University of Michigan-Flint

Location: Utrecht, Netherlands

Program Dates: August 18 – August 30, 2013

A Program from the Education Department

Course Overview

The Fruedenthal Institute ranks among the leading educational institutions in the world, housing experts in mathematics education in the fields of Realistic Mathematics Education (RME) and Context-Based Approach (CBA) to teaching and learning and curriculum development. Students will be actively involved in a two-week program of state-of-the-art courses on curriculum development and research in the field of K-8 mathematics education. Course topics include: RME & CBA curriculum development, research design, emergent modeling, coherent learning, practical work, assessment, and international comparisons.

Country Profile

There aren't many countries with so much land below sea level. There aren't many - if any - countries this flat. There aren't many countries with so much reclaimed land. There aren't many countries this densely populated, and yet so liberal. There aren't many countries with so much water and wind, or so many boats, sails, bikes, birds, dykes, polders, windmills, flowers, fish, bridges, cafés, cheese - and tall people. And there certainly aren't many countries who can claim such a vibrant color (vivid orange in this case) as their own. Simply put, there is no place like the Netherlands.

Utrecht is one of the Netherlands’ oldest cities – not that you’d know it when you step off the train and find yourself lost in the maze that is the Hoog Catharijne shopping center. The Hoog is huge…and it’s attached to the station…and it seemingly goes on forever…and ever. Never fear: it’s going to be destroyed soon. But fight your way through and you’ll emerge starry-eyed into a beautiful, vibrant, old-world city center, ringed by striking 13th-century canal wharves. The wharves, well below street level, are unique to Utrecht, and the streets alongside brim with shops, restaurants and cafés.

In summer, Utrecht is Festival City, hosting various jazz events (you’ll see musicians on every corner) and the Netherlands Film Festival in September. Added to that, the city’s student community of 40, 000 is the largest in the country, making it one very infectious place.

Excerpts about the Netherlands from Lonely Planet.

Faculty

The program will be led by Dr. Matthew Wyneken and Lecturer Jeramy Donovan, professors from the Education Department. Courses are taught by Fruedenthal Institute faculty.

Eligibility & Prerequisites

• Must be an Elementary Education student who has passed EDM 120 & 121 (with 3.0 or better) by end of Winter 2013
•  Juniors and Seniors are eligible to apply
•  Minimum GPA requirements: 2.50 (undergraduate); 5.00 (graduate)
•  Guest and graduate students are eligible to apply provided the above requirements are met
•  All students must participate in a tutoring project during the Spring 2013 term. Details will be provided by the program leaders.

Course Registration

Students must register and pay for 3-credits of EDE 461 for the Summer 2013 term. Other course credit options are available. Please see the program leaders for more information.

Payments & Costs

The additional cost of this program is $1,585*. This includes:

•  Housing with full kitchen (students must purchase their own meals). Utrecht University will provide 9 lunches.
•  Health insurance
•  Transportation in the Netherlands

There is a $300 enrollment deposit required at the time of application. Students are required to submit full payment of program fee by March 15, 2013. Scholarships are available for this program.

Not included in the program fee: Tuition charges, airfare, visa, and passport.

Deadlines

Cancellations & Refunds

Students who withdraw on or before February 22, 2013 are eligible to receive $200 from the enrollment deposit. Any withdrawals must be done in writing and submitted to the Office of Study Abroad. There will be no refunds after February 22, 2013. Students who withdraw after February 22, 2013 will be responsible for paying the full program fee.

Scholarship Eligibility Information

• Students must be accepted into a UM-Flint faculty-led program.
• Students must be full-time UM-Flints undergraduate or graduate students at the time of the application.
• Students must have completed a minimum of 24 undergraduate credit hours, or 9 graduate credit hours at UM-Flint at the time of submitting application.
• Students must have a 3.0 GPA for undergraduates and 5.0 GPA for graduates at the time of submitting application.
• Students must register for the course associated with the program.

The deadline to apply for a scholarship is Friday, January 18, 2013. Application can be downloaded at http://www.umflint.edu/international/studyabroad/forstudents/financialinformation/SAScholarships.htm. 

*Program fee is subject to change based on currency exchange rates.

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