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Full-Text Articles in Education
Ngss-Based Constructivist Pedagogies: One Secondary Education Teacher’S Approach To Developing Student’S Science Identities, Massa Mafi
Teacher Education, Educational Leadership & Policy ETDs
This practitioner action research study explored features of NGSS-based pedagogies to improve secondary education student engagement, critical thinking, and collaborative problem-solving. It examined ways that constructivist pedagogies might encourage students to understand science by putting their skills and knowledge into practice as young engineers. The study involved 51 secondary education students from a large district in the southwest and focused on how NGSS inquiry-based learning can improve scientific understanding and skills within group work, the role that teacher support and modeling can play in learning, and how peer interactions can influence their scientific identities. Qualitative findings from teacher observations, classwork …
A Phenomenological Inquiry Into The Teaching Of Climate Change, Daniel Diego
A Phenomenological Inquiry Into The Teaching Of Climate Change, Daniel Diego
University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations
The purpose of this study was to explore the ways in which educators address climate change and the impacts of human activity on the environment in conjunction with the Next Generation Science Standards. This study utilized qualitative methods, a phenomenological methodology informed by Moustakas, and a Systems Theory and Ecojustice Education conceptual framework. The central research questions was: in what ways do educators who are implementing the Next Generation Science Standards address climate change and the impacts of human activity on the environment? The supporting research questions were: in what ways do educators who are implementing the Next Generation Science …
Understanding Neglect Of Plant Biology Education In Michigan Middle Schools, Kim Smith
Understanding Neglect Of Plant Biology Education In Michigan Middle Schools, Kim Smith
All NMU Master's Theses
The purpose of this study was to identify historical trends of neglect in plant biology education, their continuation today in Michigan middle school classrooms, and to uncover reasons for this neglect. A content analysis of state and national science standards and an online survey of Michigan middle school life science teachers were conducted. Findings showed a trend of increasing references in national standards from animals or plants to general organisms, as well as a decrease in the overall number of specific references in the standards. The data also revealed that nearly half of the teachers surveyed spent less than ten …
Self-Efficacy And Stem Career Interest In Black And Latino Middle School Students: A Study On The Next Generation Science Standards, Whitney Mccormick
Self-Efficacy And Stem Career Interest In Black And Latino Middle School Students: A Study On The Next Generation Science Standards, Whitney Mccormick
LMU/LLS Theses and Dissertations
With only 11% of the current Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) workforce being Black and Latino men and women, there is a crisis of underrepresented individuals in STEM fields. The construction of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), and the mantra “all standards, all students,” represents an attempt to increase access to science for more students, and increase their self-efficacy about STEM subjects, as low self-efficacy is cited as one of the main causes of disinterest in STEM subjects. This study examined the relationship between students’ self-efficacy in STEM fields and their career interests, specifically in a population of …
Changes In Teacher Thinking And Action In Response To The Next Generation Science Standards, Angela R. Bowden
Changes In Teacher Thinking And Action In Response To The Next Generation Science Standards, Angela R. Bowden
Theses and Dissertations
This study examined the role of K-12 science teachers’ understandings and perceptions of the Next Generation Science Standards, implementation of the new standards in the classroom, and potential barriers to implementation as reform stakeholders had envisioned. Grounded in the relevant literature and working from the Teacher-Centered System Reform framework, this study employed a quantitative approach to data collection. The TCSR Model framed this study by linking teachers’ demographic and professional profile, teaching experience, professional development, district-level, school-level, and classroom-level contexts and illuminates the dynamic effect the factors have on teachers’ thinking and their practice. The study recognizes teachers’ knowledge and …
Kentucky 4-H Minimizes Barriers To Stem Education, Rachel Elizabeth Noble
Kentucky 4-H Minimizes Barriers To Stem Education, Rachel Elizabeth Noble
Online Theses and Dissertations
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) programs are a national priority. The increase in the number of jobs that require a STEM-minded workforce raises the demand for education systems and communities to focus on fostering the development of STEM competencies of students. American youth are not gaining the skills necessary to compete in the global workforce. This study investigates how Kentucky 4-H minimizes the barriers of accessing STEM programs for youth in grades 4-8. Barriers of accessing STEM programs investigated are: lack of funding and resources, time, professional development, integration across curriculum, and out-of-school experiences. 4-H is the largest youth …
Effects Of Implementation Of The Next Generation Science Standards On The Math Performance Of 5th Grade Students With Adhd, Robert Zimmer
Effects Of Implementation Of The Next Generation Science Standards On The Math Performance Of 5th Grade Students With Adhd, Robert Zimmer
Theses and Dissertations
The purpose of this study was to implement two components of the Next Generation Science Standards, gathering and reasoning, into the 5th grade math curriculum for students diagnosed with ADHD. Each student completed a 21st Century pre-assessment created by the My Math Text book (McGraw Hill, 2011) and modified by the instructor. This assessment contained 10 questions that were a culmination of the concepts that were covered in the upcoming chapter. A total of 8 students participated in the study. Of these, 4 were taught with the components of gathering and reasoning, while the rest of the 4 were involved …
Claim, Evidence, And Reasoning: Evaluation Of The Use Of Scientific Inquiry To Support Argumentative Writing In The Middle School Science Classroom, Gabriela Mastro
Claim, Evidence, And Reasoning: Evaluation Of The Use Of Scientific Inquiry To Support Argumentative Writing In The Middle School Science Classroom, Gabriela Mastro
Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects
In light of the essential science and engineering practices identified by the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), this study focuses on the specific science and engineering practice, "engage in argument from evidence," and how classroom practices can serve to strengthen this skill (National Research Council, 2012, p. 71). The NGSS focus on inquiry necessitates students’ use of argument, particularly in writing, to communicate their knowledge and scientific findings and to develop an understanding of scientific practice. The purpose of this teacher action research study is to evaluate the influence of inquiry-based argumentative writing exercises, based on the Argument Driven Inquiry …
Closing The Science And Achievement Gap: Overlap Of The Next Generation Science Standards And Culturally Relevant Pedagogy, Brenna G. Bloome
Closing The Science And Achievement Gap: Overlap Of The Next Generation Science Standards And Culturally Relevant Pedagogy, Brenna G. Bloome
Departmental Honors Projects
The United States is experiencing both a science gap and an achievement gap within science education. To shrink the science gap and prepare American students for the innovative and rigorous STEM career fields ahead, the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) were implemented in science education. Additionally, culturally relevant pedagogy was implemented in general education to alleviate the achievement gap. To ensure that all students are prepared to succeed in the competitive global world they are going to be a part of, science education needs to incorporate both NGSS and culturally relevant pedagogy. To examine the overlap of both pedagogies working …
Elementary Teachers' Perceptions Of Teaching Science To Improve Student Content Knowledge, Robert Louis Stephenson
Elementary Teachers' Perceptions Of Teaching Science To Improve Student Content Knowledge, Robert Louis Stephenson
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
The majority of Grade 5 students demonstrate limited science knowledge on state assessments. This trend has been documented since 2010 with no evidence of improvement. Because state accountability formulas include proficiency scores and carry sanctions against districts that fail to meet proficiency thresholds, improved student performance in science is an important issue to school districts. The purpose of this study was to explore elementary teachers' perceptions about their students' science knowledge, the strategies used to teach science, the barriers affecting science teaching, and the self-efficacy beliefs teachers maintain for teaching science. This study, guided by Vygotsky's social constructivist theory and …
Using Extremophile Bacteriophage Discovery In A Stem Education Professional Development Partnership To Explore Model Classroom Research Experiences Integrating The Three Dimentions Of The Next Generation Science Standards, Carrie L. Boudreau Ms
All Student Scholarship
The National Research Council’s (NRC) A Framework for K-12 Science Education: Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas describes a vision of what it means to be proficient in science. The project discussed in this thesis was developed with a NIH SEPA Grant 8R25OD010937 to the Virology and Electron Microscopy Laboratory at the University of Southern Maine (USM) under the direction of Dr. S. Monroe Duboise. The goal of the project was to explore using discovery of extreme environment bacteria and their bacteriophages as a model for using the three dimensions of learning to teach Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Specifically, …