Science and Mathematics Education Commons^™

Challenges In Developing Physical Intuition In College General Physics Courses, Vasiliy S. Znamenskiy, Rafael Niyazov

Open Educational Resources

Many students can memorize formulas but struggle to feel what a newton, joule, or volt means; they treat formulas as plug-and-chug templates rather than descriptions of relationships among physical quantities. This presentation introduces three types of learning activities: (1) text-free (“no-text”) problems, in which carefully designed visuals replace prose to convey relationships and constraints; (2) anti-problems, which begin with a mathematical expression and ask students to imagine a physical situation it could describe; and (3) lab games that turn routine measurement into purposeful play, emphasizing estimation, scaling, and unit sense. We provide ready-made, Brightspace-compatible assessments alongside low-tech implementation options. The …

A Critical Approach To Analyzing And Addressing Worldview-Based Cultural Conflict Between Indigenous Peoples And Western Science In Education And Research, Deborah H. Williams

Sabbatical Projects

Intercultural conflict exists in science education and research, I argue as a result of differences between the Western scientific worldview and the Indigenous worldview. Native Americans are the most underrepresented group in STEM, and this has been the case, in my personal experience for over two decades. Western science is not universal or acultural, Indigenous peoples have their own ways of knowing founded on different philosophical assumptions and recognizing metaphysical phenomena and explanations that are rejected by Western science and the positivist/post-positivist paradigm. Through the power of colonial privilege, scientists, science departments, and science disciplines have been able to erect …

Lives And Lessons Of Zoo Animals, Nicole Emlen

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

This project was an interdisciplinary museum exhibit that was displayed at the Montana Natural History Center between April 4 and May 12, 2025. It displays my photographs that I took of some of the animals I worked with during my summer 2024 internship at ZooMontana. In this project, I educate the public about three main functions of zoos--rescue, conservation, and education--through the stories and lives of four species. These animals all have unique stories that are important to share to improve public knowledge of why zoos are important and how we can improve relationships between humans and wildlife. Photography is …

Counting The Possibilities: New Numerals And New Opportunities, Ryan Fox

Faculty Scholarship Symposium

To support the teaching of a class, I investigated the Kaktovik or Inupiaq number system. What started as an exploration to enhance an education class activity turned into a fascinating addition to my research agenda. The proposed presentation will summarize already accepted work and look forward to new possibilities. My first scholarly work with these numbers had education majors connect their own understanding of mathematics to the addition and subtraction in the number system, challenging the students’ approaches to teaching elementary school children familiar algorithms. In another work, I presented approaches to multiplying these new numbers to local mathematics teachers. …

Performance Orientations: A Critical Inquiry With The Mmai In An Urban High School, Kenneth Butler

Thomas C. Hunt Building a Research Community Day

In this study, the Motivation for Mathematics Abbreviated Instrument (MMAI) was administered to students in an urban high school in one Midwestern city. Demographically, the vast majority of these students identify with categories other than white. There is a strong emphasis on college readiness and high expectations within the school’s culture. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) of the 168 responses revealed strong fit to a four-factor model. The items within each factor are shown to discriminate between factors, converge together within factors, and to reliably measure their individual factors. This model strongly aligned with the four intended motivational constructs; however, EFA …

P-39 Interdisciplinary Diffusion Lab, Sable Canales, Chloe Gaban, Mickey Kutzner

Celebration of Research and Creative Scholarship

Diffusion is a principle in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. The rate of diffusion is affected by temperature, particle size, concentration, and material type. Students can model the rate of diffusion based on particle size by contrasting blue and yellow dyes. Two petri dishes containing agar-agar receive a drop of dye at the center. The radius of expansion is recorded over time. The variance of the distribution grows as ��2=4����, where ��2 is the variance, D is the diffusion constant, and t is time. Graphing variance versus time gives a slope of 4D. Diffusion constants vary by particle size, allowing for …

What Are The Benefits Of Stem Integration In Mathematics Classrooms In Underserved Schools? A Literature Review, Steve Heinold

Indiana STEM Education Conference

The importance of mathematics education and STEM education in K-12 education in the United States is peaking. High stakes testing and focus on 21st Century skills have many schools scrambling to increase test scores while better preparing their students for the “real world.” This literature review looks at the history of STEM education in the United States and the recent focus on STEM integration into core individual subject classrooms, especially mathematics. This review also analyzes the effectiveness of STEM integration to help students from underserved schools and communities. While there is some evidence that engaging and responsive after-school STEM programs …

Exploring Youths’ Decision To Participate In Stem Afterschool Programs, Brooke M. Stafford, Virginia L. J. Bolshakova

Indiana STEM Education Conference

STEM afterschool programs offer a range of academic, social, and emotional outcomes to support positive youth development. In particular, STEM afterschool programs have been shown to increase student self-efficacy and interest in pursuing STEM careers (Chan et al., 2020; Dabney et al., 2012). Youth must first choose to attend the STEM afterschool programs to gain the many benefits offered. However, participation in such programs decreases as youth get older and encounter additional competing interests (i.e., home responsibilities, jobs, etc.). To get youth to attend, STEM afterschool programs must meet the needs of youth by leveraging resources, activities, and relationships.

This …

Math For Emergent Bilinguals. As Easy As Uno, Dos, Tres, Jim Ewing

Diversity Conference

There's a myth that math is a universal language, and yet we struggle to meet the needs of emergent bilinguals (ELs). This motivating session focuses on Spanish—speaking emergent bilinguals. The author of a popular book for teachers will teach you strategies. You’ll learn as easy as uno, dos, tres!

Distance And Its Effect On Betta Aggression, Sydnie Hanson

STAR Program Research Presentations

Betta Splendens are typically known to act very aggressive towards one another, especially between two males. These acts of aggression are shown through flaring of ones fins, chasing and striking opposing Bettas, biting, etc. This experiment shows how distance affects how aggressive male Bettas are with one another

The Impact Of Peer-Led Workshops In An Intermediate Algebra Course For Women, Minorities, And First-Generation College Students, Malika Ikramova

Publications and Research

The implementation of the Peer-Led Team Learning (PLTL) instructional model have shown to increase student pass rates and decrease failure and withdrawal rates in foundational mathematics courses. New York City College of Technology has implemented mandatory PLTL workshops in selected sections of MAT 1275: Intermediate Algebra and Trigonometry. Students spend an hour working collaboratively with their classmates guided by peer leader. Results from this study showed gender, ethnicity, and first-generation college student differences in their responses on the effectiveness of peer supported groups in this fundamental mathematics course.

Exploration Of The Lessons Learned By Students Attending Peer-Led Workshops, Fahmida Akhter

Publications and Research

The study is conducted with students attending an additional one-hour a week peer-led workshop associated with their Pre-Calculus class. The study focuses on the following research questions: Do peer-led workshops help students become better at problem solving? What are the lessons learned from peer-led workshops that can be useful and applicable in future courses? Data will be collected through administrating surveys to the students in the peer-led workshop. The data will be organized, analyzed and presented at the poster session.

Chemistry Student Attitudes And Utilization Of Office Hours, Dieng Barbacar, Edgar Gomez, Andre Rodriguez

Publications and Research

While research has demonstrated that faculty-student interactions increase retention and graduation rates, faculty often report that their office hours are underutilized. To better understand students’ attitudes, usage and plans towards faculty hours a survey was administered in the second to third week of the fall 2018 semester to students in 5 sections of general chemistry courses. The goal was to better understand how students perceive the benefits and hindrances of office hours, along with current or planned attendance. Prior to survey administration, it was speculated that not attending office hours could be because they were not scheduled at a convenient …

Halloween House, Madison Flesch, Nick Bonde

Community Engagement Celebration Day

Since 2007, the Student Affiliates of the American Chemical Society at the University of Northern Iowa has organized a community outreach program called Halloween House. What started out as a one-room chemistry demonstration show 11 years ago, has now evolved into a huge event in collaboration with other STEM clubs on campus. The event brought in between 800-1000 community members, mainly elementary aged-students, last fall. The collaboration amongst different STEM clubs in physics, biology, earth science, and chemistry allows students to have an interdisciplinary experience, exploring all of the sciences and seeing how they all connect. The Halloween House activities …

Ccny Noyce Teacher Academy Highlights 2013-2018, Martin Rosenman

Open Educational Resources

Highlights of The CCNY NOYCE Fellows Teacher Academy 2013-2018.

Strategies For Improving Stem Education; Pathways To Institutional Transformation, Myles Boylan

Interdisciplinary STEM Teaching & Learning Conference (2012-2019) (Archived)

Presenter will provide

Student Knowledge Of Environmental Factors In The Dominican Republic, Nicole Sandretto

The Exposition

No abstract provided.

Effects Of Inquiry Based Learning On An Undergraduate Precalculus Course, Jessica Wilson

UNO Student Research and Creative Activity Fair

MATH 1340 has a history of high DFW rates. This is true not just at UNO but nationally as well. An Inquiry Based Learning (IBL) approach to teaching this course could be a possible solution. In the fall 2016 semester I assisted Dr. Matthews with a MATH 1340 course. This class focused on problem solving in groups with little lecture time and many student presentations. To compare our class to the traditionally taught precalculus class we gave a pretest and posttest to both sections. After performing a two sample t-test on the data we found that students in the IBL …

High-Altitude Ballooning In 3rd Grade, Emily L. Mathews, Brianna Marszalek, Bernhard Beck-Winchatz

2017 Academic High Altitude Conference

In this poster presentation we report on a high altitude balloon project conducted with third-graders from Gower West Elementary School in Willowbrook, IL in spring 2016. In the weeks before the launch students used a vacuum jar to investigate the effects of pressure changes on different objects, substances and sounds in the classroom and conducted pressure, temperature and wind measurements inside and outside of their school using Vernier probeware. To learn how to use the balloon tracking equipment and how to fill a balloon and prepare it for launch, students simulated a flight with a tethered balloon outside of their …

Raise Your Cards - A Look At Plickers In An Adult Learning Environment, Megan Taylor

SIDLIT Conference

At SIDLIT 2015, the session on the free Plickers polling system dazzled many of us. Members of the National Weather Service Training Center immediately began integrating this tool into their classes. In this session, we will review our successful integration of Plickers. We will also examine the results of using this technique with adult learners with a predominately introverted, scientific mindset. This session will also include information about what has and has not worked. Are you unfamiliar with Plickers? No worries, we will do a quick overview of this tool at the beginning of the presentation.

Engaging The General Public With High Altitude Ballooning, Kendra J. Sibbernsen

2017 Academic High Altitude Conference

The interest and excitement involved in performing a high altitude balloon (HAB) flight can be used to spark interest in science and engineering among members of the general public. High profile launches can highlight a ballooning program, recruit students, gain supporters, inspire children, and can disseminate scientific information to a broad range of citizens who might not otherwise have access. Using a recent HAB flight to commemorate the Grand Opening of the Do Space in Omaha, NE as an example, anecdotes and suggestions will be given on how to engage a large number of observers and how to effectively use …

The Southwest Minnesota Ballooning Collaboration, Paul Seifert, Ken Murphy

2017 Academic High Altitude Conference

Southwest Minnesota State University (SMSU) and Minnesota West Community and Technical College (MN West) are starting a collaboration project involving high-altitude ballooning. This partnership will bring together two different populations of students: those attending a four-year university and those at a two-year community college. The initial goals of the program are modest, involving several students from each institution to plan and conduct some simple flights with basic sensor packages as proof-of-concept. It is hoped the collaboration will strengthen ties between the two institutions and give STEM students a chance to participate in a hands-on technical project that will deepen their …

The Noyce Teacher Academy Reflections 2015-2016, Martin Rosenman

Open Educational Resources

Highlights of selected topics and activities by Noyce Teacher Academy fellows.

Retention Effects Of An Experiential Pedagogical Approach, Kelsea E. Adams

Senior Honors Projects

The quality and nature of delivery of education, especially at the K12 level is a major focus of the education reform movement. As an aspiring teacher, I am interested in developing a personal understanding of the efficacy of different modes of delivery. A large body of studies has examined the differences between experiential learning versus traditional classroom learning as well as effects on student retention. Traditional classroom learning involves literary texts, PowerPoint presentations and teacher-centered learning. In contrast, experiential learning is a hands-on, real world experience that provides students with an environment to expand their critical thinking skills and apply …

Stem Education Research: Useful Ideas For College Instructors Using Ballooning, Stacy A. Wenzel

2017 Academic High Altitude Conference

Stratospheric ballooning is a tool of enormous promise to help STEM college faculty foster highly engaged learning of science for a wide range of students at a wide range of institutions. High altitude ballooning offers a platform for investigating science and engineering across many fields. Ballooning has been used in courses and experiences for not just undergraduate science majors, but also all undergraduates—including future teachers who, in turn, are the key to improving K-12 science education. Technological advances are lowering the cost of and expertise levels required to make launches and analyze data.

Ballooning offers a context within which faculty …

Outreach To Science Faculty And Students Through Research Exhibitions, Tina Chan, Chris Hebblethwaite

Upstate New York Science Librarians Conference

Presentation describes bringing a display of student scholarship to Penfield Library at SUNY Oswego. Two science librarians approached faculty members regarding potential participation and then organized a showcase of science research inside the library. Having research posters displayed in a visible, central, and active location allows the broader campus community to view the latest research from students and faculty. Reaching out to science faculty reminds them that librarians can help with their library needs, and that the library is a place to highlight their and their students’ research.

Session E-1: Hiding In Plain Sight, Micah Fogel

Professional Learning Day

Were the plays of William Shakespeare really written by Francis Bacon, who left a coded signature in plain sight? Can spies send messages without using codes and without getting caught? Steganography is the art of hiding messages in plain sight but in a way so that only those in on the secret can find them. We'll learn a few tricks about how to hide messages in pieces of text or sound and image files on a computer.