Education | Open Access Articles | Digital Commons Network™

Infographic: Australian Achievement Trends In Timss, Australian Council For Educational Research (Acer)

Teacher infographics

Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) measures how well Year 4 and Year 8 students from around the world are performing in science and mathematics. In this infographic we look at Australian student achievement over time.

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Teaching Second-Grade Students To Write Expository Text, Angenette Cox Imbler

Theses and Dissertations

Writing is necessary to participate in public discourse. Much of today's communication is based on information, yet many students do not adequately learn how to write expository text. Learning to write is difficult, but expository text can be especially difficult as it requires knowledge of both a subject and special text structures. The purpose of this study was to give teachers a research-proven method for teaching students to write expository text and to give more information on how to evaluate students' writing. In this quasi-experimental quantitative research design, the expository writing of students before and after receiving a new science …

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Science In Early Childhood Education, Olivia Kocina

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Science is often limited or absent in an early education classroom. It is important to give children an outlet to experience science in the classroom or through lesson plans. Having science at an early age can provide children the opportunities to build up their reasoning, to question things about the world, and later in life to feel more confident in other STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) activities or areas. To address this need, I created a 3-day program for 3 to 5 year-olds at Little Learners of Aptos School in Aptos, California.

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Covid-19_Umaine News_Umaine Students Get Immersive Experience In Engineering Education, University Of Maine Division Of Marketing And Communications

Division of Marketing & Communications

Screenshot of UMaine News press release regarding Asli Sezen-Barrie, associate professor of curriculum, assessment and instruction in the University of Maine College of Education and Human Development redesigning her class on Teaching Science in the Secondary School to provide more opportunities for preservice teachers at UMaine to learn about engineering concepts and meet with engineers.

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Students’ With Blindness And Visual Impairments Level Of Engagement In Science And Engineering Practices, Tiffany A. Wild, Natalie Shaheen, Danene K. Fast, Julia Averill, Karen Koehler, Kathleen Farrand

Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities

There is a lack of research on science-process skills and abilities of students with blindness and visual impairments to apply those skills (Jones, Forrester, Robertson, Gardner, & Taylor, 2012). This study aims to provide additional information on how students with blindness and visual impairment are engaged in science and engineering practices in order for teachers to gain a better understanding of how students with visual impairments can learn engineering practices. The Student Inquiry Review (Hilson & Wild, 2015) that examines the scientific and engineering practices as defined in the Framework for K-12 Science Education: Practices, Crosscutting Concepts and Core Ideas …

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The Queer Agenda: A Fluid Education, Charlee Corra

Summit to Salish Sea: Inquiries and Essays

Throughout this paper, I weave together various aspects of my identity in order to investigate how fluidity and questioning form an undercurrent of my being and therefore of the way I teach. Through metaphors and narratives of my experiences within environmental education and experiential learning I seek clarity and expansiveness rather than definitive answers, leaning into the certainty that change is inevitable and there are rarely any static answers. Using queerness, Judaism, and my scientific background as the layers of my unique identity lens and positionality, I explore the ways in which the power of questioning, critical thinking, democratic education …

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Evolution Of A Multi-Layered World Of Science To Benefit Children With Hearing Loss, Ellen Rhoades, Rachel Glade

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

This is a brief but broad narrative and non-systematic review of developments that led up to how 21^st century digital technology and translational research influenced, in particular, cognitive psychology and our improved understanding of mental resources among children with hearing loss. In turn, systemic multi-disciplinary research findings gave birth to Auditory Cognitive Neuroscience (ACN). Three broad constructs unique to ACN, i.e., auditory attention, effortful listening, and auditory fatigue, are then described in relation to children with hearing loss. This review concludes with a brief examination of future opportunities for researchers and clinicians who can ensure that children with hearing …

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School Of Culinary Arts And Food Technology, Tu Dublin, Autumn Newsletter 2020, James Murphy

Other resources

The School of Culinary Arts and Food Technology, TU Dublin, Autumn Newsletter captured the many events, research, awards, significant contributions and special civic and community activities which the students and staff members of the school have successfully completed up to the Autumn period of 2020. The successful completion of these activities would not be possible without the active and on-going support of the 'INSPIRED' friends of Culinary Arts (school supporters) and our school's industry association supporters.

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"Science Through The Galaxy Club", Kenessa Copeland, Beth Cannon

Honors Expanded Learning Clubs

This club is meant for middle schoolers who want to learn about science while also having a creative outlet. Learn about different areas of science throughout land, ocean, and space. Exciting activities and experiments will be explored each week. For those that like to be creative, we will also enact stories and skits related to the area of science we are covering.

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Does The Mathematics Level Affect Student Success In High School Physics?, Kassandra Surma

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

The research question addressed in this study was: does the mathematics class level affect student success in high school physics? Topics explored in the literature review include the context of science course sequencing, the history of physics education in the United States, the disconnect between mathematics and physics in education, the mindsets of parents, students, and teachers about mathematics and science curriculum, and educational policies that affect state standards for curriculum, and graduation. Participants’ previous mathematics class level and success in their high school physics course were studied to find any correlation. To accomplish this, participants’ previous mathematics course and …

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Designing Curriculum For Emerging English Learners: Using Science Themes To Teach Productive Academic Language In A High School El Classroom, Cassandra Chandler

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

English Language (EL) teachers often do not have a rigorous curriculum for Emerging students that uses grade-level themes to teach English language acquisition. Additionally, many of the commercially-available English language instructional materials do not have a strong focus on teaching academic speaking. At the same time, writing also continues to be an area of challenge for many ELs. This capstone project addressed the question: How can a science-themed curriculum be designed for Emerging-level high school English learners that focuses on teaching productive academic language? The literature reviewed showed that instruction in academic speaking and writing is incredibly important for ELs. …

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Embedding Phenomena-Based Learning Practices Into A Middle School Science Curriculum, Allison Kubat

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The history of science education has seen dramatic changes since its formal introduction to school curriculum in the last half of the 1800s. Science has moved from a passive learning experience to much more active and student-driven pedagogy. In 2014, the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) were introduced and states have been adopting these since then. As a way to meet the demands of the NGSS, inquiry-based science lessons have been created. One branch of inquiry-based learning is using phenomena as a way to introduce new content and having students use prior knowledge and models to explain the science behind …

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Creating Environmental Education Programming And Access To Diverse Students, Heidi Hanson

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The racial diversity of students in environmental education (EE) is minimal for a myriad of reasons. Factors that environmental educators can control in welcoming students to programming is content and teaching. Research on racial diversity, past and present environmental education, students’ land histories and different pedagogies that incorporate culture and address discrimination and justice inform educators how what and how to optimally teach racially diverse students to maintain engagement. Research finds that incorporating students’ cultures into teaching, representing diverse people in lessons, understanding systems of racism, how that impacts people’s actions along with finding ways to change and or confront …

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What Methods And Models Can Be Used To Translate Science To Levels Developmentally Appropriate To Be Taught In Preschool In The State Of Massachusetts?, Donna Phillips

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

This capstone project examines the changes in curriculum for early childhood education, specifically preschool aged children. In reviewing and learning about the history of preschool education and how its curriculum has evolved over time, this capstone project was developed to understand the question of, what are methods and models that can be used to translate science to levels developmentally appropriate to be taught in preschool in the state of Massachusetts? While preschool's curriculum main focus was in teaching fine and gross motor skills, research has shown that children as young as 3 years old are able to learn basic science, …

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Teaching Science In Rural Elementary Schools: Affordances And Constraints In The Age Of Ngss, Doron Zinger, Judith Haymore Sandholtz, Cathy Ringstaff

The Rural Educator

Providing science instruction is an ongoing priority and challenge in elementary grades, especially in high-need rural schools. Nonetheless, few studies have investigated the factors that facilitate or limit teachers’ science instruction in these settings, particularly since the introduction of the Next Generation Science Standards. In this study we investigated affordances and constraints to elementary science instruction in high-need rural schools. Data sources included semi-structured interviews and survey responses from 49 teachers from 30 different rural schools. Through a primarily qualitative analysis, we identified four teacher reported categories of affordances and four categories of constraints to teaching science. One category of …

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How Do We Do Our Science As Reformed Christians? The Debate Continues, John Zwart

Pro Rege

No abstract provided.

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Theories - A Powerful Tool For Science, Lawrence C. Scharmann

Faculty Publications: Department of Teaching, Learning and Teacher Education

Scientific theories are often mischaracterized by non-scientists, journalists, etc., as being merely someone’s guesses; guesses that would be more appropriately labeled as conjecture or speculation. Others mistakenly equate theory and hypothesis. Still others incorrectly assert that scientific laws (which refer to a limited set of remarkably repeatable observational data) are ‘stronger’ than theories. In the practice of science, however, laws are narrowly confined and limited in application, whereas theories are broad in scope and widely applied. Simply stated, theories are scientists’ most powerful tools.

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The Relationship Between The Next Generation Content Area Reading Professional Development Program On The Effectiveness Of Teaching Literacy Strategies In High School Biology Classes, Tia Pridgen Brown

Dissertations

The need for effective content area reading teachers have continued to increase since the introduction of one public school districts’ Content Area Reading Professional Development (CAR-PD) in 2006. In 2011, modifications were made to improve the program, and it became known as the Next Generation Content Area Reading Professional Development (NGCAR-PD). The purpose of this program evaluation is to investigate the relationship between NGCAR-PD certified Biology teachers and their ability to implement reading strategies with science content effectively. The context of this inquiry is a mid-sized public school district that has implemented the program since 2006 at the middle and …

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Book Review: The Intelligence Of The Cosmos: Why Are We Here? By Ervin Laszlo, Elizabeth W. Szatmari Krasnoff

Journal of Conscious Evolution

Ervin Laszlo breaks down his theory of everything into a credo of 8 statements. This review looks in some detail at Laszlo’s theories and also touches on the other writers who have been invited to participate. It is noteworthy that Laszlo breaks with the current scientific belief that we are without purpose, and that evolution has no purpose. He believes that compassion, love, and expansion are our purposes for being here.

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Exploring The Impact Of Musical Mnemonic Strategies On Student Achievement And Engagement In Inclusive Science Classes, Zinna Eaton

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Students with disabilities often struggle with comprehending material and performing at grade level, and teachers often find new ways to help their students comprehend the curriculum. A common challenge for special education teachers is incorporating different learning styles and various instructional strategies to better assist their students. One teaching strategy and resource that many teachers incorporate is the use of music in their instruction. This research project examines how incorporating music teaching strategies into daily instruction impacts the level of engagement and the academic achievement level of sixth-grade students with and without mild/moderate disabilities within inclusive science classrooms. The study …

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Incorporating Traditional Ecological Knowledge To Support Critical Thinking In Environmental Education, Nicholas Koerbitz

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The research question addressed in this project was how can traditional ecological knowledge be implemented in environmental education? Research indicates that traditional ecological knowledge aids student understanding in environmental education, as it provides holistic viewpoints to problem solving. Available Indigenous teachings from cultures across North America explain the connectedness between all living and nonliving things, yet are very underused resources. This curriculum was created using the Understanding by Design framework consisting of four units including ecology, natural resources, climate change, and current environmental challenges. These lessons include a combination of a teacher centered and student centered classroom, along with provided …

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Designing And Implementing Argumentation Through Digital Platform: A Framework For Beginning 3rd-6th Science, Alexandra Melin

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Extensive research in science education has underscored the importance of argumentation and discourse as a critical tool for helping students understand the natural world (NGSS Lead States, 2013). Despite these findings, argumentation is used inconsistently across classrooms due to numerous implementation challenges (e.g., limited teacher training, insufficient resources, classroom management difficulties, unique science language and practices). The design and implementation of science argumentation has been further challenged by the growing proportion of English Language Learning students and the shift to online learning, making clear the need for a framework that included support and adaption to both. To address this need, …

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Addressing Issues Surrounding Food Insecurity And Promote Environmentalism In Urban Settings Using Community Gardens, Tucker Jensen

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

This capstone project reviews the effect community gardens have on the low-income, urban population. After reviewing the history of racism in America, disproportionalities of food insecurity, how poverty correlates to health, and various environmental impacts specific to urban communities, this project was an effort to expand on that research and provide a solution. Food deserts exist in many of today’s American cities, which lead to food insecurity and negative health outcomes. A community garden is a low-cost, effective way to obtain healthy food and simultaneously benefit the environment. This five-day unit of study takes place at an established community garden. …

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Environmental Education Lessons Connecting Middle School Students To The Natural World, Kari Brant

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Research has repeatedly indicated that exposure to nature and the outdoors has a range of physical, mental, emotional, social, and educational benefits. The research question that is addressed in the work of this capstone is: Which middle school environmental education lessons aligned with science standards enable students to connect with the natural world? In reviewing causes of lack of exposure to nature, the benefits that being outside can offer, and closely reviewing both Minnesota standards as well as environmental education goals, the aim of this capstone is to incorporate environmental education into middle school. The curriculum includes units of study …

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Scaffolding Oral Language For Elementary English Learners In Content Classrooms, Jamie Bushey

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

This project addresses the question: What strategies could be provided to content and English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers to help scaffold oral language use for English Learners in the elementary content classroom? This project was born from the author’s experience as a language teacher and the need to provide language supports for her students in content classes such as science and social studies. Literature regarding second language acquisition, science education, and oral language supports were consulted in the development of this project. A portfolio of resources to support oral language development was created, which includes an example science …

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Fostering Joy, Enriching Relationships, And Encouraging Growth Through Outdoor Education Curriculum, Emma Chapman

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Research has shown that spending time learning and exploring outdoors can be a vital part of emotional and academic development of students. Connecting with the outdoors is also a foundational aspect in the development of environmental stewards. Many students aren’t given the opportunities to connect with the environment for a number of reasons including lack of access to outdoor spaces and/or lack of role models. This project resulted in the creation of seven lesson plans with the goals to foster joy, enrich relationships, and encourage growth in the outdoors. The lessons target primarily middle school students, but can be adapted …

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A Framework For Pre-Laboratory Instructional Design To Support Student Inquiry In High School Chemistry, Naomi Golden

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

High school chemistry laboratory experiments offer a context-rich environment for learning chemistry. However, the complexity of the lab environment can also complicate the learning experience. This capstone explores the question: How can a pre-laboratory instructional framework help high school chemistry students independently design experiment procedures in order to transform inquiry experiments into an effective tool for content learning? The literature review explores how four instructional approaches (science writing heuristic, writing-to-learn strategies, pre-laboratory instruction, and demonstrations) impact learning outcomes. Using that research as a foundation, the capstone proposes an instructional framework utilizing a teacher-led demonstration to engage prior knowledge and teach …

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How Can Citizen Science Be Used Effectively Within Environmental Education In Order To Foster Environmental Change?, Michelle Sagers

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Citizen Science, the crowdsourcing of scientific data collection, is becoming a valuable education tool for environmental educators and classroom teachers. Citizen Science has the capacity to teach students STEM (Science Technology, Engineering and Math) and inquiry-based learning skills in a real-life setting, close to home, that matters to them personally. It provides participants with the skills to face future environmental problems and become civically engaged on environmental topics. This capstone project focuses on creating an education curriculum utilizing Citizen Science to answer the question: how can Citizen Science be used effectively within environmental education in order to foster environmental change? …

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Developmentally Appropriate Environmental Stem Curriculum For Kindergarten And First Grade Students, Mary Sweeney

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

The purpose of this capstone project was to create a developmentally appropriate environmental science, technology, engineering, and math (E-STEM) curriculum for kindergarten and first grade students. This capstone seeks to answer the question: What are qualities of developmentally appropriate environmental education curriculum for kindergarten and first grade students? The research explores physical, cognitive, and social and emotional growth, in addition to multiple intelligences. Developmentally appropriate kindergarten and first grade classrooms encourage play, choice stations, movement, utilizing all of the senses, and a nurturing environment. Best practices in Environmental education combine developmental needs of students, authentic experiences in the environment, and …

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Science Vs. Faith - Still A False Dichotomy: A Short Reply To Arnold Sikkema, Sacha Walicord

Pro Rege

No abstract provided.

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Full-Text Articles in Education

Infographic: Australian Achievement Trends In Timss, Australian Council For Educational Research (Acer)

Teacher infographics

Teaching Second-Grade Students To Write Expository Text, Angenette Cox Imbler

Theses and Dissertations

Science In Early Childhood Education, Olivia Kocina

Capstone Projects and Master's Theses

Covid-19_Umaine News_Umaine Students Get Immersive Experience In Engineering Education, University Of Maine Division Of Marketing And Communications

Division of Marketing & Communications

Students’ With Blindness And Visual Impairments Level Of Engagement In Science And Engineering Practices, Tiffany A. Wild, Natalie Shaheen, Danene K. Fast, Julia Averill, Karen Koehler, Kathleen Farrand

Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities

The Queer Agenda: A Fluid Education, Charlee Corra

Summit to Salish Sea: Inquiries and Essays

Evolution Of A Multi-Layered World Of Science To Benefit Children With Hearing Loss, Ellen Rhoades, Rachel Glade

Journal of Early Hearing Detection and Intervention

School Of Culinary Arts And Food Technology, Tu Dublin, Autumn Newsletter 2020, James Murphy

Other resources

"Science Through The Galaxy Club", Kenessa Copeland, Beth Cannon

Honors Expanded Learning Clubs

Does The Mathematics Level Affect Student Success In High School Physics?, Kassandra Surma

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

Designing Curriculum For Emerging English Learners: Using Science Themes To Teach Productive Academic Language In A High School El Classroom, Cassandra Chandler

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Embedding Phenomena-Based Learning Practices Into A Middle School Science Curriculum, Allison Kubat

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Creating Environmental Education Programming And Access To Diverse Students, Heidi Hanson

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

What Methods And Models Can Be Used To Translate Science To Levels Developmentally Appropriate To Be Taught In Preschool In The State Of Massachusetts?, Donna Phillips

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Teaching Science In Rural Elementary Schools: Affordances And Constraints In The Age Of Ngss, Doron Zinger, Judith Haymore Sandholtz, Cathy Ringstaff

The Rural Educator

How Do We Do Our Science As Reformed Christians? The Debate Continues, John Zwart

Pro Rege

Theories - A Powerful Tool For Science, Lawrence C. Scharmann

Faculty Publications: Department of Teaching, Learning and Teacher Education

The Relationship Between The Next Generation Content Area Reading Professional Development Program On The Effectiveness Of Teaching Literacy Strategies In High School Biology Classes, Tia Pridgen Brown

Dissertations

Book Review: The Intelligence Of The Cosmos: Why Are We Here? By Ervin Laszlo, Elizabeth W. Szatmari Krasnoff

Journal of Conscious Evolution

Exploring The Impact Of Musical Mnemonic Strategies On Student Achievement And Engagement In Inclusive Science Classes, Zinna Eaton

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

Incorporating Traditional Ecological Knowledge To Support Critical Thinking In Environmental Education, Nicholas Koerbitz

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Designing And Implementing Argumentation Through Digital Platform: A Framework For Beginning 3rd-6th Science, Alexandra Melin

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Addressing Issues Surrounding Food Insecurity And Promote Environmentalism In Urban Settings Using Community Gardens, Tucker Jensen

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Environmental Education Lessons Connecting Middle School Students To The Natural World, Kari Brant

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Scaffolding Oral Language For Elementary English Learners In Content Classrooms, Jamie Bushey

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Fostering Joy, Enriching Relationships, And Encouraging Growth Through Outdoor Education Curriculum, Emma Chapman

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

A Framework For Pre-Laboratory Instructional Design To Support Student Inquiry In High School Chemistry, Naomi Golden

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

How Can Citizen Science Be Used Effectively Within Environmental Education In Order To Foster Environmental Change?, Michelle Sagers

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Developmentally Appropriate Environmental Stem Curriculum For Kindergarten And First Grade Students, Mary Sweeney

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Science Vs. Faith - Still A False Dichotomy: A Short Reply To Arnold Sikkema, Sacha Walicord

Pro Rege