There are several online universities that are fully accredited to give math teaching degrees, including masters degrees. One of these is Concordia University, based in Portland, Oregon. The university, established in 1905, describes itself as " ... a Christian liberal arts university preparing leaders for the transformation of society". According to the Carnegie classification, Concordia is listed as "Master's Colleges and Universities II".
Online M.Ed. Math Curriculum and Instruction Course at Concordia
The masters degree in education offered is geared towards K-8, and the modules are split fairly evenly between "Online Curriculum and Instruction", and "Online Mathematics (K-8) Core subjects". There is a practical, capstone project, based on the student's place of employment, that is also undertaken. This is started about six months prior to graduation, and is done through "action learning".
Online M.Ed. Math Curriculum and Instruction Courses
This section of the curriculum contains five modules that deal with character themes, teaching theories, learning communities, educational research, and contemporary educational thought:
- Developing Character Through The Curriculum: this provides teachers with the skills they need to integrate character themes and development into a school curriculum. It also enables discussion about moral perspectives.
- Theories of Teaching and Learning: based on the most modern research findings in psychology, neurology, and anatomy, this module demonstrates how the cognitive processes in the human brain work.
- Community of Learners: this module arms the teacher with strategies to evelop healthy, diverse, and motivated learning environments. It recognizes that education is rarely an individual process, and that the dynamics of the teaching room are critically important.
- Educational Research: this module gives teachers the skills they need to evaluate the research of others, and to plan their own research, both qualitative and quantitative.
- Contemporary Educational Thought: this module encourages teachers to look at current reforms in education, with a view to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Online M.Ed. Math (K-8) Courses
- Foundational Mathematics Concepts: this module focuses on the theory vs practice of math teaching, and how technology may be used to achieve math teaching aims.
- Learning and Teaching Measurement and Geometry: with an emphasis on transformational teaching methods, this module shows how to integrate the methods of measurement and geometry with the numbers that result from them. There is a close focus on national standards.
- Transformative Mathematics in the Differentiated Classroom: this module informs and guides teachers on how to set up a classroom, use technology, and motivate the diverse range of backgrounds and abilities that it contains.
Online M.Ed. Math Action Research
The aim of the M.Ed. is not to get teachers to know how to teach well, it is to get them to actually teach well. It is therefore a core unit of the M.Ed. that teachers do an action-based project that demonstrates that they can follow the best practices in their classrooms. Teachers choose an issue within their own work setting, and then address this by research, proposing a solution, implement it, and then report that the results have been achieved as planned.
Online M.Ed. Math at Concordia - Summary
The masters in education in math at Concordia is a comprehensive, accredited, and practical course that provides the graduate with a masters degree qualification, as well as the tools necessary to make real changes to their classroom, that bring both educational and pastoral benefits to the pupils. Math degrees, especially masters degrees, allow the holder access to most of the "top ten jobs list".
Online M.Ed. Math at Concordia - References
The University of Concordia website and infoplease.com are the main sources of information. The article "Online or attended math degree" discusses choosing between an online or an attended degree, and the article "Online Masters Degree at the Open University" describes a degree available to Europeans.
Martin Bell - Martin holds a B.Sc. degree in chemical engineering, and an M.Sc. degree in electronics and computing. He has spent more than 25 years ...
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