NMSSI Science Course Descriptions

GEOS 898: Methods in Geoscience Field Instruction
GEOS 898: Methods in Geoscience Field Instruction

NMSSI SCIENCE COURSES:

CHEM 898: Matter Matters: Chemistry, Society & Popular Culture (Class #3268, Sec # 591)

June 3-7 (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

The goal of this course is to generate enthusiasm for chemistry among young people. The course will explore many ways to increase the appreciation of chemistry among both science-interested and non-science-interested students. One focus will be chemistry as an intellectual enterprise that is deeply embedded in our society, with references and imagery from popular culture. A few low-cost, safe, and effective laboratory exercises will be introduced. Instructor: Mark Griep, Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

CSCE 890: Introduction to Robotics for Teachers (two different weeks to choose from)

June 3-7 (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) Class # 11637, Sec # 391
July 29-August 2 (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) Class # 11638, Sec # 691

This course is for middle school and secondary school teachers wishing to gain knowledge and experience in the foundations of the science of Robotics and how to program and field test the robots with the software provided. Each day involves one strategy and teaching objective direction with lecturing and demos of robot programming and challenge assignments in Robot programming to be exercised as a component of class work. Enrollment is limited to 15. Instructor: Don Costello, Computer Science and Engineering Department, University of Nebraska-Lincoln


GEOS 898: Methods in Geoscience Field Instruction (Class # 11426, Sec # 591)

June 9-23 (June 9 depart at 8 a.m., June 23 return by 5 p.m.)

A 14-day, inquiry-based geology field course in which participants will enhance their inquiry skills and experience learning (and camping) in the great outdoors across Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming. The primary aim of this course is to improve educators’ ability to teach inquiry, gain knowledge and understanding of geoscience, and to demonstrate effective teaching methods for 6-12 learning environments. Participants will discover, observe and study a variety of natural phenomena, focusing on Earth processes and geological history. Enrollment is limited to 10. Instructor: David Harwood, Dept. of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

GEOS 898: Geology of North America (Class # 3420, Sec # 691)

July 15-19 (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

This course will discuss how the geology of the North American continent contains classic examples of nearly every geologic process that has acted to form the crust of the Earth (e.g. the San Andreas Fault, Yellowstone National Park, Nebraska Sandhills) and will explore the processes of plate tectonics and the way that the surface of the Earth (and life thereon) has evolved throughout geologic time. Instructor: Cara Burberry, Dept. of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

GEOS 898: Exploring the Geology of our Solar System (Class # 11427, Sec # 692)

July 22-26 (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)

The goal of this course is to offer a broad overview of planetary science to improve educators’ knowledge and understanding of the processes which shape the surfaces of the terrestrial bodies in our solar system. This course is designed to take you beyond the typical classroom lecture and book approach to highlight educational tools and inquiry based teaching methods that can be integrated into the K-12 learning environment. Instructor: Mindi Searls, Dept. of Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

More details at: http://go.unl.edu/nmssi