Education Commons^™

Teacher Challenges In Implementing Cognitively Demanding Tasks In The Mathematics And Science Classrooms, Angelica Monarrez Monarrez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This mixed methods study examines secondary school mathematics and science teachersâ?? understanding of cognitive demand and the challenges in implementing tasks at different levels of cognitive demand. The conceptual framework for this study is grounded on the conception of cognitive demand proposed by Stein, Smith, Henningsen, and Silver (2000), which includes the following levels: memorization (level 1), procedures without connections (level 2), procedures with connections (level 3), and doing mathematics and science (level 4). The study attempts to address the following research questions: 1) To what extent are secondary mathematics and science teachers able to recognize, solve and construct tasks ...

The Effects Of A Discrete Covariatonal Approach To Functions Through Computer Programming On Students' Understanding Of Rate Of Change, Michael Wayne Strange

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Having a broad understanding of functions is paramount to student success in higher math classes, however most students fail to fully develop this concept during their high school years. While the concept of function is multifaceted and a full understanding requires a broad knowledge base, understanding rate of change can be considered a fundamental component of the concept. Unfortunately, even AP Calculus students have difficulty with rate of change (Teuscher & Reys, 2012). The problem may stem from the approach taken in most curricula that focus on the correspondence view of functions rather than the covariational perspective as advocated by researchers ...

High School Students' Views Of Science In A University Science Internship With Cogenerative Dialogues, Gabriel M. Hayes

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of this Thesis is to determine how participation in long term university science internships affect nature of science (NOS) conceptual change in high school students. The study was conducted on high school students who volunteered to participate in a seven month university science internship in west Texas. Student views of NOS were measured by pre- and post-internship interviews using five questions about NOS. Internship and no internship student responses were qualitatively analyzed to show change in views of NOS. Findings indicated that participation in long term science internships with cogenerative dialogues improved students conceptualizations of the social dimensions ...

The Influence Of Multiple Representations On Secondary Students' Understanding Of Trigononetric Functions, Mayra Lizeth Ortiz Galarza

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Trigonometry is a critical subject in mathematics that both high school and undergraduate students need to learn in order to be prepared for advanced mathematics. Despite the importance of trigonometry in the mathematics curriculum, little is known about best practices for teaching trigonometric functions and what difficulties students face when learning the topic. Using a Grounded Theory approach, this Dissertation presents the results of a design study (or teaching experiment) whose purpose was to examine the process by which students constructed the concept of trigonometric functions through multiple representations and how students developed meta-representational competence. The design study involved two ...

Towards A Unified Theory Of Engineering Education, Oscar Humberto Salcedo

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

STEM education is an interdisciplinary approach to learning where rigorous academic concepts are coupled with real-world lessons and activities as students apply science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in contexts that make connections between school, community, work, and the global enterprise enabling STEM literacy (Tsupros, Kohler and Hallinen, 2009). The purpose of the Dissertation is to develop a unified theory of engineering education based on philosophies of mathematics, science, technology & engineering, and engineering education. Using purposive sampling methods, the Thesis constructs "representative" philosophy statements from the STEM fields based on the criteria of Constructivism, Progressivism, and/or Pragmatism. These statements are analyzed to identify significant constructs embedded in them. Eighty-seven constructs were identified of which 32 were mentioned more than 100 times. These 32 were synthesized into the 8 super constructs below using Hermeneutic Circle and Mayer and Sparrowe concept integration methods: 1) Science, 2) Social, 3) Engineering, 4) Technology, 5) Knowledge, 6) Concept, 7) Philosophy, and 8) Mathematics. These constructs are then used to argue for a new model and approach to curriculum and instructional integration, and the role for engineering education in the STEM classroom. Since "science" and "society" were the two most powerful constructs, the integrated model argues that the "S" in STEM should be read as Science: natural and social which adds significantly from social science, liberal arts, humanities to the STEM construct. The model argues the reconceptualization of instruction less as exposure to separate fields of content to be mastered and more as a correlating center of student experiences with the meaningful construction and application of knowledge to activity.

Keywords: Mathematics; Engineering Education; Philosophy of Education; Philosophy of Engineering, Liberal Arts; Constructivism; Epistemology.