STEM Teaching Graduate Certificate

Program Overview

The Graduate Certificate in STEM Teaching empowers K-12 educators with advanced knowledge and skills in STEM content and pedagogy. Through a blend of required and elective courses, participants enhance their teaching strategies, integrate technology, and develop leadership skills for STEM integration in communities. The program's assessment methods and innovative teaching approaches ensure that graduates are equipped to effectively teach STEM and foster student learning outcomes.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Graduate Certificate in STEM Teaching provides K-12 educators with an opportunity to enhance their knowledge and skills in the high-demand field of STEM content and pedagogy. The program focuses on STEM-related research and strategies for integrating digital technology into curricula to improve learning outcomes. It is designed for educators with the prerequisites for graduate study and who seek to advance their knowledge and skills in STEM education, including certified teachers, informal STEM educators, science specialists, curriculum writers, and supervisors.

Objectives:

Upon completion of the program, certificate earners will be able to:

• Demonstrate teaching strategies aligned with 3-Dimensional learning and assessment
• Demonstrate lesson design that integrates STEM into non-STEM disciplines
• Demonstrate lesson design that adapts and enacts learning progressions of key STEM content and skills
• Demonstrate developing capacity to navigate computer technology and uses of internet resources in educational settings
• Demonstrate the use of simple coding language sequences (Python) to increasing utility of STEM-based technology
• Demonstrate Knowledge and Tools to Integrate Technology for Teaching Beyond Geographical Boundaries; Global Education
• Develop leadership skills for the integration of STEM teaching into communities

Outline:

Required Courses (12 hours):

• TCH ED 6423: Learning Through Inquiry (3 hours)
• TCH ED 6241: Science Content, Inquiry-Based Instruction, and Assessment: STEM-Integrated Pedagogy (2 hours)
• ED TECH 5301: Introduction to Computers and the Internet in Education (3 hours)
• EDUC 6491: Staff Development and Professional Growth (4 hours)

Electives (6 hours):

Choose two of the following:

• ELE ED 6431: STEM Instruction in Elementary Education
• ED TECH 5420: Advanced Computer Programming and Pedagogy
• TCH ED 6445: Integration of Geospatial Resources into K-12 STEM Teaching

Assessment:

The program employs a variety of assessment methods to evaluate student learning, including:

• Course assignments
• Projects
• Presentations
• Exams
• Reflective teaching portfolios
The assessment criteria are designed to measure students' knowledge and understanding of STEM content and pedagogy, as well as their ability to apply this knowledge to their teaching practices.

Teaching:

The program is taught by a team of experienced faculty members who are experts in STEM education. They use a variety of teaching methods, including:

• Lectures
• Discussions
• Hands-on activities
• Technology-based instruction
• Field experiences
The program also incorporates innovative teaching approaches, such as:
• Problem-based learning
• Project-based learning
• Inquiry-based learning

Careers:

The Graduate Certificate in STEM Teaching prepares graduates for a variety of careers in STEM education, including:

• STEM teachers
• Science specialists
• Curriculum writers
• Educational administrators
• Teacher educators
• Informal STEM educators