Science and Mathematics Education Commons^™

Edutainment: Using Media And Video Instruction As Methods Of Disseminating Content In Science, Technology, Engineering And Mathematics (Stem) Instruction, William Robertson

Selected Works Temporary Series

Edutainment has recently been a major growing area of education, showing great promise to motivate students with relevant activities. The author is among a group of innovators who have developed cutting-edge fusions of popular culture and science, mathematics, engineering and technology (STEM) concepts to engage and to motivate middle school students, using vehicles such as skateboarding. The importance of using relevant and practical methods of instruction and curriculum delivery that build on student interests and increase enjoyment in the learning process is critical at the middle school level, especially in the STEM fields. The use of edutainment in this manner …

Edutainment: Using Media And Video Instruction As Methods Of Disseminating Content In Science, Technology, Engineering And Mathematics (Stem) Instruction, William Robertson

Departmental Papers (TE)

Edutainment has recently been a major growing area of education, showing great promise to motivate students with relevant activities. The author is among a group of innovators who have developed cutting-edge fusions of popular culture and science, mathematics, engineering and technology (STEM) concepts to engage and to motivate middle school students, using vehicles such as skateboarding.  The importance of using relevant and practical methods of instruction and curriculum delivery that build on student interests and increase enjoyment in the learning process is critical at the middle school level, especially in the STEM fields. The use of edutainment in this manner …

Journey To The End Of The Earth: Analyzing The Outcomes Of A Field-Based Research Program In Antarctica, William Robertson, Claudia Garcia

Selected Works Temporary Series

With the need to increase minority representation in science, specifically in polar science research, the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) developed an innovative field research experience entitled the International Polar Year- Research and Educational Opportunities in Antarctica for Minorities (IPY-ROAM). Supported by a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant, twenty-eight participants including undergraduate students, graduate students, teachers and university faculty completed a semester long online course and performed field research in Antarctica within the areas of aquatic ecology, terrestrial biology, physical science, ecotourism and education. The purpose of this article is to determine possible outcomes that individuals experienced through …

Preparing Teachers For Use Of Impact Activities: An Exploratory Study, Jeremy Lee Ramirez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The iMPaCT project team has developed three modules of activities that use programming on TI-83/84 calculators as a means to engage students to explore foundational concepts in Algebra I. The developers conducted a 3-day summer Professional Development Program (PDP) for teachers to become familiar with the objectives, pedagogy, assessments, and resources of the three modules of iMPaCT activities. I have collected and analyzed various forms of data such as videotapes of workshop sessions, teachers' written work and a pre-post assessment. The purpose of this study is to provide the program coordinators with information about the PDP for planning of future …

Connected Mathematics Learning And Gender Equity In Predominantly Latino/A High Schools: Case Of Spatial Reasoning, Raymond Falcon

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This study analyzed interventions used in improving the mathematics achievement in spatial reasoning tasks for females called connectedness. Gender achievement in mathematics has been a controversial topic because of the wide variance in research. Some research has found a difference between the genders in mathematics while others argue there is no difference in mathematical achievement. The Seven Clever Piece Tangrams were used in the mixed method study as the instrument of spatial reasoning tasks. Freshmen participants (N=719) from southwest high schools in a border town participated in one of two groups: control (n=247) and treatment (n=472). Of the participants, 379 …

Complexity Of Affective Disposition And Reflective Transphenomenality: An Exploratory Study Of Middle School Mathematics Teacher And Student Self-Positioning And Positioning-By-Others Toward Mathematics, Mathematics Teaching, And Learning, Ruby Lorilee Lynch-Arroyo

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The purpose of the mixed methods study was to examine the phenomenon of transphenomenal simultaneity between teacher and student disposition that contributed to the phenomenological conflict of teacher self-positioning and positioning-by-others toward mathematics, mathematics teaching and learning. The intent was to provide a view of self-reported and observed middle school teacher and student experiences in mathematics, based on the analysis of affective dispositional characteristics within the context of its complexity.

There is evidence that documents a relationship between teacher and student disposition, but to what extent and encompassing what characteristics and factors has not been sufficiently substantiated. Beyers (2011) identified …

Investigating The Validity Of A Survey Intended To Gauge Mathematics Problem-Solving Disposition Along The Impulsive-Analytic Dimension, Miguel Mendoza

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This study investigates the validity of the Likelihood-to-Act (LtA) survey developed to assess respondents' problem-solving disposition along the impulsive-analytic dimension. Sixteen pre-service teachers were strategically selected from a pool of 495 LtA survey respondents to participate in a semi-structured task-based interview approximately one hour in length. The interview consisted of three main parts: a problem solving section, a consistency section, and a classification section.

* Part 1 of the interview was developed to get interviewees to solve five open-response problems meant to elicit an impulsive response. Interviewees were also asked to verbalize their thought process in order for the researchers …

Journey To The End Of The Earth: Analyzing The Outcomes Of A Field-Based Research Program In Antarctica, William Robertson, Claudia Garcia

Departmental Papers (TE)

With the need to increase minority representation in science, specifically in polar science research, the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) developed an innovative field research experience entitled the International Polar Year- Research and Educational Opportunities in Antarctica for Minorities (IPY-ROAM). Supported by a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant, twenty-eight participants including undergraduate students, graduate students, teachers and university faculty completed a semester long online course and performed field research in Antarctica within the areas of aquatic ecology, terrestrial biology, physical science, ecotourism and education. The purpose of this article is to determine possible outcomes that individuals experienced through …

The Mathematics Of Skateboarding: A Relevant Application Of The 5es Of Constructivism, William Robertson

Selected Works Temporary Series

lives is a challenge for educators. As part of a weeklong mathematics summer enrichment program held in the summer of 2010 at a southern university in the United States (US), eighty-five high school students participated in a unique set of activities designed to integrate mathematics concepts and skateboarding. Project leaders used a constructivist framework to design student-centered experiences implemented in the outdoor setting of a local skatepark and in campus classrooms. The activities designed for students in “The Mathematics of Skateboarding” demonstrated innovative and creative ways to engage students in content and skills mapped to state requirements for high school …

The Mathematics Of Skateboarding: A Relevant Application Of The 5es Of Constructivism, William Robertson

Departmental Papers (TE)

lives is a challenge for educators. As part of a weeklong mathematics summer enrichment program held in the summer of 2010 at a southern university in the United States (US), eighty-five high school students participated in a unique set of activities designed to integrate mathematics concepts and skateboarding. Project leaders used a constructivist framework to design student-centered experiences implemented in the outdoor setting of a local skatepark and in campus classrooms. The activities designed for students in “The Mathematics of Skateboarding” demonstrated innovative and creative ways to engage students in content and skills mapped to state requirements for high school …

Assessing Impulsive-Analytic Disposition: The Likelihood-To-Act Survey And Other Instruments, Kien Lim, Amy Wagler

Selected Works Temporary Series

The likelihood-to-act (LtA) survey is a 32-item instrument that measures impulsive and analytic dispositions in solving math problems. In this research report, we compare it to other instruments related to the impulsive-analytic construct such as Frederick’s Cognitive Reflection Test (CRT) and the Barratt Impulsive Scale in terms of mean scores, Cronbach alpha values, and correlation values. Both LtA-Impulsive and LtA-Analytic subscales have acceptable reliabilities of 0.79 and 0.83 respectively. The LtA-Analytic and LtA-Difference (analytic-impulsive difference) correlated well with other the Need for Cognition subscale and CRT scores. The correlations involving LtA-Impulsive subscale were unexpected and call for further investigation.

Impulsive-Analytic Disposition In Mathematical Problem Solving: A Survey And A Mathematics Test, Kien Lim, Amy Wagler

Selected Works Temporary Series

The Likelihood-to-Act (LtA) survey and a mathematics test were used in this study to assess students’ impulsive-analytic disposition in the context of mathematical problem solving. The results obtained from these two instruments were compared to those obtained using two widely-used scales: Need for Cognition (NFC) and Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS). The exhibited correlations of the LtA scores with the NFC, BIS, and a math test provide evidence of the criterion validity of the analytic LtA items, and suggests further revision of the impulsive LtA items to improve the overall measurement validity of the LtA scale. Students LtA scores were found …

The Hammer-And-Nail Phenomenon In Mathematics Education, Kien Lim

Selected Works Temporary Series

"For a person with a hammer, everything looks like a nail" is a proverb that can be used to highlight the phenomenon that students tend to rely on familiar ideas as opposed to taking time to think about and analyse a problem. Presented in this theoretical paper is the usefulness of the hammer-and-nail metaphor, other related theoretical constructs, pedagogical causes of student impulsive behaviours, and pedagogical suggestions for addressing them.

Mathematics And Science Integrated Instruction: With The Emphasis On The Types Of Mathematical Knowledge, Barbie A. Avila

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Internationally, American students continue to lag behind other countries in mathematics and science academic achievement. This is especially alarming due to the multi-faceted approaches taken in these areas by researchers and politicians, as well as the requisite schooling required by the American education system. The idea of integrating both content areas in order to enhance and deepen student understanding of each subject is a useful tactic in order to achieve the goal of improved mathematics and science academic achievement by American students. The emphasis should be on what the students will be doing to learn these content areas, so that …

Qualitative Analysis Of The Usage By Spanish-Speaking English Language Learners Of Resources For Learning Probability, Berenice Salazar

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

English language learners are a rapidly growing population in the United States colleges and schools. There have been research studies about accommodations and resources for Spanish-speaking English language learners in subjects such as reading, writing, and mathematics, but little has been researched on introductory statistics courses. Introductory statistics courses are challenging to students because aside of handling words that have lexical ambiguity, students also go into the classroom having misconceptions. Some of the misconceptions of probability occur because the students do not have prior knowledge of the mathematical rules of probability and other misconceptions of probability are psychological. The purpose …

Confirmation And Investigation Of Higher Science Curiosity In Juarez Middle School Students Compared To Their Peers In El Paso, Texas, Karla Carmona Miranda

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

In the last 20 years attitudes towards science and science classes in K-12 education have been an important topic of investigation due to the decreasing number of students choosing Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) related careers, and the increasing need for STEM prepared workers to cover the job demands of the future. The purpose of this study is to confirm a previously measured difference in scientific curiosity between middle school students in El Paso and in Ciudad Juarez, and to collect additional data that might tell us what the possible factors or reasons for this difference are. Our sample …

Integrating Mathematical Modeling For Undergraduate Pre-Service Science Education Learning And Instruction In The Middle School Classroom, William Robertson, David Carrejo

Selected Works Temporary Series

El Paso is a bicultural, bilingual community with a 76.6% Hispanic population. Combining El Paso’s population with that of its sister city, Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, our community is the largest metropolitan area on any international border in the world. Students at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) are mostly female, and 50% of the total student population is made up of first-generation college students. These demographics are accompanied by low socioeconomic and educational factors: 23.6% of local families live below the poverty level, compared to 12.5% nationally; 32.9% of 25-year-olds have not graduated from high school; 19% of …

Integrating Mathematical Modeling For Undergraduate Pre-Service Science Education Learning And Instruction In The Middle School Classroom, William Robertson, David Carrejo

Departmental Papers (TE)

El Paso is a bicultural, bilingual community with a 76.6% Hispanic population. Combining El Paso’s population with that of its sister city, Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, our community is the largest metropolitan area on any international border in the world. Students at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) are mostly female, and 50% of the total student population is made up of first-generation college students. These demographics are accompanied by low socioeconomic and educational factors: 23.6% of local families live below the poverty level, compared to 12.5% nationally; 32.9% of 25-year-olds have not graduated from high school; 19% of …

Impulsive-Analytic Disposition: Instrument Pilot Testing, Kien Lim, Osvaldo Morera

Selected Works Temporary Series

The likelihood-to-act (LtA) survey measures impulsive and analytic dispositions in solving mathematics problems. The current version has 16 impulsive and 16 analytic items. Its validity was assessed using a sample of 27 in-service and 92 pre-service teachers. Both the impulsive and analytic subscales were found to have internal consistency reliability, but they were not correlated with one another. The impulsive subscale was predictive of correctness in classifying the LtA items. The analytic subscale was predictive of how well a participant would perform in Part 2 of a math test after taking Part 1 and being warned that some items could …

Planting The Seeds Of Computational Thinking: An Introduction To Programminsuitable For Inclusion In Stem Curriculag, Eric Freudenthal, Art Duval, Sarah Hug, Alexandria Ogrey, Kien Lim, Catherine Tabor, Rebeca Gonzalez, Alan Siegel

Selected Works Temporary Series

Inadequate math preparation discourages many capable students – especially those from traditionally underrepresented groups – from pursuing or succeeding in STEM academic programs. iMPaCT is a family of―"Media Propelled" courses and course enrichment activities that introduce students to―"Computational Thinking." iMPaCT integrates exploration of math and programmed computation by engaging students in the design and modification of tiny programs that render raster graphics and simulate familiar kinematics. Through these exercises, students gain experience and confidence with foundational math concepts necessary for success in STEM studies, and an understanding of programmed computation.

This paper presents early results from our formal evaluation of …

Planting The Seeds Of Computational Thinking: An Introduction To Programminsuitable For Inclusion In Stem Curriculag, Eric Freudenthal, Art Duval, Sarah Hug, Alexandria Ogrey, Kien Lim, Catherine Tabor

Departmental Papers (Math)

Inadequate math preparation discourages many capable students – especially those from traditionally underrepresented groups – from pursuing or succeeding in STEM academic programs. iMPaCT is a family of―"Media Propelled" courses and course enrichment activities that introduce students to―"Computational Thinking." iMPaCT integrates exploration of math and programmed computation by engaging students in the design and modification of tiny programs that render raster graphics and simulate familiar kinematics. Through these exercises, students gain experience and confidence with foundational math concepts necessary for success in STEM studies, and an understanding of programmed computation. This paper presents early results from our formal evaluation of …

Metaphors, Metonymies, Modes And Linear Algebra, Persis Samanta Beaven

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The analysis focused on the presence of different thinking modes, metonymies, and metaphors found on the interview responses to questions related to linear independence, span, and spanning sets of four students taking their first linear algebra course at the college level. The findings provide insight of how first year linear algebra students move from one thinking mode to another and what kind of metonymies and metaphors are used to construct new knowledge. The main purpose of this research was to document and determine the main characteristics that categorize the four students' reasoning.

Computational Fluid Analysis Of G-12 Parachute, Jesus Lucio Valles

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The main focus is on the Computational fluid interaction of the effect of parachutes in use on stresses and forces in the material. Constant research is being done to understand how air behaves when it interacts with parachutes. Due to the high turbulence and chaotic air behavioral, it is difficult to predict the behavior of the parachute. The stresses and pressure measurements are nearly impossible to take when in actual use. By simulating such problem in a computer software major advancement is made. The measurements are now taken and the behavior of the parachute is obtained. Rather than having to …

Inferring Impulsive-Analytic Disposition From Written Responses, Kien Lim, Miguel Mendoza

Selected Works Temporary Series

Impulsive disposition refers to one’s proclivity to spontaneously proceed with an action that comes to mind without checking its relevance. Analytic disposition refers to one’s proclivity to analyze a problem situation and establishes a goal to guide one’s actions. An instrument, called the likelihood-to-act survey, was developed to measure students’ impulsive-analytic disposition. In this study, we sought to test and refine this instrument by analyzing 92 participants’ written responses to open-ended questions that were adapted from items in the likelihood-to-act survey. We found relatively strong correlations between participants’ disposition scores for written responses and those from the likelihood-to-act survey.

Continuing Discussion Of Mathematical Habits Of Mind, Annie Selden, Kien Lim

Selected Works Temporary Series

The idea of “mathematical habits of mind” has been introduced to emphasize the need to help students think about mathematics “the way mathematicians do.” There seems to be considerable interest among mathematics educators and mathematicians in helping students develop mathematical habits of mind. The objectives of this working group are: (a) to continue the discussion of various views and aspects of mathematical habits of mind begun at PME-NA 31, (b) to explore avenues for research, (c) to encourage research collaborations, and (d) to interest doctoral students in this topic. In the Proceedings of PME-NA 31, we provided an overview of …

Inferring Impulsive-Analytic Disposition From Written Responses, Kien Lim, Miguel Mendoza

Departmental Papers (Math)

Impulsive disposition refers to one’s proclivity to spontaneously proceed with an action that comes to mind without checking its relevance. Analytic disposition refers to one’s proclivity to analyze a problem situation and establishes a goal to guide one’s actions. An instrument, called the likelihood-to-act survey, was developed to measure students’ impulsive-analytic disposition. In this study, we sought to test and refine this instrument by analyzing 92 participants’ written responses to open-ended questions that were adapted from items in the likelihood-to-act survey. We found relatively strong correlations between participants’ disposition scores for written responses and those from the likelihood-to-act survey.

Continuing Discussion Of Mathematical Habits Of Mind, Annie Selden, Kien Lim

Departmental Papers (Math)

The idea of “mathematical habits of mind” has been introduced to emphasize the need to help students think about mathematics “the way mathematicians do.” There seems to be considerable interest among mathematics educators and mathematicians in helping students develop mathematical habits of mind. The objectives of this working group are: (a) to continue the discussion of various views and aspects of mathematical habits of mind begun at PME-NA 31, (b) to explore avenues for research, (c) to encourage research collaborations, and (d) to interest doctoral students in this topic. In the Proceedings of PME-NA 31, we provided an overview of …

Project Stimmulis: Science Teachers Integrating Mathematical Modeling For Undergraduate Learning And Instruction In Schools, William Robertson, David Carrego

Selected Works Temporary Series

Computer-based mathematical modeling in Physics is a process of constructing models of concepts and the relationships between them in the scientific characteristics of work. In this manner, computer-based modeling integrates the interactions of natural phenomenon through the use of models, which provide structure for theories and a base for experimentation. Utilizing this method, scientists construct knowledge, and in like manner, students in science construct their understandings in significant ways, addressing their preconceptions and their knowledge of concepts in physics. Project STIMMULIS provides a mathematical modeling context for pre-service mathematics and science teachers’ conceptual and applied understanding of motion. Project STIMMULIS …

Project Stimmulis: Science Teachers Integrating Mathematical Modeling For Undergraduate Learning And Instruction In Schools, William Robertson, David Carrego

Departmental Papers (TE)

Computer-based mathematical modeling in Physics is a process of constructing models of concepts and the relationships between them in the scientific characteristics of work. In this manner, computer-based modeling integrates the interactions of natural phenomenon through the use of models, which provide structure for theories and a base for experimentation. Utilizing this method, scientists construct knowledge, and in like manner, students in science construct their understandings in significant ways, addressing their preconceptions and their knowledge of concepts in physics. Project STIMMULIS provides a mathematical modeling context for pre-service mathematics and science teachers’ conceptual and applied understanding of motion. Project STIMMULIS …

Dr. Skateboard’S Action Science: Increasing Science Knowledge And Skills For Middle School Teachers, William Robertson

Selected Works Temporary Series

Dr. Skateboard’s Action Science maps to the physical science Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills (TEKS) standards that all middle school students need to learn. Dr. Skateboard’s Action Science explores scientific concepts in a curriculum supplement that is designed to address both physical science content and process skills. The video instruction focuses on fundamental concepts found in the areas of motion, forces, Newton’s Laws of Motion, and simple machines. The use of familiar activities, situations and objects, such as skateboarding and bicycle motocross (BMX), around which students can explore and explain scientific concepts can be defined as action science. The main …