Distance Learning Montana State University-Bozeman

For CERTIFIED HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS
Graduate Semester Credit: 1
Time Commitment: 6-8 HOURS PER WEEK
Cost: $275

This is an exciting 6-week online course, directed toward K-6 elementary school teachers who want to understand the science of "dirt." This includes conversing with your instructor and classmates in weekly online discussions. The focus will be on basic soil physical properties and processes.

The specific goals of this course are:

• Expand your understanding of the concepts of soil science and use soil as a platform to teach other science disciplines.
• Gain understanding of how soil is formed.
• Begin to understand your local soil/ landscape interactions.
• Getting dirty while discovering different soil textures.
• Gain understanding of soil and water relationships.
• Gain understanding of the biology of soil.
• Study how children's concepts of soil and land resources are developed in the classroom setting.
• Strengthen skills in teaching basic soil science concepts, engaging students, and responding to student needs in the classroom
• Incorporate a Native American perspective on teaching activities and lessons in soil science and land resources.
• Develop our own professional community of course participants, sharing teaching ideas, expertise and experience.

INSTRUCTOR: James W. Bauder, Ph.D., Soil and Water Quality Specialist in Land Resources and Environmental Sciences at Montana State University. Dr. Bauder is a graduate instructor at MSU and has taught numerous courses for teachers, pre and post-college students, including soil science and water quality. The Dirty Dozen - his course on Soil Science for science teachers - is one of the longest-running courses of the NTEN program. He also designed and taught courses for the Science Teaching Institute of the Rockies at MSU and has conducted summer youth and science teacher continuing education institutes for more than 15 years. Dr. Bauder is also Director for Distant Ed programs of the College of Agriculture and technical Editor for the Soil Science Society of America Journal. He is also a Fellow of two international professional societies.

CREDIT: LRES 580-01 (Land Resources and Environmental Sciences), 1 graduate semester credits.

PREREQUISITES: Bachelor's degree, two years of experience teaching science at the secondary level and completion of a science education methods course.

TIME COMMITMENT: 6 to 8 hours per week. If you are unfamiliar with this field of study and/or telecommunications, this course may require more of your time.

TARGET AUDIENCE: This course is designed for secondary earth science, physical science, geology, geography, and environmental science teachers.

TEXTBOOK/MATERIALS: All course materials will be provided by the instructor and are included in the course materials fee. The primary text book for this course:

• Soil Science Simplified, 4th edition, by Kohnke and Franzmeier