M.Ed. in Science in Education (1-8): Online Program

This program of study is approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for Professional Licensure in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and leads to a professional license in Elementary Education (1-6) or Middle School General Science (5-8).

The fully online Science in Education Program is designed for classroom teachers, curriculum specialists, and instructional resource persons responsible for 1-8 science education. The program encourages Master's degree candidates to take a hands-on, interactive approach to teaching science. Students in the program are required to take seven science content courses and four pedagogy courses.

Prerequisite: Applicants for Elementary (1-6): Massachusetts Initial license in Elementary Education (1-6) or a signed non-licensure agreement. Applicants for General Science (5-8): Massachusetts Initial license in General Science (5-8) or a signed non-licensure agreement.

Science Content Course Descriptions

CNSCI 5100 Introduction to Physical Science - In this introductory course on science inquiry participants investigate common everyday phenomena. This course invites participants to “uncover” the complexity of a simple glass of water. They observe physical processes at play in this familiar system and develop scientific "habits of mind." Participants see how scientific principles can be applied to understanding the world around us. The following key physical science concepts are explored: density, displacement, buoyancy, melting, freezing, equilibrium, phase changes and energy transfers. (CNSCI 5100 is a pre-requisite for all other CNSCI courses.)

CNSCI 6102 Physics of Forces and Motion - Physics is a science of the fundamental processes of nature involving observation, experimentation and theory.  Participants build their understanding of mechanical physics concepts and principles through guided inquiry. They investigate motion, forces, momentum, energy and pressure through observation, hands-on experimentation, simulation, video, graphical representations and discussions. Participants apply their new understanding to explaining commonplace physical phenomena.

CNSCI 6100 Biology Explorations in Variation, Diversity, and Adaptation - This course focuses on the biology of grasses, with hands-on investigations of germination and growth, adaptation, co-evolution between grasses and grazers, bio-geography, the domestication of grasses and variation and natural selection. Participants extend their understanding of key biological concepts through inquiry. They investigate various aspects of biological adaptation and apply their new understandings to the real world – both locally and globally.

CNSCI 6101 Earth Science From a New Perspective - This course focuses on concepts central to Earth Science. Participants investigate the Nile River, with inquiry-based investigations of drainage networks, stream flow dynamics, flooding, interaction of climate and the river system, and interaction of the river system and land formations. They learn to use modeling, visualization and analysis tools to investigate the Earth system. This includes the use of data from satellite photographs, maps, boring logs, and stratigraphy, along with computer and physical modeling.

CNSCI 7100 Ecology: Organisms, Nutrients, and Environment - The ecology course focuses on the flows of nutrients in ecosystems. Participants investigate aspects of nutrient flows with hands-on studies of the decomposition cycle. They apply ecological concepts to the real world –locally (backyard studies) and globally (satellite data). Participants conduct inquiry-based investigations of plant primary productivity, energy and carbon cycles, decomposition, and related concepts, using a combination of lab and field studies, and satellite images to build data-driven explanations and models of these phenomena.

CNSCI 7101 Engineering: From Science to Design - This course introduces participants to engineering design. The course focuses on the design of structures to resist earthquakes, with investigations of earthquakes, soil and structure response to earthquakes, structural damage in earthquakes, and seismic reinforcement of structures. Participants investigate case studies of earthquakes, and design and build structural models and use a shake table to test them. In their work they explore the relation between design technology and science, with emphasis on forces and motion in physics and earthquakes in Earth science. Through the use of technology and design, participants deepen analytical and problem solving skills.

Pedagogy Course Descriptions

EEDUC 6131 Facilitation in the Science Classroom - The pedagogical focus is classroom facilitation. Participants consider how to help students develop scientific ideas and skills. They study video clips of teachers facilitating classroom science to learn strategies for extending students’ experience and scaffolding scientific ideas. In classrooms, participants try various facilitation and questioning strategies. Participants encourage and model the skills and attitudes of science and join their students as co-inquirers.

EEDUC 6134 Science Curriculum Designed for Understanding - The pedagogical course focuses on curriculum redesign. Participants use the Teaching for Understanding framework developed at Harvard University to guide thinking critically about how to shape inquiry-based experiences to achieve deeper understanding of important science concepts. This framework stresses the importance of establishing explicit goals of understanding, engaging students in performances of understanding, that is, experiences that require learners to use the concepts they are learning, and ongoing assessment of their understanding.

EEDUC 7115 Assessment for Learning in the Science Classroom - Assessment to support learning is the pedagogical focus of this course. Through classroom case studies, introductory readings and discussion, participants examine the different purposes of assessment (principally formative and summative), then develop and implement assessment strategies. They consider how assessing inquiry skills, conceptual understanding, self- and peer-assessment, and feedback to learners on their progress can advance learning in the classroom. Participants plan a formative assessment into inquiry-based work that is conducted in the classroom.

EEDUC 7117 Investigating Equitable Science Classrooms - The equity course focuses on classroom practices that result in the success of every child learning science. The course asks participants to examine their personal definitions, views, and assumptions about equity in the science classroom. Transcripts of classroom conversations are central in this course. Listening carefully to classroom conversations, teachers identify and examine their assumptions and/or prejudices about science learners and reflect on pedagogical approaches and strategies. Participants design and carry out an independent research project that includes collecting classroom data to answer a question about equity. They use their research findings to develop a plan for changing their classroom practice so that more students will be more successful.

Electives Course Descriptions (Chose one)

CNSCI 5101 Investigations in Space Science - This course focuses on the study of the Universe-the totality of all space, time, matter, and energy.  The organization of course content will take an “Earth Out” approach by studying the relatively familiar solar system before the discussion of stars and galaxies. Nature offers no greater splendor than the starry sky on a clear, dark night.  Participants will make several “real time” observations that will extend over the duration of the course, such as: a moon journal, a sun journal, and seasonal star charts.  They will also learn to use online resources, such as Google Sky, NASA resources, and numerous video clips to enhance their learning of space science concepts. The following topics will be explored: the history and tools of astronomy, the solar system, the Sun and stellar evolution, and Cosmology- the fate of the universe.

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CNSCI 6104 Investigations in Particles, Fields and Waves - Participants develop their understanding of the physics of fields and waves through guided inquiry. They investigate electricity, magnetism, sound, waves and light through observation, hands-on experimentation, simulation, video, graphical representations and discussions. Participants apply their understanding of the physics that lay beyond the range of our senses to everyday occurrences and devices. (Pre-requisite: CNSCI 6102.)

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