Geology Labs On-Line is a National Science Foundation-funded project which is developing Web-based activities that enhance the learning and teaching of Geology and other Earth Science courses at both the University level and also at the high school AP level. The "Virtual" on-line labs of the project are interactive where students learn by "doing" and not just clicking and viewing. Currently four activities are available and these are used by over 1000 students from across the nation every day: Virtual Earthquake, Virtual River, Virtual Dating-Rocks, and Carbon-14 Age Dating.
Virtual Earthquake is an interactive tutorial that helps students understand how the epicenters of earthquakes are located from seismograms and how their Richter magnitudes are determined.
Virtual River consists of an activity that helps students understand some of the important process of rivers such as discharge, flood frequency, and erosion and deposition.
The two Virtual Dating activities model the theory and processes whereby ages of older rocks (>100 million years) are determined and how the C-14 method is used to age-date once-living materials that are prehistorical.
Activities called Virtual Volcano, Plate Tectonics, Virtual Landslide, Virtual Groundwater, and Virtual Coast are in the development stage.
CONTACT:
Dr.
Gary Novak, Professor of Geological Sciences
EMAIL: gnovak@calstatela.edu
PHONE: (323)
343-2400
Fax: (323)
343-2435
LOCATION: Phys Sci 216
Website:
http://sciencecourseware.comNatural Science Teacher Program
The Natural Science BS degree is designed for students seeking a career as a high school or middle school science teacher. The major has a Blended Option and a Traditional Option. Students who follow the Blended Option take both science courses and education courses. They earn their teaching credential as undergraduates. Cal State L.A. is the only CSU campus with a blended program in science. The Traditional Option does not include any education courses and can be completed with fewer units.
Natural science majors take a common core of lower division science courses in the areas of biology, chemistry, geology, and physics which ensures breadth of knowledge and reinforces the interdisciplinary nature of science. A sequence of upper division courses in one of the four science disciplines then gives Natural Science students the depth of knowledge to teach that particular subject at the high school level.
Upon entering a credential
program Natural Science graduates are exempt from the CSET science content
exam. By contrast credential students with traditional science degrees would be
required to either take from four to seven additional courses or pass the CSET
exam.
Are there lots of career opportunities for science teachers?
YES! Natural Science graduates have enormous
opportunities for obtaining teaching positions. The State of California has an
acute shortage of credentialed science teachers at all levels. Cal State L.A.’s
Noyce Scholarships provide generous financial aid for qualified students.
For
Further Information:
Natural Science Website:
www.calstatela.edu/academic/natsci
CONTACT INFO:
Biology: Dr. Paul Narguizian, 323-343-2054 -
Email:
pnargui@calstatela.edu
Chemistry: Dr. James Rudd, 323-343-2219 - Email:
jrudd@calstatela.edu
Mathematics: Dr. Debasree Raychaudhuri, 323-343-2165 - Email:
draycha@calstatela.edu
Physics: Dr. Oscar Bernal, Department of Physics and Astronomy,
323-343-2138 - Email:
obernal@calstatela.edu
Mathematics and Science Teachers’ Initiative (MSTI)
This project is funded by the CSU Chancellor's office to address the serious shortage of math and science teachers. We strive to increase the number of competent credentialed math & science teachers graduating from CSU Los Angeles.
Our goal is to build a clear pathway to expedite the degree/credential procedure and provide along the way intellectual, financial and social support for students aspiring to be math and science teachers. Our first creation is a Blended Math degree program that is scheduled to be offered in Fall, 08. It will allow the candidates to graduate with a BA degree in mathematics that offers the subject matter competency as well as the required professional education needed for a Single Subject Teaching Credential. This degree can be obtained within a span of four years. Science already has a similar blended degree program for teachers.
In addition, we are working to build bridges with local high-schools and community colleges to encourage students to become high-school math or science teacher. We have partnered with six local community colleges and are in process of building streamlined tranfer pathways for math/science teacher candidates.
Website: http://instructional1.calstatela.edu/msti/
PROJECT DIRECTOR: Dr. Debasree
Raychaudhuri, Department of Mathematics
EMAIL:
draycha@calstatela.edu
PHONE: (323) -343-5254
LOCATION: Simpson Tower F216
SCIENCE LIAISON: Dr. James Rudd, Department of Chemistry
EMAIL:
jrudd@calstatela.edu
PHONE: (323) 343-2219
LOCATION: Physical Science 717
The CSULA Robert Noyce Scholarship Program aims to encourage talented science majors and professionals to become middle and high school science teachers. Two types of awards are available – scholarships and stipends. Scholarships of $10,000 per year will be awarded for a maximum of two years to eligible CSULA juniors, seniors, and graduate students. Stipends of $10,000 per year will be awarded for a maximum of one year to eligible college graduates that are currently in the professional workforce but interested in a career as a middle or high school science teacher. Scholarship and stipend recipients must earn their California single subject credential in science and teach two years in a high-need district for each year they receive the award. Dave Mayo (Geological Sciences) and Paul Narguizian (Curriculum and Instruction) are director and co-director, respectively, of the 3-year program.
Minimum requirements for scholarship applicants:
Be a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident alien
Be a CSULA undergraduate, graduate, or credential student at the time of the
award; undergraduate applicants must be juniors or seniors at the time of the
award
Be majoring or degreed in a science discipline
Have a GPA of 3.0 or better in the last 90 quarter units of coursework
Minimum requirements for stipend applicants:
Be a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident alien
Be a professional with a baccalaureate, masters, or doctoral degree in science
from an accredited university or college
Be enrolled in the CSULA single subject credential program at the time of the
award
You are strongly encouraged to apply if you are committed
to teaching in “high-need” schools and:
are pursuing a California single subject credential in biology, chemistry,
geology, or physics, OR
have transferred to CSULA from East Los Angeles College, Pasadena City College, Los Angeles City College, Glendale Community College, or other community college, OR
are a member of a traditionally underrepresented group as defined by NSF
DIRECTOR: Dr. Wayne
Tikkanen,
Professor of Chemistry and
Natural Science Program Advisor
EMAIL:
wayne@calstatela.edu
Or Dr. Paul Narguizian (Curriculum & Instruction) (323-343-4356 or
pnargui@calstatela.edu).
PHONE: (323) 343-2170 Fax: (323) 343-2171
LOCATION: Physical Sciences, 264
FUNDING AGENCY: National Science Foundation