School of Education at Johns Hopkins University - Graduate Education Programs:


Earth/Space Science

The Earth/Space Graduate Certificate Program is a collaborative partnership between the Maryland Space Grant Consortium in Johns Hopkins University’s Department of Physics and Astronomy and the School of Education. The Certificate Program is designed for educators who want to enhance their knowledge and teaching skills in the earth and space sciences. It helps fill teachers' "gaps" in their formal educational training. The Certificate program models pedagogical approaches for teaching earth and space science in K-12 classrooms.Scholarships are available through the Maryland Space Grant Consortium. Over the life of the program more than one hundred students have been enrolled. For more information about the program, call 410-516-0375.

Note: This program is only available as a cohort. The graduate certificate does not lead to teacher certification.

Program courses currently offered include:

Requirements (18 Credits)

 

  • 886.630 Understanding and Teaching Physical Geology

    Participants integrate the content and instructional strategies necessary to effectively teach the basic concepts of physical geology. Topics include the geological history of the earth, plate tectonics, mineral identification, the rock cycle, and the dynamic activity that affects the earth's changes. Methods of applying geology concepts to the classroom are emphasized. A variety of laboratory activities, as well as the inquiry approach, are presented and practiced. (3 credits)

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  • 886.631 Understanding and Teaching Earth Observations from Space

    Participants learn to acquire, process, interpret, and manage remote sensing planetary data. They use satellite imagery and data as tools for enhancing the science classroom. Various methods of satellite data and image retrieval from the Internet are explored. Teaching methods for applying the concepts to the science classroom are modeled and discussed. Hands-on activities emphasizing the inquiry approach are used to apply findings from data to the science classroom. Technology is an integral part of the course. (3 credits)

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  • 886.632 Understanding and Teaching the Solar System

    Participants are introduced to the history of solar exploration; space observation methods and techniques; survey of planets and small bodies; the sun as a star; the earth as a planet; and the search for life. Emphasis is on developing a thorough understanding of the solar system and applying the concepts to the classroom. Teaching methods, strategies, resources, and recent space mission data are explored and discussed. Promoting student-centered experimentation and problem solving are discussed and modeled. (3 credits)

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  • 886.633 Understanding and Teaching Stars, Galaxies, and Beyond

    Participants explore the content and methods of teaching stellar and intergalactic astronomy. Topics include cosmology, galaxy classification and evolution, stellar classification and evolution, radiation theory, and the interstellar medium. Current results from the Hubble Space Telescope are explored and classroom activities include space observations. Methods of applying the concepts and research to the science classroom, emphasizing the inquiry approach to teaching, are modeled and discussed. (3 credits)

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  • 886.634 Understand And Teaching Earth's Weather and Climate

    Participants examine the content and methodology of teaching the basic concepts of meteorology. Content focus includes factors that create local, regional, and global weather phenomena. Special topics include climate change issues such as global warming, greenhouse effect, and El Nino. Inductive and inquiry approaches to instruction are used throughout the course to model experimentation and problem solving for the earth/space science classroom. (3 credits)

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  • 886.811 Internship in Earth/Space Science

    Students collaborate with earth/space research scientists to develop learning units that apply earth/space science content, research techniques and computer-based data analysis to scientific inquiry activities designed for the classroom. Students are expected to teach the units in their classrooms and assess the impact of the activities on the appropriate grade level indicators for earth/space science from the Maryland State Department of Education Voluntary State Curriculum and Core Learning Goals. Note: Must have permission of academic adviser to register for this course. (3 credits)

    Prerequisite(s): ED.886.631 AND ED.886.632

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