Digital Commons Network^™

Secondary Mathematics Teachers’ Mathematical Competence, Vesife Hatisaru, Julia Collins, Steven Richardson, Constantine Lozanovski

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Whilst educational goals in recent years for mathematics education are foregrounded the development of mathematical competencies, little is known about mathematics teachers’ competencies. In this study, a group of practising teachers were asked to solve an algebra problem, and their solutions were analysed to determine the competencies apparent (or, equally importantly, absent) in these solutions. The most demonstrated competencies were devising strategies and mathematising, whilst communication and reasoning were mostly missed. The research provides a detailed methodology on how mathematical competencies can be assessed in the context of problem solving.

2024 Viewbook, Office Of Admissions

Viewbook

At IMSA, you will be part of a community of 652 diverse students passionate about learning. Located in suburban Aurora, IMSA’s campus consists of seven residence halls spread across 97 acres. While living and learning on campus, you’ll make new friends, encounter new ideas, and learn to live independently. You will also have the opportunity to explore over 85 clubs, organizations, and IHSAsponsored co-curricular and athletic programs. IMSA provides a safe, nurturing environment. Professional Resident Counselors (RCs) live in each hall and will help you navigate your home away from home through the Residential Life Curriculum. Through this curriculum, you’ll …

Portraits Of A Rural Georgia High School Stem Program, Jonathan L. Garner, Gwen Scott Ruttencutter, Forrest R. Parker Iii

Georgia Educational Researcher

This research examined school personnel’s strategies and practices responsible for increasing student science proficiency at a certified rural high school STEM program. In the United States, difficulties have developed in adequately preparing students for careers in STEM sectors, especially in secondary education. This trend has led to increased difficulties for high school graduates competing globally for high-paying jobs. Rural schools have been especially susceptible to inadequately preparing their students academically. I used qualitative research portraiture to generate a mental image of the STEM program at the selected high school. I interviewed three teachers and two administrators in a certified rural …

The Decline Of Science In The Early Years: A Diagnosis And A Plan Of Action, Jennifer Bentley

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Science instruction in the early years of a student’s education career is essential to a student successfully continuing science in their secondary and postsecondary careers. However, the amount of high-quality science instruction students receive at the elementary level has been steadily declining for two decades, resulting in an inequitable imbalance in those who pursue STEM careers, a lack of critical science literacy in the U.S. populace, and a shortage of qualified employees entering the U.S. economy. Much of the lack of science instruction can be traced to decreased training of teachers to teach science during elementary credentialing programs or the …

An Evaluation Of Statistical Approaches Within A Higher Education Research Framework: How Does Online Distance Learning Impact Student Outcomes?, Nathaniel P. Wilson

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation

Appropriate methodology choices are of the utmost importance in research, particularly in measurement and education research. When higher education administrators and researchers study topics related to student outcomes, choosing a statistical approach that produces unbiased estimates is of primary concern. Additionally, studying student outcomes in the context of nationally representative samples provides valuable insights into the state of higher education in the U.S. When examining these data, it is critical that the nested structure be taken into consideration prior to making methodological decisions.

The purpose of the following manuscripts is to demonstrate how education researchers can develop, implement and evaluate …

Exploring Elementary Teachers’ Self-Efficacy And Propensity For Teaching Stem, Ashley Wilkirson

Theses and Dissertations--Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education

The following research is conducted in the interest in exploring self-efficacy (or the lack of) in pre- and in-service elementary school teachers when it comes to teaching STEM. In order to explore the issue of self-efficacy for STEM in elementary schools, it comes to defining what STEM education is and what self-efficacy is. These definitions guide research collected in building these future and current teachers’ self-efficacy, with factors ranging from resources available, pre-service training, professional development, content area knowledge, pedagogical knowledge, perceptions of teaching STEM, and opportunities to collaborate with other teachers were listed as some of the reasons. These …

Examining High School Mathematics Teachers' Research-Based Instructional Practices And Their Relationship To Students' Learning Outcomes: A Convergent Parallel Mixed-Method Study, Isiaka Busari

Theses and Dissertations--Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education

This convergent parallel mixed-methods study examines the relationship between high school mathematics teachers' research-based instructional practices and students' learning outcomes in Algebra 1 classrooms at a high school in a central region of a Southern U.S. State. The research addresses improving mathematics proficiency in the United States, where national performance remains below average. Guided by psychological and social constructivism, the study involved three Algebra 1 teachers and 171 students. Data were collected through classroom observations using the Mathematics Classroom Observation Protocol for Practices (MCOP²), teacher interviews, and student pre-and post-tests. Quantitative data from tests and MCOP² were …

The Influence Of Faculty Mentorship On Graduate Student Development Through The Lens Of Self-Efficacy, Connor Lynn Ferguson

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This exploratory sequential mixed-methods case study explores the relationship between perceived self-efficacy and faculty mentorship with biomedical sciences graduate students. The intent of the study was to understand the extent at which faculty mentorship contributes to self-efficacy development in the population of biomedical sciences doctoral students enrolled at a mid-Atlantic R1 institution. Data collected consisted of a survey assessing perceived self-efficacy and mentoring, interviews and documents. Data analysis explored themes related to the perceived academic and professional development of the students through their responses. The research highlights the significance of the mentor-mentee relationship and influence of the mentor on the …

Deapsecure Computational Training For Cybersecurity: Progress Toward Widespread Community Adoption, Wirawan Purwanto, Bahador Dodge, Karina Arcaute, Masha Sosonkina, Hongyi Wu

Electrical & Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

The Data-Enabled Advanced Computational Training Program for Cybersecurity Research and Education (DeapSECURE) is a non-degree training consisting of six modules covering a broad range of cyberinfrastructure techniques, including high performance computing, big data, machine learning and advanced cryptography, aimed at reducing the gap between current cybersecurity curricula and requirements needed for advanced research and industrial projects. Since 2020, these lesson modules have been updated and retooled to suit fully-online delivery. Hands-on activities were reformatted to accommodate self-paced learning. In this paper, we summarize the four years of the project comparing in-person and on-line only instruction methods as well as outlining …

Exploring International Educators' Learning About Local And Global Social Justice In A Virtual Community Of Practice, Bima Sapkota, Xuwei Luo, Muna Sapkota, Murat Akarsu, Emmanuel Deogratias, Daphne Fauber, Rose Mbewe, Fidelis Mumba, Ram Krishna Panthi, Jill Newton

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

In this chapter, the authors report themes that emerged when a cross-cultural team of researchers involved in a virtual international community of practice (Global Social Justice in Education-GSJE) investigated reflections on activities focused on social justice in local and global contexts. The findings suggested that the activities elicited GSJE community members' understandings of the complexities of social justice associated with naming practices, privilege, and the arts within their own and across contexts. The authors discuss implications of the activities to advance diverse educators' understanding of social justice in global and local contexts. They also unpack the opportunities and challenges that …

In Vitro Assessment Of The Anti-Biofilm Effectiveness Of Copper And Zinc Enhanced Borate Bioactive Glass Using Processed Microscopic Images, Sarah Fakher, David J. Westenberg

Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works

The escalating burden of nosocomial infections presents a formidable challenge to healthcare systems worldwide, leading to increased morbidity, prolonged hospital stays, and elevated healthcare costs. These infections are often resistant to conventional antibiotic therapies due to their association with biofilms which contribute to the persistence and resistance of pathogens. In addressing the challenge of biofilm-associated nosocomial infections, borate bioactive glasses (BBGs) have emerged as promising biomaterials. Doping these glasses with antimicrobial metals could potentially harness their antibacterial properties to prevent biofilm formation. This study undertakes a rigorous evaluation of the anti-biofilm efficacy of copper and zinc-doped BBGs by employing processed …

Science Teachers’ Initial Use Of Ngss Science Practices In Diverse Classrooms, Amy Tankersley, Elizabeth Hasseler, Elizabeth B. Lewis, Lyrica Lucas, Brandon Helding

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Faculty Publications

In the landscape of U.S. education, the widespread adoption of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) offers a unique vantage point for researchers to better understand teacher-, school- and classroom-level factors that advance reform initiatives in science classrooms. Addressing a gap in current knowledge, our study probes how secondary science teachers implement one dimension of NGSS - the science practices (SPs). Our data collection encompasses teacher interviews and meticulous observations of science lessons, coded for NGSS science practices (SPs) and inquiry-based teaching. Embracing a methodologically rich approach, our study employs both qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis. Quantitatively, we …

Initial Growth Of Inclusive Knowledge And Leadership Practices By Science Education Teacher-Leaders, Elizabeth B. Lewis, Elizabeth Hasseler, Rachel Benzoni, Gina S. Matkin

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Faculty Publications

Introduction & Rationale for Study

● Science teachers are integral to the success of science education reform. ● Science education needs leaders from all parts of the field and system. ● However, science teachers have not been well-positioned for leadership.

Grant-funded Project & Study Focus

Project Phases, Objectives, & Timeline

Conceptual Framework

ACESSE Framework for Equitable Science Learning

Literature Review

Methodology: Approach, Research Question, & Participants, Data Sources & Analytic Methods

Noyce MTFs’ Science Teaching Experience & Certifications

MTFs’ School and District Demographics

Summary of MTFs’ Most Common Leadership Activities

Research Instrument and Analytic Lens

Cohort 1 & 2 Baseline …

A Meta-Synthesis Of The Literature On Science And Engineering Teaching Self-Efficacy: Current Gaps And Future Research Directions, Deepika Menon, Jeanna R. Wieselmann, Sarah Haines, Sumreen Asim

Department of Teaching, Learning, and Teacher Education: Faculty Publications

Self-efficacy is a topic of great interest in elementary preservice and inservice teacher education given that elementary teachers often have low self-efficacy for STEM teaching. In this article, we synthesize the existing literature on science and engineering teaching self-efficacy to (1) explore trends in science and engineering teaching self-efficacy research, (2) identify current gaps that exist in the literature, and (3) propose a visual model to provide future direction in research. Utilizing a qualitative meta-synthesis, we analyzed 88 articles focused on science and engineering teaching self-efficacy. Of these articles, 66 studied preservice teachers, 21 studied inservice teachers, and one included …

A Comparison Of Student Achievement On Agriculture Mechanics End Of Pathway Assessments Among Agriculture Programs In Georgia, William Burt

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Agriculture education programs in Georgia are held to the same standards and evaluations regardless of their location, resource availability, and student clientele. For schools with agriculture mechanics programs specifically, students are expected to obtain proficient skills in welding, electrical wiring, woodworking, small engines, concrete, and machinery. Students' are expected to obtain skill sets in these various content areas, yet the equipment and resources available to the educator differs among schools. The experience that a student encounters also differs among schools. For instance, some schools have multiple agriculture pathways for a student to enroll in, while other schools have minimal. The …

The Relationship Between Metacognition, Study Strategies, And Students’ Performances In General Chemistry And Organic Chemistry Courses, Nghiem Uy Tieu

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Many students find General Chemistry challenging, and studies have shown a link between students’ grades in chemistry and a decrease in interest in STEM fields. Similarly, Organic Chemistry has also been typically identified as a difficult course for many undergraduate students and has a notoriously high failure rate. Numerous studies have explored various methods to enhance students’ performance and experience in both General Chemistry and Organic Chemistry, but there hasn’t been much focus on students’ study strategies. In addition, metacognition, the skill of thinking about one’s thinking, had been proven in studies as a vital role in enhancing students’ achievements. …

An Exploration Of Misconceptions In Introductory Physics, Christopher Mattthew Wheatley

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

The study of student misconceptions about physics concepts has long been an important area of inquiry in physics education research (PER). The research discussed in this dissertation builds upon the developments in PER by exploring the prevalence of consistently held undergraduate student misconceptions in introductory calculus-based physics. This thesis explores the nature of student misconceptions, mistakes, and naive answering patterns in both introductory undergraduate Newtonian mechanics and electromagnetism by applying a network analytic technique called module analysis to student responses to different concept inventories from institutions of various levels of incoming physics preparation. Each study applying these methods also demonstrates …

Theorizing Mathematical Proof As Becoming: A Deleuzio-Guattarian Investigation, Joshua P. Case

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

In this dissertation, I utilize the post-structural philosophy of Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari as a lens for investigating the proof process. Deleuze and Guattari were both post- structural philosophers who, like many in this tradition, troubled traditional notions related to stable identities, meaning, language, and mathematics. For Deleuze, sense and meaning is not the result of a sterile, transcendent effect or condition that is associated with propositions and states of affairs. Rather, it is the result of a material production that emerges from the world and that has independence from language and the mind. I apply this framework to …

A Qualitative Analysis Of Secondary Mathematics Teachers’ Development Toward Teaching Mathematics For Social Justice, Catherine Lynne Manley

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

While some might say that mathematics is neutral, free from political and social bias, social justice concerns can be found in the day-to-day actions of teachers in mathematics classrooms. Teaching mathematics for social justice requires teachers to gain knowledge of the world and systems of oppression as well as current efforts to both address systemic issues as well as the fight for those in power to maintain their cultural capital. Mathematics teachers also need to learn the pedagogical practices that support social justice in education and the specific ways in which mathematics content can be used as a tool to …

Reformed-Based Approaches To The Teaching And Learning Of Science, Sahar Vali

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This qualitative practice-based study explores the efficacy of reformed-based science teaching approaches in fostering meaningful student engagement within elementary science classrooms, framed within the science-as-practice paradigm. Utilizing three theoretical frameworks, the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and Ambitious Science Teaching (AST), and the Teacher Noticing, this research investigates how these frameworks influence student engagement in scientific disciplinary practices. The study draws on data from an NSF-funded project on teacher noticing in fifth-grade classrooms in West Virginia. Through a practice-based research approach, the relationship between teachers’ pedagogical practices and student engagement in science and engineering practices as outlined by NGSS and …

Mathematical Connections In Preservice Secondary Mathematics Teachers’ Solution Strategies To Algebra Problems, Vesife Hatisaru, Kaye Stacey, Jon R. Star

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This study investigated the mathematical connections found in the solutions provided by 22 preservice secondary mathematics teachers to a set of algebra problems. Interest in, and research on, mathematical connections has gained prominence of the past decade. Here, we use the Extended Theory of Mathematical Connections or ETMC to explore the types of connections that this framework does and does not capture in the preservice teachers’ solutions. The ETMC surfaced four types of mathematical connections across four problems: ‘different representations’, ‘procedural’, ‘part-whole’ and ‘meaning’. The other types of connections defined in ETMC such as ‘reversibility’ or ‘feature’ were not found …

Influences On Student Decisions To Enrol In Higher-Level Mathematics Courses, Gregory Hine, Chris Forlin, Paola Chivers

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Addressing the participation rates in senior secondary mathematics courses in Australian schools remains a critically important issue. In this paper, the authors report on quantitative findings from a study in which all year 11 and year 12 (aged 17–18 years) Australian Tertiary Admissions Ranking (ATAR) students in Western Australia were invited to participate. The aim was to explore the perceptions of these students regarding their enrolment in higher-level mathematics courses. Data from 1633 students were collected using a survey instrument comprised of 12, 5-point, Likert-scale items. Data were analysed by applying two statistical procedures: calculating frequencies of the 12 items …

Teacher Expectations Of Student Strategies For Algebra Problems, Vesife Hatisaru, Olivia Johnston, Julia Collins, Wendy Harmon

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This paper investigates the expectations that a group of preservice secondary mathematics teachers had for how students would approach four particular algebra problems. Their responses to a set of open-ended items were content analysed. Findings show that the teachers ranged in the expectations that they held for their students. Some teachers expected their students would approach the problems with more sophisticated problem-solving strategies, but many of the teachers expected that the students would only use less desirable “guess-and-check” strategies. We believe teachers’ expectations for student strategies for problem-solving is a topic that warrants further investigation.

Remedying Educational Opportunity Program Freshmen's Knowledge Of Fractions And Views Of Mathematics Learning With Serious Video Games, Yan Tian

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Well-designed serious video games have great potential in mathematics education. This study aims to enrich our understanding of Slice Fractions and Slice Fractions 2 as remedy tools for college freshmen in an educational opportunities program. Specifically, drawing on resources-based epistemic cognition theory and scheme theory, the study investigated fourteen participants’ perspectives and experiences of playing these games, the impacts of the gameplay on their fraction schemes/operations and explicit conceptions of fractions, practices in fraction problem-solving, and views of mathematics learning. With a quasi-experimental design, each participant finished a pre-game interview and assessment, played SF1 or SF2, and completed a post-game …

The Effect Of Learning Environment And Student Groupings On Math Skill Mastery, Erin Marr

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

This study was designed to evaluate the impact of instructional group size and composition on student progress within a classwide math intervention. In terms of group size, groupings of greater than and less than 10 students were compared. In terms of group composition, homogeneous and heterogeneous groups were compared, defined by grouping the classes with standard deviations of student performance within the upper quartile (heterogeneous) and lower quartile (homogeneous) on a pre-intervention measure. The outcome measure used to evaluate student progress was the number of trials required for students to reach mastery on a specific skill within the 16-skill intervention …

Analyzing A Smartphone Battle Using Bass Competition Model, Maila Hallare, Alireza Hosseinkhan, Hasala Senpathy K. Gallolu Kankanamalage

CODEE Journal

Many examples of 2x2 nonlinear systems in a first-course in ODE or a mathematical modeling class come from physics or biology. We present an example that comes from the business or management sciences, namely, the Bass diffusion model. We believe that students will appreciate this model because it does not require a lot of background material and it is used to analyze sales data and serve as a guide in pricing decisions for a single product. In this project, we create a 2x2 ODE system that is inspired by the Bass diffusion model; we call the resulting system the Bass …

Reducing Food Scarcity: The Benefits Of Urban Farming, S.A. Claudell, Emilio Mejia

Journal of Nonprofit Innovation

Urban farming can enhance the lives of communities and help reduce food scarcity. This paper presents a conceptual prototype of an efficient urban farming community that can be scaled for a single apartment building or an entire community across all global geoeconomics regions, including densely populated cities and rural, developing towns and communities. When deployed in coordination with smart crop choices, local farm support, and efficient transportation then the result isn’t just sustainability, but also increasing fresh produce accessibility, optimizing nutritional value, eliminating the use of ‘forever chemicals’, reducing transportation costs, and fostering global environmental benefits.

Imagine Doris, who is …

A Critical Computing Curriculum Design Case: Exploring Tribal Sovereignty For Middle School Students, Kristin A. Searle, Aubrey Rogowski, Colby Tofel-Grehl, Mengying Jiang

Journal of Computer Science Integration

We report on our efforts to design an integrated computing curriculum for middle school students in Montana that is in line with the Kapor Center’s focus on culturally sustaining-revitalizing pedagogies. Montana provides a unique context for doing this work because a state constitutional mandate requires all K-12 students to learn about tribal histories and cultures through Indian Education For All (IEFA). IEFA centers around seven essential understandings about Indigenous peoples in Montana that are integrated across content areas. In addition, implementation of Montana’s CS standards began in the 2021–2022 school year. In the curricular design, we sought to bring together …

Employing An Abolitionist, Critical Race Pedagogy In Cs: Centering The Voices, Experiences And Technological Innovations Of Black Youth, Tiera Tanksley

Journal of Computer Science Integration

This paper proposes a pedagogical extension of culturally responsive praxis called abolitionist, critical race pedagogy in CS. To showcase the power and potentiality of this pedagogy, this paper examines the experiences of 2 cohorts of Black high school students (n = 30) who participated in a critical race technology course that was taught during the dual pandemic of COVID-19 and anti-Black racism. The goal of this summer course was to employ an abolitionist, critical race pedagogy in CS to foster Black students’ ability to critically examine the ubiquity of anti-Black racism within the socio-technical architectures (e.g. code, data, algorithms and …

How To Intercept A High-Speed Rocket With A Pair Of Compasses And A Straightedge?, Yagub N. Aliyev

CODEE Journal

In this paper a nonlinear differential equation arising from an elementary geometry problem is discussed. This geometry problem was inspired by one of the proofs of the first remarkable limit discussed in a typical first semester undergraduate Calculus course. It is known that the involved differential equation can be reduced to Abel’s differential equation of the first kind. In this paper the problem was solved using an approximate geometric method which constructs a piecewise linear solution approximation for the curve. The compass tool of GeoGebra was extensively used for these constructions. At the end of the paper, some generalizations are …