Current Institutes

This course consists of fourteen days of field-based activities conducted in and around the national parks and monuments of eastern Utah–areas internationally recognized for their outstanding geology. Participants learn to determine how climate, sea level, and mountain building change the earth’s landscape through time. The course covers the basics of orienteering, geology, earth systems science and engineering applications related to these topics.

GE 5130
4 credits

This is a great chance for current or future teachers to experience real-world engineering projects first hand, and then see how to integrate a scaled down version into a class project for students to solve physical science problems.

ENG 5200
4 credits

This course was developed for teachers interested in the interactions between the Earth system and humans. It emphasizes the impact of Earth system processes on societies, and, particularly, human impacts on local, regional, and global Earth processes. The course will emphasize the integration of field-based activities to insure deep student learning.

SS 5150
3 credits

The Institute is designed to teach educators about the physical, chemical, and biological components of the Great Lakes ecosystem using Lake Superior as the classroom. This 5-day course will enhance the ability of educators to teach about Great Lakes topics including watershed dynamics, stream and lake assessments, amphibian monitoring, coastal wetlands, environmental stewardship, building school community partnerships, and environmental careers. Mathematics; life, earth and physical sciences; technology; and social studies will be woven into the course content.

ED 5640
2 credits

This five-day Institute will prepare you to engage your middle and high school students in a real-world study of the effects of global change on ecosystems, including the impacts of climatic change, elevated carbon dioxide and ozone levels, nitrogen saturation, acid rain, and invasive species. Through lecture, hands-on data collection and field trips, participants will interact with scientists and gain new knowledge and skills. Teachers will be trained in and receive the Michigan Environmental Education Curriculum Support Climate Change unit (easily adapted to other states). National and Michigan standards for mathematics; life, Earth and physical sciences; and technology will be addressed.

FW 5641 / ED 5641
2 credits

This five‐day Institute is designed to provide teachers (grades 3‐12) with a basic understanding of forest ecology and management.

• Forest types; abiotic and biotic components of forest ecosystems.
• Potential threats to forests (climate change, invasive species, insects & disease, land use changes, fire ecology).
• Sustainable forest management: bio‐diversity, silvicultural prescriptions, forest health, multiple uses (wildlife, water, :recreation, timber).
• Resources to design and implement a forestry teaching unit and a school-community forest stewardship project.

ED 5630
2 credits

MooseWatch for Educators is a unique field experience in support of the ecological study of wolves and moose at Isle Royale National Park. Educators will receive the technical instruction needed to participate as a member of a backcountry research team collecting moose bones and performing field necropsies on moose kill sites. The research team will be operating in an off-trail wilderness setting involving travel by canoe and foot. They will learn research methods, backcountry navigation, and wilderness living skills. The course will integrate aspects of earth science, geography, anatomy and physiology, and general ecology and mathematics. Moose pathology and anatomy will be an integral instructional component of the program. Participants will present their findings to the researchers associated with the study as well as develop lesson plans for use at their local schools.

ED 5560
3 credits

The Educators’ Professional Development Institute Series (EPDIS): Engineering, Life Sciences and NGSS is focused to support and deepen teacher content knowledge and content pedagogy of practicing teachers.

Summer 2013

• Program Introduction
• Summer Workshop
• Summer Institute August 12 - 23, 2013

Fall 2013

Lesson Study Workshop

Spring 2014

STEM Learning Materials, Inquiry, and Assessment

Summer 2014

Engineering Applications in Biological Sciences

Up to 11 graduate credits