Engineering Design Challenge, 2014 University of Virginia
Engineering Design Challenge, Lindsay B. Wheeler, Brooke A. Whitworth, Amanda L. Gonczi
Publications
No abstract provided.
Misalignments: Challenges In Cultivating Science Faculty With Education Specialties In Your Department, 2014 California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo
Misalignments: Challenges In Cultivating Science Faculty With Education Specialties In Your Department, Seth D. Bush, Nancy Pelaez, James A. Rudd Ii, Michael T. Stevens, Kimberly D. Tanner, Kathy S. Williams
PIBERG Publications
Science Faculty with Education Specialties (SFES) are increasingly being hired across the United States. However, little is known about the motivations for SFES hiring or the potential or actual impact of SFES. In the context of a recent national survey of US SFES, we investigated SFES perceptions about these issues. Strikingly, perceptions about reasons for hiring SFES were poorly aligned with perceptions about potential and actual contributions reported by SFES themselves, and the advice they extended to beginning SFES was varied. While preparation of future teachers and departmental teaching needs were common reasons offered for SFES hiring, the potential and …
Teaching Beyond The Assessment, 2014 West Chester University of Pennsylvania
Teaching Beyond The Assessment, Daniel R. Ilaria
Mathematics Faculty Publications
This paper discusses how students can learn mathematics assessed on standardized testing in a way that promotes deeper thinking about the mathematics. While potential assessments aligned to the Common Core Content Standards drive the focus of the curriculum, technology can provide a way for delving into conceptual understanding. Using two standardized test questions, this paper provides examples of how technology can promote deeper thinking about mathematical concepts than what is supposed to be assessed in the questions.
The National Science Foundation's Coupling, Energetics And Dynamics Of Atmospheric Regions (Cedar) Student Community, 2014 Utah State University
The National Science Foundation's Coupling, Energetics And Dynamics Of Atmospheric Regions (Cedar) Student Community, Leda Sox, Timothy Duly, Barbara Emery
Physics Student Research
The National Science Foundation sponsors Coupling, Energetics, and Dynamics of Atmospheric Regions (CEDAR) Workshops, which have been held every summer, for the past 27 years. CEDAR Workshops are on the order of a week long and at various locations that are close to university campuses where CEDAR type scientific research is done. Although there is no formal student group within the CEDAR community, the workshops are very student-focused. Roughly half the Workshop participants are students. There are two Student Representatives on the CEDAR Science Steering Committee (CSSC), the group of scientists who organize the CEDAR Workshops. Each Student Representative is …
Finding Success In Elementary Science Across Socioeconomic Boundaries, 2014 Boise State University
Finding Success In Elementary Science Across Socioeconomic Boundaries, Jill K. Hettinger
Boise State University Theses and Dissertations
Elementary science education provides a platform for intellectual development, building a foundation of scientific literacy and a first entry point into interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields. A significant body of research on elementary science education clearly defines what high-quality science education should look like at the elementary level. However, there is little understood about how to implement high-quality science instruction effectively within a school system. Prior research indicates that this problem is further compounded in low socioeconomic elementary schools by a lack of resources, time, and high teacher mobility. I used descriptive research to identify the …
Chasing Polys: Interdisciplinary Affinity And Its Connection To Physics Identity, 2014 Clemson University
Chasing Polys: Interdisciplinary Affinity And Its Connection To Physics Identity, Tyler Scott
All Dissertations
This research is based on two motivations that merge by means of the frameworks of interdisciplinary affinity and physics identity. First, a goal of education is to develop interdisciplinary abilities in students' thinking and work. But an often ignored factor is students interests and beliefs about being interdisciplinary. Thus, this work develops and uses a framework called interdisciplinary affinity. It encompasses students interests in making connections across disciplines and their beliefs about their abilities to make those connections. The second motivation of this research is to better understand how to engage more students with physics. Physics identity describes how a …
Translating And Adapting The Postt For Formative Assessment Of Indonesian Preservice Science Teachers’ Pedagogical Orientations, 2014 Western Michigan University
Translating And Adapting The Postt For Formative Assessment Of Indonesian Preservice Science Teachers’ Pedagogical Orientations, Listiani
Masters Theses
Indonesia has experienced problems in teacher quality, especially science teachers. Regarding this problem, a teacher-training program, in which preservice teachers are directed to use the most appropriate science teaching methods, is important to prepare qualified teachers. Having formative assessments for assessing Indonesian preservice science teachers’ teaching orientations is important. Therefore, the Pedagogy of Science Teaching Test (POSTT) was translated and adapted into Bahasa as a formative assessment for preservice science teachers. There were eight steps to translate and validate the POSTT into Bahasa (Indonesian language). The translation and validation processes involved eight experts in the target language and eight science …
Analyzing State Attempts At Implementing The Common Core State Standards For High School Geometry: Case Studies Of Utah And New York, 2014 University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Analyzing State Attempts At Implementing The Common Core State Standards For High School Geometry: Case Studies Of Utah And New York, Edward Steltenpohl
Theses and Dissertations
This study analyzes two state attempts at aligning curricula to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in secondary school geometry. The education departments of Utah and New York have approved curricula aimed at aligning to the Common Core State Standards: the Mathematics Vision Project (MVP) and EngageNY (ENY) respectively. This study measures the extent to which those curricula align with the content demands of the relevant Common Core Standards. The results indicate that, while the two curricula vary in structure and assumptions about learners, each one aligns well with the Common Core State Standards in secondary school geometry. We conclude …
Place-Based Education: An Impetus For Teacher Efficacy, 2014 Western Michigan University
Place-Based Education: An Impetus For Teacher Efficacy, Tamara Chase Coleman
Dissertations
This research investigated professional development in place-based (PB) methodology on the efficacy of science teachers. While teachers are expected to use best practices they do not always implement them due to a lack of efficacy in implementation. A professional development program (PD) was designed to increase confidence among teachers planning to incorporate PB methods. Place-based education (PBE) is recognized as a best-practice among professional educators. PBE includes the selection, design and engagement with science using the geographic place as the content. The literature reports that student learning and teacher efficacy will improve when teachers are prepared effectively in PB practices. …
The Word Problem Factor: Assessing The Ability Of Utah High School Career And Technical Education Students To Do The Math Involved In Formulating And Calculating Energy Cost Factors, 2014 Brigham Young University - Provo
The Word Problem Factor: Assessing The Ability Of Utah High School Career And Technical Education Students To Do The Math Involved In Formulating And Calculating Energy Cost Factors, Kristen Bentley
Theses and Dissertations
Much research has been done showing the difficulty people have with word problems. This has been shown to be true for many types of word problems and for different demographics. Questions have remained unanswered regarding the reasons for this difficulty. It has been unclear if the word problems were hard because the people had forgotten or had not yet learned how to do the math calculations involved or for some other reason. This study deals with high school students who are currently in a high school level math class. They were given an assessment involving word problems and number-only problems. …
Hexapod Herald - Vol. 26, No. 6, December 2014, 2014 University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Hexapod Herald - Vol. 26, No. 6, December 2014
Hexapod Herald and Other Entomology Department Newsletters
Contents: Welcome - Congratulations - Grants - Publications - Meeting an Off-Campus Students - Faculty News - Blasts from the Past - Calendar of Events
Language Use In Mathematics Textbooks Written In English And Spanish, 2014 Brigham Young University - Provo
Language Use In Mathematics Textbooks Written In English And Spanish, Kailie Ann Bertoch
Theses and Dissertations
Research has suggested that although mathematics is a universal language, the notation, algorithms, and language in which it is taught varies from country to country. The literature has addressed the challenges associated with understanding the language of mathematics in English. Variable is a topic of mathematics where the literature has documented students' difficulty understanding the language of mathematics. Part of that difficulty is attributed to the fact that mathematics and English each have their own register and at times the differences in these registers conflict. This study examined the introduction and use of variable in the middle school textbooks of …
Using Art To Teach Students Science Outdoors: How Creative Science Instruction Influences Observation, Question Formation, And Involvement, 2014 Portland State University
Using Art To Teach Students Science Outdoors: How Creative Science Instruction Influences Observation, Question Formation, And Involvement, Christina Schull Cone
Dissertations and Theses
Elementary education has become increasingly divided into subjects and focused on the demand for high math and reading scores. Consequently, teachers spend less time devoted to science and art instruction. However, teaching art and science is crucial to developing creative and rational thinking, especially for observation and questioning skills. In this study, third grade students attending an urban school in Portland, Oregon received instruction of an art strategy using observational and quantifying drawing techniques. This study examines, "Will an art strategy observing the local environment help students make observations and ask questions?" and "In what ways are student learning and …
Teaching Conceptual Understanding Of Mathematics Via A Hands-On Approach, 2014 Liberty University
Teaching Conceptual Understanding Of Mathematics Via A Hands-On Approach, Jessica Korn
Senior Honors Theses
Given the current developments in the field of mathematics instruction in the United States, conceptual understanding and a hands-on approach in mathematics are two topics of importance. Conceptual understanding of mathematics is often lacking but characterizes the core of what mathematics actually is. Using a hands-on approach presents an effective way to teach conceptual understanding of mathematics. In order to argue this, a presentation of the underlying theories of mathematical understanding and pertinent approaches is given. Then follows an investigation of three studies pertinent to using a hands-on approach in teaching conceptual understanding of mathematics: one related to implementation (Gürbüz, …
The Correlation Between Self-Efficacy And The Academic Success Of Students, 2014 Liberty University
The Correlation Between Self-Efficacy And The Academic Success Of Students, Emily E. Taylor
Senior Honors Theses
Research reveals that gifted students at Springfield Middle School in Williamsport, Maryland possess stronger levels of self-efficacy than average students. For the purpose of this study, the term “gifted students” refers to students who are enrolled in above-grade-level classes at Springfield Middle School. Students must score high in tests and interviews in order to be placed in above-grade-level classes. According to Albert Bandura’s social cognitive theory, increased levels of self-efficacy contribute to a person’s ability to complete a task. Using the Children’s Perceived Academic Self-Efficacy subscale from The Morgan-Jinks Student Efficacy Scale (MJSES), the study conducted at Springfield Middle School …
Teaching Science As Critical Thinking, 2014 Franklin University
Teaching Science As Critical Thinking, Isidoro Talavera
Learning Showcase 2014
Science education helps students indirectly by pushing them to develop the critical thinking skills necessary to evaluate all kinds of phenomena, scientific, pseudoscientic, and other. Accordingly, the means and methods employed in science are defined and determined by any procedure [of analysis and evaluation] that serves systematically to eliminate reasonable grounds for doubt. Using a conceptual map I developed that highlights the acquisition of scientific knowledge, a new approach to teach science as critical thinking is presented to foment a skeptical attitude in our students so that they do not relinquish their mental capacity to engage the world critically …
Statistical Strategies: Meeting The Needs Of Struggling Math Students Through Self-Guided Interactive Media, 2014 Franklin University
Statistical Strategies: Meeting The Needs Of Struggling Math Students Through Self-Guided Interactive Media, Nimet Alpay, Adam Reid, Caitlin Uttley, Carolyn Levally
Learning Showcase 2014
The goal of every introductory statistics course is to produce statistically literate students with an ability to make informed decisions and to think critically. This is a challenging task. In fact, the introductory statistics course at Franklin University, Math215, has had disproportionately low success rates for several years. To address these concerns, considerable revisions were made to the curriculum, addressing the challenges of students and faculty. Perhaps the most significant among those changes was the addition of a series of standalone, interactive multimedia pieces to supplement the textbook and other course materials. The development of these 28 multimedia pieces took …
Demographics, Persistence, And Academic Performance: A Logistic Regression Analysis Of Who Chooses To Enter The Mathematics And Science Teaching Pipeline, 2014 Florida International University
Demographics, Persistence, And Academic Performance: A Logistic Regression Analysis Of Who Chooses To Enter The Mathematics And Science Teaching Pipeline, Esther Joseph
FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
As of 1999, high school teachers without majors in their subject areas number 37% of biology teachers, 59% of physical science teachers, and 60% of mathematics teachers. These discouraging statistics grow more extreme in middle schools and high poverty public high schools, especially regarding mathematics and physical sciences instruction. The statistics are especially worrisome given the strong correlation between thorough teacher subject matter preparation and higher student performance. Unfortunately, the literature is limited in terms of a direct comparison between mathematics and science majors and individuals who become mathematics and science teachers. This study was undertaken to add to the …
Making The Journey From A Traditional Model To An Online Model, 2014 University of Missouri-St. Louis
Making The Journey From A Traditional Model To An Online Model, Jenny Shrensker, Nazire Koc
Jenny Shrensker
A Novel Approach To Using Personal Response Systems And Diagrams To Foster Student Engagement In Large Lecture: Case Study Of Instruction For Model-Based Reasoning In Biology, 2014 University of Massachusetts Amherst
A Novel Approach To Using Personal Response Systems And Diagrams To Foster Student Engagement In Large Lecture: Case Study Of Instruction For Model-Based Reasoning In Biology, Johanna M. Fitzgerald
Doctoral Dissertations
At UMass Amherst a method of personal response system (clickers) use in large lecture biology called Guided Application of Model-based Reasoning (GAMBR) has been designed to give students experiences in reasoning like expert biologists: In large lecture biology many instructors appear to use clickers mainly as a quizzing and attendance tool. Less well documented and examined are uses of clickers to facilitate cognitive engagement in learning scientific models and skills. In GAMBR, clicker questions ask students to apply and perturb biological models; this is designed to engage them in model-based reasoning. In an attempt to understand such a course, an …