Apparently there is such a thing as a
free online degree.
If you're a Texas middle-school math or science teacher, you may be
eligible for a free distance education masters program from the
University of Houston. The school is offering its new, "Integrated
Science, Math and Reflective Thinking"—or "iSMART"—online graduate
program to an initial group of 25 teachers, starting next year.
The free online education degree project is underwritten by the
Greater Texas Foundation, an education charity, which donated $3
million. The foundation's goal for the program is to prepare and
increase the number of qualified middle-school math and science teachers
in Texas.
The new, two-year masters degree will be different from
traditional math and science masters programs because it will combine
and integrate the teaching of the two subjects, rather than provide
separate instruction. Teachers will learn at a distance, and be expected
to develop in-depth content knowledge and leadership skills through
online course collaboration with other students.
Program
activities for this new online masters degree are expected to include:
analyzing and writing curriculum; analyzing theories of learning and
models of integration of science and mathematics; studying children's
thinking of content; and reflecting on video of teachers' own practices.
"This program takes strong teachers from across the state and
rewards them with a free graduate program," said Jennifer Chauvot,
assistant professor of math education at the University of Houston.
"They will learn models of teaching that show how the subjects can be
integrated, develop curriculum they can incorporate into their teaching,
and learn from each other so that they can be leaders on their
campuses."
To qualify for consideration for this free education
degree, e-learning program, teachers must have been a practicing
middle-school (sixth through ninth grade) math or science teacher in
Texas for at least three years, and must intent to continue teaching
during the two-year program. Applicants also must meet University of
Houston graduate admission requirements.
The online education
school plans to teach groups of 25 teachers, starting in the summer of
2010, and continuing each summer through 2013. The online grant money
will be disbursed over the next six years.
The university will
begin accepting applications for the first group of online graduate
students in January 2010. To apply, or to be added to the program's
email list, visit the
University of Houston's College of Education Mathematics Education Program online.
Additional — and Affordable — Online Education MastersIf
the iSMART degree is not for you, keep in mind there are many
affordable online degrees -- education masters programs available from
other online graduate schools. GetEducated.com's review of "Best Buy"
distance masters in education has uncovered 25 affordable online degree
programs from regionally accredited online graduate schools, none priced
higher than $9,000 (depending on your residency status).
For a list of affordable distance masters degrees, visit
GetEducated.com's Best Buy Online Masters in Education rankings. You can also search GetEducated.com's online college directory for profiles and reviews of
more 175 online master's in education degrees.
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