"Like all professionals, teachers need opportunities for professional growth throughout their careers." - The Mathematical Education of Teachers II, Conference Board of the Mathematical Sciences
The UNL Department of Mathematics is a national leader with respect to offering opportunities for professional growth for math teachers. For the Spring 2020 semester, the department is offering three online courses that have been designed with teachers and the work they do teaching mathematics in mind. There is still time to register and take one of these courses, but the spring semester starts Monday, January 13, 2020, so it is important to act quickly if you want to take one of these courses. If you have taken a course in the past year at UNL, use the instructions here for how to enroll in MyRED: http://registrar.unl.edu/registration-procedures. If it has been longer than three semesters, please email Lindsay Augustyn at laugustyn2@unl.edu for further instructions.
Over the past 15 years, more than 450 math teachers have earned their master’s degree, making UNL a true leader with respect to providing opportunities for mathematics teachers. All three instructors of these courses below are award-winning teachers known for excellence in engaging teachers in graduate coursework.
#1 - Math 896, section 700: Using Technology to Aid Mathematical Problem Solving (*NEW*)
Class Number for Registration: 20129
Instructor: Shelby Aaberg, Scottsbluff High School
All math teachers want their students to be good problem solvers. This course will emphasize problem-solving strategies that are enhanced by explorations using technology (e.g., Desmos, Geogebra). Teachers will come away with new or enhanced approaches for engaging their students with hands-on activities. The design of the course makes it accessible for both middle-level and high school mathematics teachers. As a new course in the Master of Arts for Teachers (MAT) curriculum, this course is a great opportunity for teachers who have already taken many of the department’s MAT courses.
#2 - Math 805T, section 700: Discrete Mathematics for Teachers
Class Number for Registration: 9801
Instructor: Dr. Christine Kelley, UNL
The department has more than 15 years of experience offering Math 805T. Math 805T started as part of the Math in the Middle grant and has been taught successfully many times to both middle-level and high school teachers. It is designed to deepen knowledge of discrete mathematics as it relates to topics covered in middle through high school curricula. Course topics (such as graph theory and counting techniques) are introduced through hands-on explorations through which various problem-solving strategies are emphasized.
# 3 - Math 814T, section 700: Linear Algebra for Teachers
Class Number for Registration: 9802
Instructor: Dr. Brian Harbourne, UNL
Math 814T is a more recent addition to the MAT curriculum, to meet the needs of high school teachers asking for new course opportunities. Concepts of linear algebra form key connections between much of what underlies the high school math curriculum and advanced mathematical topics and real-world applications. This course studies the relationships between linear equations, linear transformations and the geometry of lines and planes, along with their behavior and practical applications.
Let us know if you have any questions by emailing laugustyn2@unl.edu.