Total Credits: 38-41 | |
* Seminar in STEM Education for Rural Schools will focus on content specifically for program participants including rural schools and communities, PBL approaches to teaching STEM, assessment, etc. A field-based component will be included.
† Methods courses, with field experiences, include:
EDCI 425 – Teaching Mathematics in the Secondary Schools (3)
BIOL 595 – Special Assignments (meets with EDCI 421 – biology methods) (3)
CHM 502 – Modern Chemistry in the High School (meets with EDCI 424 – physical science methods) (3)
IT 472 – Methods of Teaching Technology Education (3)
# Math/Science/Tech Ed electives include:
EDCI 506 – Environmental Education (3)
EDCI 512 – Mathematics in the Secondary School (3)
EDCI 517 – Survey of Science Education (3)
EDCI 518 – Nature of Science in Science Teaching (3)+
EDCI 567 – Action Research in Science Education (3)
IT 471 – Managing the Technology Education Laboratory (3)
+ First-year Teaching Seminar, offered via distance education, will focus on issues and support for the first year of teaching including reflection on practice, the rural environment, action research to examine teaching, being a change agent, school improvement, and beginning development of a teaching portfolio. The final seminar will culminate in a capstone project for the MS degree.