Project title: STEM Education Professional Development
As per Article 19, Section C, of the IFO Master Contract, I requested and received a sabbatical
leave to do the following related to the specific goals below: enhance my professional
development and contribute to the overall scholarship efforts of the university (by attempting to
publish my research and curriculum development activities).
Goal 1: Professional development in the area of science education.
 Take graduate level coursework in the area of “teaching science” and/or “science (i.e.,
physics, earth sciences, geology, space studies, etc.).” I may have completed a physics
teaching certificate from Montana State University prior to or during sabbatical as it is inprogress now.
Fulfillment:
This goal was accomplished fully. I took, for credit, four classes (3 graduate [7 cr.] and 1
upper division undergraduate [3 credits]) from two different universities. In addition to
the professional development, I finished a graduate certificate in “physics teaching” from
Montana State University.
University of North Dakota, Space Studies (Fall 2014):
o SPST 520 – The Planet Mars (3 cr.): Grade earned = A
o SPST 425 – Observational Astronomy (3 cr.): Grade earned = A
Montana State University, Physics (Spring 2015):
o PHSX 512 – General Relativity (3 cr.): Grade earned = A
o PHSX 590 – Science of Sound (1 cr.): Grade earned = A
o Graduate Certificate (12-credits) in Physics Teaching
In these courses I learned many cutting-edge scientific developments related to the study
of Mars, how to use digital CCD cameras to photograph stellar objects and track asteroids
using UND’s Internet-controlled telescopes. I also learned to conduct spectral analysis for
determining rotation periods of asteroids. I learned more about black holes and
cosmology, as well as the physics of sound, through the MSU courses; some activities are
directly applicable to classes I teach (e.g., ED 3222, ED 5410, SCI 3100). I participated
in several (4) online webinars – related to topics like writing measurable objectives,
providing quality feedback in QM reviews, using the NSTA Learning Center as a
resource for science methods classes, and using respondus for designing electronic
assessments – and a free MOOC (massive open online course), which I successfully
completed, and earned a certificate for, titled “Going Places with Spatial Analysis” (6week class).
Goal 2: Conduct research in one or more areas of the following: education, education
technology, science education.
 I have conceived of, or started, papers on the following topics, and intend to work to
finish and submit for review/publication: 1) Using Google Earth with Pre-Service
Science Teachers; 2) Using Solar Sunspot Cycles to Teach/Learn Statistics; 3) Using
GeoMapApp in Elementary Science (collaboration with teacher at Thief River Falls); 4)
Using High Altitude Ballooning in Science Education (possible collaboration with
science faculty at BSU).
Fulfillment:
This goal was accomplished in part. I have written a paper about High Altitude
Ballooning (HAB), based on my work and experiences with a group of 20 5th graders at
Schoolcraft (Bemidji) during Fall 2014, which is submitted to the NSTA peer-reviewed
journal Science & Children and is under review. I also conducted research (semistructured interviews by phone) with in-service and pre-service teachers who have
participated in HAB-related activities at BSU. This research was written up as a poster
and presented at the 2014 American Geophysical Union annual meeting in San Francisco,
CA (Dec. 15-19), which I attended. That research and presentation was collaborative
(with Dr. Tim Kroeger, BSU). A translation of the presentation into article form is
underway with intent to submit to the NESTA peer-review journal The Earth Scientist. In
addition, I completed five non-juried articles for publication in the AIPG journal The
Professional Geologist (3 published, 1 in-press for the “Educator’s Column” of that
journal; 1 article co-authored with Dr. Bill Hoyt, University of Northern Colorado, for the
student issue of the journal). I also reviewed the book “Rare” by Keith Voorhees, for
NSTA Recommends, and this is currently under review. I had intended to resume work on
previously started projects (Google Earth, sunspots, GeoMapApp), but the projects I did
complete – in addition to the STEM book to be described in relation to Goal 3 –
consumed more time than anticipated. I consider the work I did complete as
“substitutions” for the work I had intended to finish.
o
o
o
o
o
Tentative title: High Flying Science, Science & Children (under review)
Book review of “Rare,” NSTA Recommends (under review)
Tentative title: Understanding GPS, The Professional Geologist (in press)
What is a sabbatical?, The Professional Geologist (2014)
University Life: A few things you ought to know, The Professional Geologist
(2015)
o The value of professional internships (co-authored with Bill Hoyt), The
Professional Geologist (2015)
o Geodesy: Journey to the ends of the Earth, The Professional Geologist (2015)
Goal 3: Curriculum Development:
 Resume work on developing an activity/lab manual for middle and/or high school science
utilizing MyWorld GIS software. I was given the green-light on this project by Pasco
Scientific, Inc., two years ago, and have not found time to work on or complete the
project. I need to reconnect with them about the possibility of continuing this project.
Fulfillment:
This goal was repurposed. The time table, and contract, for the MyWorld GIS project
expired, and so instead of renewing, I submitted a proposal in August 2014 to edit a
compilation of chapters about the integration of technology in K-12 STEM settings for
IGI Global publishing. I recruited a co-editor, Dr. David Falvo, Walden University, but I
served as the primary editor and contact responsible for the book. This project consumed
far more time than I anticipated, being on editor, as I needed to generate solicitations for
chapter proposals and identify relevant organizations and institutions for sending.
Additionally, I had to organize a volunteer editorial advisory board, identify volunteer
peer reviewers, review chapter proposals, make editorial decisions about cutting
chapters/proposals, provide editorial feedback to chapter authors, locate a colleague to
write a forward for the book, and ultimately review all submitted chapters that made it
into the final book. And, I was the primary author on the 8-page preface. The book was
completed in July 2015, and is currently under final publisher review. The tentative title
for the 18-chapter compilation is Improving K-12 STEM Education Outcomes through
Technological Integration and will hopefully be published in 2016.
In addition, I contracted with Pearson Publishing to write questions to be used on the
Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA-III) for 5th grade science, administered to
all public school children in Minnesota; I was required to attend a day-long workshop and
then had a month (Jan-Feb, 2015) to write the questions.
Goal 4: Improve capacity for teaching online.
 Complete the second MnSCU Quality Matters course (to become a reviewer). I
completed the first course during summer of 2013. [Completion of the course may
require an instructor to be teaching during the semester in question; this may result in my
completing this during the summer prior to sabbatical.]
 Learn more about how other institutions are teaching online, by seeking adjunct
employment/visiting professor/ or other comparable status at another institution; this may
be in the area of education or science.
Fulfillment:
This goal was accomplished in part. I completed the second Quality Matters course in June,
2014, and at such time became a certified QM “peer reviewer.” I served on a total of five QM
reviews (as external reviewer, SME, etc.), three of which were for MnSCU institutions,
between August 2014 and August 2015. I used those experiences, and the Quality Matters
course/training, to begin preparing one of my classes for a QM review: ED 6447 – Seminar
in Online Teaching. I intend to apply for an official QM review by August 31, 2015 (for a
Fall 2015 review of the course). I sought additional online teaching opportunities at other
institutions during the sabbatical period, but was not successful.
Goal 5: Explore avenues to renew or expand my expired MN teaching license.
 This may involve obtaining CEUs or credits (some from Goal 1); completing other
requirements for re-certification.
 This may involve a university transcript review for consideration of adding another
license and possibly student teaching requirement.
Fulfillment:
This goal was accomplished fully. I submitted paperwork to the state and have received a
renewed MN Science Teaching License through 2019.
Michael J. Urban, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Professional Education