EDU204 explores how dance, drama, music, and the visual arts provide ways of learning and inquiry. It is designed to provide students with creative arts content, skills, and understandings that they will use to guide their creative endeavors as lifelong learners. It reviews theoretical aspects and the origins of creative processes that explain how we explore, inquire and document the human experience. Through a variety of course activities students will investigate the elements, processes, terminology, and methodologies of the creative arts, the nature of the unique perspectives offered by the creative arts, as well as the ways in which they integrate with our social and physical worlds.
“The arts are about the qualities of human experiences. Through music, dance, visual arts, drama, and the rest, we give form to our feelings and thoughts about ourselves, and how we experience the world around us. Learning in and about the arts is essential to intellectual development. The arts illustrate the diversity of intelligence and provide practical ways of promoting it. The arts are among the most vivid expressions of human culture. To understand the experience of other cultures, we need to engage with their music, visual art, dance, and verbal and performing arts. Music and images, poems and plays are manifestations of our deepest talents and passions. Engaging with the arts of others is the most vibrant way of seeing and feeling the world as they do.”
Robinson, Sir Ken and Aronica, Lou. (2015). Creative schools: The grassroots revolution that’s transforming education. New York, NY: Penguin Books. (p. 142-143).
EDU 101 is a discussion-centered course designed to develop our critical understanding of public education and the role of classroom teachers in today’s public schools. We will discuss what it means to know, to learn, and to teach. We will examine how public schools developed and changed over the last 175+ years and how teachers’ roles have evolved accordingly. We will look at challenges facing teachers today and society’s expectations of teachers and public schools through short and longer texts of theory, practice, and teacher narrative. Our responses to texts include writing, both formal and informal, discourse, and presentation. Most importantly, we will begin to see the classroom as a place of work, of community, of inclusion, and of infinite promise. We will explore your current beliefs, values, and attitudes toward teaching and learning based on your prior experiences in order to make you aware of the diverse perspectives of teachers and students and how these dispositions influence the choices teachers make in planning and instruction.
PREREQUISITES:
MTDA is recommending this course for Seniors only as there is significant reading and analysis of college-level text throughout this course.
This course provides experience in the written expression of ideas in expository prose with emphasis on the development of ideas, awareness of audience, and clarity. The course focuses on the writing process, patterns of writing, development of ideas, precise expression, critical thinking, and research skills. My ultimate goal is for you to become competent and confident writers. This requires PRACTICE. You will be expected to write daily and produce polished/published pieces for each unit. In addition to composition techniques, this class will study the structure and function of the English language: mechanics, usage, and grammar.
Prerequisites:
Intended for incoming high school junior or senior students
M121 College Algebra is designed to meet the initial math requirement for STEM majors, serving as a prerequisite for M151 Precalculus. It may also serve as a prerequisite for STAT216 Intro to Statistics. This course, M121 College Algebra, is offered for Dual Credit through a partnership between MTDA and Helena College. A separate application to Helena College is required.
This course is the study of polynomial, rational, radical, exponential, and logarithmic equations, inequalities, functions, and related graphs; circular equations and graphs; and systems of linear and non-linear equations and inequalities.
This course is available for dual credit only. Students may not take this course without the college credit component. Students who neglect to apply or don’t qualify for Helena College credit will be dropped from the course.
Prerequisites:
Intended for incoming high school junior or senior students
Medical Terminology is the study of the principles of medical word building using root words, prefixes, and suffixes with emphasis on spelling, pronunciation, and definitions. The course introduces the student to the specialized language of the medical profession, builds a background vocabulary in this area, and provides a solid foundation for understanding and using medical terms.
PLEASE NOTE: Medical Terminology includes lessons on anatomy, physiology, and terminology related to the reproductive systems and the specialties that care for them (especially Obstetrics & Gynecology and Urology). These lessons are not optional, nor is there an opt-out option for any of the lessons in this course. If you find them objectionable, please enroll in an alternative elective.
Prerequisites:
Intended for incoming high school junior or senior students
MTDA strongly recommends students complete Anatomy and Physiology (through MTDA or another program) prior to enrolling. MTDA finds that students who have a strong understanding of human body systems and anatomy are more successful in this college-level course.
The first part of this course is a survey of American history from the pre-Columbian era to the Reconstruction period (for Part I). It will include topics in social, political, economic, cultural, and intellectual history with the study of Pre-Columbian, colonial, revolutionary, early national, slavery and sectionalism, and the Civil War/Reconstruction eras. History is made up of themes, which we will address in this course. Some themes that we will address include American settlement and diversity, American culture, religion, slavery, civil and human rights, imperialism, economic and technological change, immigration and migration, war and diplomacy, and the creation and evolution of the federal government.
In part two, this course will cover a survey of American history from 1877 to the Present. It will include topics in social, political, economic, cultural, and intellectual history with the study of the West, Industrial Era, Progressive Era, Postbellum America, Imperialism, both World Wars, the Roaring Twenties, the Great Depression, Cold War, Civil Rights, and current history. History is made up of themes, which we will address in this course. Some themes that we will address include American settlement and diversity, American culture, religion, effects of slavery, civil and human rights, imperialism, economic and technological change, immigration and migration, war and diplomacy, and the evolution of the federal government.
Prerequisites:
Intended for incoming high school junior or senior students
Pre-Calculus is available for Dual Credit from the University of Montana-Missoula College. Dual credit requires a separate registration with UM-Missoula College and fees and tuition paid to that institution. Dual credit is only available to students that take the full-year course.
This course brings together and extends the concepts of Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2/Trigonometry including the study of functions (polynomial, rational, logarithmic, trigonometric, and exponential), analytic geometry, vectors, and an introduction to limits/derivatives. Successful completion of this course prepares students for AP Calculus.
Prerequisites:
Algebra 1, Geometry, Algebra 2 or course equivalents
Intended for incoming high school junior or senior students
The goal of this course is to teach you to think like a computer scientist. This way of thinking combines some of the best features of mathematics, engineering, and natural science. Like mathematicians, computer scientists use formal languages to denote ideas (specifically computations). Like engineers, they design things, assembling components into systems and evaluating tradeoffs among alternatives. Like scientists, they observe the behavior of complex systems, form hypotheses, and test predictions. The single most important skill for a computer scientist is problem-solving. Problem-solving means the ability to formulate problems, think creatively about solutions, and express a solution clearly and accurately. As it turns out, the process of learning to program is an excellent opportunity to practice problem-solving skills.
This course is offered with a dual-credit option with Helena College.
Prerequisites:
Intended for incoming high school junior or senior students
Learning with Python: Interactive Edition (Using Python 3.x) – site . Links to the sections that you will be required to read are provided as part of the activities for the class. The on-line textbook contains more than will be covered in the class.
Python 3.x Tutorial – site . This is an additional resource to use when using Python.
This course is a dual credit course offered in cooperation with our partner, Helena College. A separate application to Helena College is required.
This course is designed to meet the general education mathematics requirement for the liberal arts major. It surveys some of the important ideas and practical applications in mathematics and uses algebra skills to solve real problems. Topics include problem-solving, financial math, mathematical modeling (linear and quadratic), and elementary statistics.
This course is available for dual credit only. Students may not take this course without the college credit component. Students that neglect to apply or don’t qualify for Helena College credit will be dropped from the course.
Prerequisites:
This course typically required a minimum placement score of 20 on the math section of the ACT, 490 on the math section of SAT, or Accuplacer exam administered by Helena College. For the Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 terms, those requirements have been waived. However, a special math placement form must be completed and returned with registration materials. The link to that form is here: LINK.
16 years of age, Junior in High School, or waiver approved by Helena College.
PLEASE SEE YOUR LOCAL COUNSELOR TO REGISTER FOR MTDA COURSES
Montana Digital Academy Phyllis J. Washington College of Education The University of Montana 32 Campus Drive – Room 365 Missoula, Montana 59812 Phone: 406-203-1812 Fax: 406-203-1815
