The College of Education Math/Science Teacher Initiative is a comprehensive program to significantly increase its credential enrollments in mathematics and science.
The first component of the program focuses on expanding numbers of candidates seeking other credentials who also obtain mathematics or subject-matter authorizations. It focuses on liberal studies majors with a specialization in mathematics, exercise and nutritional sciences majors, and other students with substantial coursework in mathematics and/or the sciences. MSTI funds courses designed to help students learn the mathematics tested by the CSET mathematics subtests I and II and the biology tested by the CSET biology subtests III and IV.
We will offer the following CSET courses June 23 to July 11, 2008.
For more information contact Mernie Aste at maste@mail.sdsu.edu or 619-594-8302:
Algebra in the Secondary School Curriculum
The course is designed for those who wish to refresh their abstract algebra skills and for those preparing to take the CSET subtest I. Topics are selected from the standards stressed in the CSET subtest I. The examination requires that the candidate demonstrate a deep conceptual knowledge of each content domain i.e. the topics selected are tested from an advanced viewpoint. The main focus of the course is to guide the students in developing this deep conceptual knowledge by working in small groups on related problems of increasing complexity and depth. Topics covered include properties of the real and complex numbers and those properties in a more abstract setting i.e. elementary group and ring theory, solution sets of polynomial equations and inequalities, functions and their properties, vectors and matrices, systems of linear equations and selected topics from number theory. This course is taught by Dr. John Elwin and may be taken for credit.
Geometry in the Secondary School Curriculum
The course is designed for those who wish to refresh their knowledge of geometry and their knowledge of probability and statistics. It is also designed for those preparing to take the CSET subtest II. Topics are selected from the standards stressed in the CSET subtest II. The examination requires that the candidate demonstrate a deep conceptual knowledge of each content domain i.e. the topics selected are tested from an advanced viewpoint. The main focus of the course is to guide the students in developing this deep conceptual knowledge by working in small groups on related problems of increasing complexity and depth. Topics covered include parallelism, similarity and congruence, three-dimensional and transformational geometry (rotations, reflections and translations), probability computed using counting techniques of permutations and combinations, basic topics from statistics such as the role of the median and the mode and analyses of basic sampling methods. This course is taught by Dr. John Elwin and may be taken for credit.
Biology in the Secondary School Curriculum
The course is designed for those who wish to refresh their knowledge of biology to prepare for the CSET subtest III and IV. Topics are selected from the standards stressed in the CSET subtest III and IV. The examination requires that the candidate demonstrate a deep conceptual knowledge of each content domain i.e. the topics selected are tested from an advanced viewpoint. The main focus of the course is to guide the students in developing this deep conceptual knowledge by working in small groups on related problems of increasing complexity and depth. Topics covered will include a review of biology of cells, ecology and evolution. This course is taught by Joe Newsome.
The second component creates a new pathway for community college transfer students interested in mathematics and science credentials and graduates students interested in our science and mathematics intern program. It focuses on local community college students who are interested in mathematics and science majors. We work with counselors and mathematics and science departments to identify and contact students and offer them jobs as tutors for area middle school and high school students in the Sweetwater Union High School District ,
The third component will add new pools of students by identifying and mentoring high school students interested in teaching mathematics or science. It focuses on high school students through the Future Educators of America (FEA) clubs at school sites. The Future Educators of America (FEA) is a national organization with student led clubs on high school, community college, and university campuses.