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| Natural Science for School Teachers |
| NSST-4110 Introduction to Instructional Technologies This course is designed to improve high school mathematics and science education by enabling teachers to develop classroom materials using modern instructional technologies. Among specific topics are spreadsheets, data acquisition and visualization in computer based labs, simulation, hyper- and multi-media, mathematical software, modern calculators. This course may not be used for credit in any program except the M.S. in Natural Sciences. Summer term. 4 credits hours |
| NSST-4120 Teaching with Technology This course will continue the work of the preceding course, Introduction to Instructional Technologies, into the use of computer networks such as the World Wide Web, and a further exploration of the computer in laboratory science. Discussions will center on the best ways to apply instructional technologies to enhance the educational environment. Students will develop a philosophy of technology integration to guide them in the appropriate application of technology in the classroom. This course may not be used in any program except the M.S. in Natural Sciences. Prerequisite: NSST-4110. Summer term. 4 credit hours |
| NSST-4310 Nature of the Mathematical Sciences Participants in this course will explore the nature of mathematics by working on a variety of mathematical problems including some questions which are considered open questions by most mathematicians. In addition, participants will consider the important role of mathematics as a tool in other areas of study, especially science. There will be an emphasis on important mathematical concepts, history, and applications that are suitable for use in secondary school classrooms. Emphasis will also be placed on methods of communicating mathematics and science as well as developing the mathematical and scientific abilities of young people. This course may not be used in any program except the M.S. in Natural Sciences. Summer term. 3 credit hours |
| NSST-4350 Engineering Math Methods and Physical Principles I Mathematical skills are built through modeling of physical systems with a review of physical principles and the modeling and solution of basic engineering problems. This first course treats familiar physical phenomena, geometric relationships, force balances, conservation laws for fluid and electrical systems. Engineering software such as MatLab will be used. Studio course. Prerequisite: admission to the M.S. in Engineering Principles program. Summer term. 3 credit hours |
| NSST-4400 Foundations of Instruction and Learning in Secondary School Education I Drawing from on-site secondary school classroom experiences in local schools, students are led to topics in educational and cognitive psychology, pedagogy in teaching mathematics and science, and history, philosophy, and sociology of education. Each week there will be at least 5 hours of field work required and 4 1/2 hours of a problem-solving seminar at Rensselaer. No prerequisites, but a course in general, cognitive, or adolescent psychology desirable. Restricted to students admitted to the Rensselaer Teacher Education program. Fall term annually. 6 credit hours |
| NSST-4410 Foundations of Instruction and Learning in Secondary School Education II A continuation of NSST-4400. Students spend at least four hours per week working with teachers in the Troy School District and four hours each week in a problem-solving experience at Rensselaer. (Cross listed as PSYC-4430. Students cannot obtain credit for both this course and PSYC-4430.) Prerequisite: NSST-4400. Spring term annually. 6 credit hours |
| NSST-4420 Student Teaching in the Secondary School As part of their academic requirements, students work full time as student teachers in a local secondary school classroom gradually taking on full-time teaching responsibilities in the content areas where teaching certification will be granted. Students are supervised by a local Mentor Teacher and by a Rensselaer faculty member or adjunct. Prerequisite: NSST-4410. Fall term annually. This course is offered on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. 0 to 9 credit hours |
| NSST-4440 Student Teaching Seminar Student teachers meet in a seminar once a week at Rensselaer to discuss their classroom teaching experiences and to reflect upon the relationship between their present student teaching experience and the previous year’s work. Prerequisite: NSST-4410. Corequisite: NSST-4420. Fall term annually. 3 credit hours |
| NSST-4450 Secondary School Instructional Materials Design A reading or research course. Students work on state-of-the-art instructional technologies to produce innovative curriculum materials reflecting the subject content of the area where teacher certification will be granted. Prerequisite: NSST-4420. Spring term annually. 4 credit hours |
| NSST-4610 Nature and Processes of Natural Sciences The content of this course will be drawn from the areas of motion, energy, electricity and magnetism, and the periodic table of the elements. Work will center around the great ideas in the physical sciences, with emphasis on conceptual development, historical background, and applications of interest at the secondary level. This course may not be used for credit in any program except the M.S. in Natural Sciences. Summer term. 3 credit hours |
| NSST-6120 Curriculum of the Future This course represents the capstone of the instructional technologies strand of the program. Teachers will learn the design, production and implementation of fully interactive learning technologies. Various multimedia authoring tools will be discussed and their capabilities assessed for differing educational purposes and technological feasibility in the teacher’s current school situation. Principles of instructional design, use of multi-sensory communication, techniques of story boarding and the use of interactive simulations in science and math education modules will be covered. Participants will gain hands-on experience with an advanced multimedia authoring tool as well as the preparation of a variety of media-graphics, animation, sound, and video. The final project will be the creation of a multimedia learning module which the teacher brings back for use in the classroom and/or on the World Wide Web. This course may not be used in any program except the M.S. in Natural Sciences. Prerequisite: NSST-4110, NSST-4120. Summer term. 4 credit hours |
| NSST-6130 Studying Teaching and Learning Participants will study teaching and learning beginning with reflection on their own pedagogical practices and leading to an examination of perspectives on learning offered by developmental psychology, cognitive science, and interactional sociology. Students will refine their skills in analyzing social situations and diagnosing their student’s understanding and misunderstanding. A course project will involve students in comparing teaching and learning across a range of interactions, teaching contexts including their own classes, and interactive multimedia learning environments. This course may not be used in any program except the M.S. in Natural Sciences. Summer term. 3 credit hours |
| NSST-6210 Human Biology The course will emphasize the application of basic cellular and physiological principles to human and higher mammalian organisms. An introduction to the neural, sensory, circulatory, renal, respiratory and hormonal systems will be included with an emphasis on the control and integration of these systems. The course format will include lecture and workshop activities with emphasis on the use of technology to enhance classroom experiences. This course may not be used in any program except the M.S. in Natural Sciences. Prerequisite: NSST-4510, NSST-4310. Summer term. 3 credit hours |
| NSST-6220 Science of the Environment An introduction to a variety of ways to study the environment, especially through the cooperation of the humanities and the sciences, including both the social and the natural sciences. The course addresses the issue of sustainability by assessing the scale of human activities in relation to natural processes. Topics such as carrying capacity, social structure, biodiversity, energy, climate change, emergent diseases and social justice will be considered. This course may not be used in any program except the M.S. in Natural Sciences. Prerequisite: NSST-4510, NSST-4310. Summer term. 3 credit hours |
| NSST-6230 Biochemical Science Fundamentals of biochemistry including the structure of proteins and protein complexes; mechanisms, kinetics, energetic, and regulation of enzymatic reactions; structure of lipids and cellular membranes; and introduction to metabolic pathways emphasizing carbohydrate metabolism. Taught in studio format which includes a mix of lectures, student use of computer-based interactive tutorials, and informal student-faculty interactions. This course may not be used in any program except the M.S. in Natural Sciences. Prerequisite: NSST-4510, NSST-4310. Summer. 3 credit hours |
| NSST-6240 Biomolecular Science Course will describe the interactions at the molecular, cellular, and organ level of one or more biological processes, i.e., the immune response, antibody production, and cellular immunity. This course may not be used in any program except the M.S. in Natural Sciences. Prerequisite: NSST-4510, NSST-4310. Summer term. 3 credit hours |
| NSST-6260 Environmental Chemistry A discussion of some important chemical processes in the environment, both those that occur naturally and those that result from human activities. Chemistry of the atmosphere, of aqueous systems, and of soils and rock will be included. Examples of topics include the chemistry of important elements (examples are biogeochemical cycles of carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur; toxic heavy metals such as mercury and lead), nuclear chemistry of natural and anthropomorphic origins, chemistry of petroleum, plastics, and other organic materials. This course may not be used in any program except the M.S. in Natural Sciences. 3 credit hours |
| NSST-6270 Principles of Modern Chemical Analysis Much of modern chemical analysis is based on instrumental techniques. This course will consider the basic principles underlying some widely used methods and will include hands-on laboratory experience carrying out some analytical procedures. Examples of methods to be included are atomic absorption spectroscopy, flame emission spectroscopy, visible-ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy, visible and X-ray fluorescence, gas and liquid chromatography. This course may not be used in any program except the M.S. in Natural Sciences. 3 credit hours |
| NSST-6280 Molecular Structure and Spectra Atomic and molecular structure will be discussed from the point of view of bonding and energy and how these relate to spectroscopic properties. Use of spectra for establishing the structure of molecules will be stressed. Some laboratory exercises will be included. This course may not be used in any program except the M.S. in Natural Sciences. 3 credit hours |
| NSST-6310 Mathematics of Discrete Processes Depending on the instructor, this course will introduce the student to, among other things, some fundamental concepts from graph theory and combinatorics and will address additional topics from a standard discrete mathematics course within the context of these content areas. There will be an emphasis on modeling real situations and testing intuition. The course seeks to stress pedagogically the process of doing mathematics as an ongoing process and to emphasize the importance of communication of questions, conjectures, and results in mathematics, both verbally and in writing and to model an environment in which inquiry-based learning plays an important role. 3 credit hours |
| NSST-6320 Dynamical Mathematics Students will be introduced to some fundamental concepts from discrete dynamics, including, among others, chaos theory, and will be urged to suggest and discuss applications of mathematics to several fields, such as epidemiology. This course may not be used in any program except the M.S. in Natural Sciences. Prerequisite: NSST-4510, NSST-4310. Summer term. 3 credit hours |
| NSST-6330 Geometry: Constructions, Theory and Applications Students will use one or more software packages to investigate the problems and explore the nature of the various geometries. Topics will be chosen from, among others, ruler and compass constructions and constructible number; history and famous problems in geometry; advanced Euclidean geometry; axiomatic approaches to geometry; transformations of the Euclidean Plane; convexity and applications. This course may not be used in any program except the M.S. in Natural Sciences. Prerequisite: NSST-4510, NSST-4310. Summer term. 3 credit hours |
| NSST-6960 Studying Teaching and Learning Participants will study teaching and learning beginning with reflection on their own pedagogical practices and leading to an examination of perspectives on learning offered by developmental psychology, cognitive science and interactional sociology. Students will refine their skills in analyzing social situations and diagnosing their students’ understanding and misunderstanding. A course project will involve students in comparing teaching and learning across a range of interactional teaching contexts including their own classes and interactive multimedia learning environments. 3 credit hours |
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Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), 110 8th St., Troy, NY 12180. (518) 276-6000 Please direct questions regarding this site to catalog@rpi.edu. |