Take a course online this spring through the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, to earn graduate credit toward a Master of Arts for Teachers degree from the UNL Department of Mathematics or to earn graduate hours for teaching dual credit and community college courses. These courses also count toward degree programs in the Department of Teaching, Learning and Teacher Education. For teachers whose busy schedules require flexibility in order to make taking graduate courses possible, courses are offered online on a rotation, see https://math.unl.edu/mat-schedule. You can expect an online course held in the spring to cost you about $1,250. At this time, there are no fellowships available.
This spring, the math department is offering three courses:
Math 804T: Experimentation, Conjecture and Reasoning
Math 806T: Number Theory and Cryptography
Math 812T: Geometry for Geometry Teachers
Enrollment is low for Math 806T, so we encourage you to spread the word about this course to your colleagues so that it can run.
***The UNL spring semester begins Monday, Jan. 23, 2023, so you must be enrolled in MyRED by Jan. 22 to avoid late fees.***
#1 - Math 804T, section 700: Experimentation, Conjecture & Reasoning
Class Number for Registration: 16934
Math 804T focuses on problem solving, reasoning, proof, and communicating mathematics. The overall goal is to bring you to the next level in the development of your mathematical habits of mind. A person who is an effective mathematical thinker has a toolbox of skills and knowledge to use to reason, conjecture, prove, and solve problems. Although a complete mathematical toolbox includes algorithms, a person with well-developed habits of mind knows both why algorithms work and under what circumstances an algorithm will be most effective. Mathematical habits of mind are also marked by care of calculation and estimation as well as persistence in pursuing solutions to problems. A person with well-developed habits of mind has a disposition to analyze all situations as well as the self-efficacy to believe that he or she can make progress toward a solution. Such a person also engages in metacognition by monitoring and reflecting on the processes of reasoning, conjecture, proving, and problem solving.
#2 – Math 806T, section 700: Number Theory and Cryptography
Class Number for Registration: 16935
This course focuses on basic number theory results which are needed to understand the number theoretic RSA cryptography algorithm (an encryption algorithm which is in use today to secure information sent via the internet). The course emphasizes connections to middle level mathematics and promotes a deep understanding of the integers and their properties. Elementary methods for encoding and decoding are introduced to elucidate the nature of cryptology. These methods are readily adaptable for use as enrichment activities in the classroom. The connection of number theory to RSA encryption is a very relevant, real-world application of mathematics.
#3 - Math 812T, section 700: Geometry for Geometry for Teachers
Class Number for Registration: 16936
The main goal of the course is to strengthen your mathematical background for teaching Geometry. We will focus on fundamental concepts of Euclidean geometry, and use explorations to contrast them with non-Euclidean geometries (including spherical and hyperbolic geometries). We will make extensive use of simple, concrete materials and dynamic geometry software. The main goals of the course are to strengthen your mathematical background for teaching Geometry. We will focus on fundamental concepts of Euclidean geometry, with explorations of non-Euclidean geometry for contrast. We will make extensive use of manipulatives and the dynamic geometry software GeoGebra.
If you have taken a course in the past year, use the instructions here for how to enroll in MyRED: http://registrar.unl.edu/registration-procedures
You must submit an application to Graduate Studies to be admitted to the MAT program or to take graduate courses as a non-degree-seeking student. Be sure to select the "Mathematics (MAT)" program as your degree objective when applying for admission to the MAT program. You may also choose the Teaching Middle Level Mathematics specialization while you are applying. There is a $50 non-refundable application fee.
http://go.unl.edu/gradapp
How to apply for the MAT degree:
https://math.unl.edu/mat-degree