Science and Mathematics Education Commons^™

Nebraskamath Year 1 Report December 2009

NebraskaMATH Materials

NebraskaMATH Year 1 Report

Inside:

Primarily Math, Page 2

Nebraska Algebra & New Teacher Network, Page 3

The Efficacy Of The Use Of Inquiry Computer Simulation To Generate Understanding And A Positive Attitude Toward The Nature Of Science In Seventh Grade Students, Eleanor Maria Ruiz

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the use of two different modes of instruction, standardized versus computer simulation on the understanding of the nature of science and attitudes toward science in seventh grade students.

A Play On Touching, Lindsay Marie Hobbs-Rodriguez

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of the present study is to examine what type of mathematic program best teaches students with mental retardation how to compute basic addition facts. It was hypothesized that the Touch Math program would be used as a strategy more effectively and with greater speed by students with mental retardation when solving addition problems, than other non-Touch Math strategies. Participants include one child with the secondary diagnosis of mental retardation, as determined by her latest Individualized Education Plan (IEP).

Bridging The Gap Between Real World Polar Science And The Classroom, William Robertson, Vanessa Lougheed, Craig Tweedie, Aaron Velasco, Claudia Garcia

Selected Works Temporary Series

The International Polar Year - Research and Educational Opportunities in Antarctica for Minorities (IPY-ROAM) program was designed to increase minority participation in polar science by immersing participants in an academic program that included a trip to Antarctica. The IPY-ROAM program was focused on increasing the public understanding of the Polar Regions and stimulating a new interest in polar science. This effort was coordinated by faculty from the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) and was implemented to positively contribute to the intense, internationally coordinated IPY scientific campaign. Through a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF), a team of …

Dr. Skateboard’S Action Science: Transforming Science Education For Middle School Students, William Robertson

Selected Works Temporary Series

The main objective of this article is to describe an example of unique and creative classroom materials that are built around a real world interest of Middle School students. Dr. Skateboard’s Action Science is a curriculum supplement that integrates both skateboarding and BMX. As an example of transformative education, it is built around student interests with a direct link to specific science knowledge and skills that need to be learned. It incorporates a four part video series and twenty classroom activities for students and teachers to use in the classroom. The video and classroom materials focus on the physical science …

Skateboard: Ciencia De Acción De Doctor Skateboard: Educacion Transformativa En Física, William Robertson

Selected Works Temporary Series

This article, written in Spanish, describes a transformative process for teaching physics in the middle school science classroom through an analysis of the use of Dr. Skateboard’s Action Science. Additionally, the article attempts to bridge efforts in the US, specifically in El Paso, Texas to opportunities that exist in Spanish speaking countries, including Mexico and Chile. The provided abstracts, in Spanish and English, describe how “action science” can be used in presenting fundamental science concepts and that this approach can be expanded from Middle schools to high schools and universities. Action science is an active learning methodology for teaching physics …

That’S Not My Style: Myths About Learning And Teaching, Jerrid Kruse

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

The notion of “Learning styles” seems to be very popular these days in education. The idea that we all learn differently is intuitively appealing with the varied personalities, successes, and struggles of our students. However, the notion that each person learns differently is likely a myth (Olson, 2006; Feldon, 2005; Willingham, 2005). Students don't possess different learning styles; rather every student has unique prior knowledge, experiences, and developmental levels.

Keynote Address To The 2009 Designing An Effective Online Science Course Conference, Kristine M. Young

Vice President for Academic Services Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Online Support And Online Assessment For Teaching And Learning Chemistry, Claire M. Mcdonnell, Natasa Brouwer

Books/Book chapters

In this chapter, examples of innovative approaches that use educational technology to support active learning in chemistry lectures, tutorials and laboratory sessions are considered. The scope of the chapter is limited to blended learning. The strengths and weaknesses of e-learning are examined and the options available for online assessment using electronic tests and e-portfolios are discussed. In addition to the literature references provided in the chapter, several examples of good practice involving the implementation of information and communication technology for chemistry teaching in higher education are incorporated. A list of online resources for lecturers is also included.

Front Matter

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

No abstract provided.

Gully And Stream Bank Erosion In Three Pastures With Different Management In Southeast Iowa, George N. Zaimes, Richard C. Schultz, Mustafa Tufekcioglu

Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS

Gully and stream banks can be major sources of sediment and nutrients to surface waters, both major water quality problems in the United States. Sediment may also carry phosphorus to surface waters, the primary limiting nutrient causing eutrophication. Overgrazing can induce gully and stream bank erosion by reducing vegetation cover that weakens bank soil resistance to stream water flow. This study examines stream and gully bank erosion adjacent to continuous (CP), rotational (RP) and intensive rotational (IP) pastures, grazed by beef cattle in southeast Iowa. Stream and gully bank erosion were measured by: a) surveying the extent of the severely …

An Interdisciplinary Approach To Science Communication Education: A Case Study, Amy R. Pearce, Aldemaro Romero Jr., John B. Zibluk

Publications and Research

No abstract provided.

Earthwatch Expedition: Taking Research Experiences To The Classroom, Katherine J. Megivern

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

I participated in the Live from the Field Earthwatch Expedition - Mammals of Nova Scotia, through a fellowship awarded by Wells Fargo. During this experience I participated in research to study the abundance of mammals in Nova Scotia and determine the effect of climate change on natural systems. After this experience I developed an inquiry project for my students in which they study the populations of insects. The students develop their own questions, collect data and make sense of their research. By investigating populations, students are encouraged to see the wonderful biodiversity right in their backyard! This article Promotes National …

Confidence Wagering During Mathematics And Science Testing., Brady Jack, Chia-Ju Liu, Hoan-Lin Chiu, James Shymansky

Educator Preparation & Leadership Faculty Works

No abstract provided.

Nebraska Summary: S695 Agco Rt155a, Nebraska Tractor Test Lab

Nebraska Tractor Tests

ABOUT THE TEST REPORT AND USE OF THE DATA The test data contained in this report are a tabulation of the results of a series of tests. Due to the restricted format of these pages, only a limited amount of data and not all of the tractor specifications are included. The full OECD report contains usually about 30 pages of data and specifications. The test data were obtained for each tractor under similar conditions and therefore, provide a means of comparison of performance based on a limited set of reported data. EXPLANATION OF THE TEST PROCEDURES Purpose The purpose of …

A Multicultural Comparison Of Engineering Students: Implications To Teaching And Learning, Zaki Shkair Seddigi, Luiz Fernando Capretz, David House

Electrical and Computer Engineering Publications

Problem statement: Personality considerations have become increasingly important in recent years, but studies involving the personality characteristics of engineers have been scarcely reported. Engineers today are expected to have a broader range of skills than in the recent past because users are now equally concerned with the technical as well as the personal services provided by engineers. Approach: A multicultural personality profile of engineering students had been presented in this study. The MBTI was used as an instrument to sort personality types of engineering students at both King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Saudi Arabia and University of …

Analysis Of Factors Influencing West Virginia Secondary Biology And Science Teacher Attrition Rates, Seth Perry

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

The high rate of attrition for beginning teachers has been blamed on many factors. Nationally these include low pay, urban versus rural school settings, age, with younger teachers leaving sooner, and other variables making a complex problem with no clear component responsible for the loss of teachers. This study examined the self reported variables that contribute to high school teachers in West Virginia leaving their profession. An electronic survey instrument was distributed to current secondary teachers across the state. Teachers were asked to respond to questions related to professional satisfaction, perceived value from students and parents, administrative support, content versus …

Test 1955 John Deere 5055e Diesel, Nebraska Tractor Test Lab

Nebraska Tractor Tests

ABOUT THE TEST REPORT AND USE OF THE DATA The test data contained in this report are a tabulation of the results of a series of tests. Due to the restricted format of these pages, only a limited amount of data and not all of the tractor specifications are included. The full OECD report contains usually about 30 pages of data and specifications. The test data were obtained for each tractor under similar conditions and therefore, provide a means of comparison of performance based on a limited set of reported data. EXPLANATION OF THE TEST PROCEDURES Purpose The purpose of …

Using Rubrics To Teach Science Writing, Paul E. Bennett Jr.

Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education: Archives

An often-stated goal of education in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) fields is to teach students to communicate like professionals. In the STEM fields, the single most important thing we can do to teach our students better communication skills is to teach them how to write a lab report. The reason a lab report is so important is not just because it is the end product of a research project, but because each section of a lab report has a particular function that often correlates with different types of communication that a STEM professional needs to use. For …

Rules And Insights: Connecting The Mathematical And Linguistic Abilities Of C.S. Lewis, Kim Regnier Jongerius

ACMS Journal 2008-2009

While most biographical works on C.S. Lewis give passing reference to Lewis' problems with elementary mathematics, few have made an attempt at diagnosing the difficulty or exploring its impact on his writing. A careful study of family correspondence, however, makes it clear that his learning difficulties were not with mathematics alone and suggests connections between attitudes toward and abilities in both mathematics and language. This paper will make these connections clear and will illustrate their ties to Lewis' effective mathematical references.

Working Toward A Third Space In The Teaching Of Elementary Mathematics, Ryan Flessner

Scholarship and Professional Work – Education

Building on work in the area of third space theory, this study documents one teacher’s efforts to create third spaces in an elementary mathematics classroom. In an attempt to link the worlds of theory and practice, I examine how the work of other theorists and researchers – inside and outside the field of education – can create new lenses for classroom practitioners. In addition, the article provides evidence that third spaces may be more difficult to realize than others have described. Rather than forcing a third space to emerge, what this study finds more important is creating an environment that …

K-5 Mathematics Specialists' Teaching And Learning About Fractions, J. W. Whitenack, A. J. Ellington

Journal of Mathematics and Science: Collaborative Explorations

This paper describes the fraction-based mathematical activities of two teachers who are part of 3 Mathematics Specialist preparation program. Their work with fractions is traced from two perspectives: 1) their interactions with students as they struggle with fraction concepts; and, 2) their personal journeys to develop deeper understandings of fractions as participants in the Rational Numbers course that is part of their degree program. Through their stories, we gain a better understanding of the complex nature of their work with students and how their participation in the Mathematics Specialist program helps support their work in the school buildings.

Mathematics Specialists Increasingly Appreciated And Sought, D. Blount, J. Singleton

Journal of Mathematics and Science: Collaborative Explorations

No abstract provided.

The Learning Of Numeracy And Literacy In South Australian Primary Schools: An Investigation Into The Performance Of Students And Schools In Numeracy And Literacy In Rural And Regional South Australia., Carol Aldous

Shannon Research Press

Success in science and mathematics is predicted on successful literacy and numeracy learning. Yet schools and communities across the country struggle to negotiate factors that both impede and facilitate such learning - particularly factors over which they have no control. Working with data more comprehensive than that used previously and applying statistical methods only recently developed, researchers from the South Australian hub of the National Centre for Science, Information and Communication Technology and Mathematics Education for Rural and Regional Australia (SiMERR-SA) seek answers to three basic questions. What factors influence performance in literacy and numeracy? Does living in a rural …

Why Charlie Darwin Matters More Than Ever: Introducing Students To Evolution And The Nature Of Science, Brian Ellis, Anne H. Weaver

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

In celebration of Charles Darwin's 200 Birthday and the 150 anniversary of the publication of his seminal work, On the Origin of Species, this is the first in a series of articles that highlight Darwin's relevance for teachers today and provide lesson plans to bring his work into your classroom. We begin with an introduction to Charles Darwin's life and work through storytelling, a first person monologue as a way to introduce students to several key concepts including the nature of science and a basic understanding of what lead Darwin to the concept of evolution.

Investigating Solutions Through Inquiry, Dana Frits, Chris Siguenza

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

In this article we discuss how many activities have valuable ideas, but important modifications must be made to make the activity more effective and mentally engaging. This article discusses the modification of a “cookbook” solubility lab into an inquiry activity, which increases student decisions and the promotion of higher-order thinking skills. We also address the critical role of the teacher in making the lesson effective. This article promotes National Science Education Standards A, B and G and Iowa Teaching Standards 2, 3, 4, and 6.

Learning Theories: Pillars Of Teacher Decision-Making, Jerrid Kruse

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

In the last issue, I articulated the argument that learning “styles” are not the most valuable way to understand learners. Yet, if learning “styles” do not sufficiently explain learning, how can we better conceptualize learning to inform our instruction?

Stepping Stones: How Variation Leads To Natural Selection, Anne H. Weaver, Brian Ellis

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

This is the second of a series of articles in celebration of Charles Darwin's 200 birthday and the 150 anniversary of the publication of his seminal work On the Origin of Species. In the article below we discuss ways to introduce students to variation and develop their understanding of Natural Selection.

Heating Up The Classroom: Exploring Relationships Between Temperature And Thermal Energy, Shannon Mclaughlin, Mahima Bajpai

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

Thermal energy, internal energy, temperature, and heat are words that carry very specific meanings. However, common usage and the lack of consistent usage from texts and teachers can interfere with students' abilities to develop a strong conceptual foundation of thermal energy (Westphal, 2003). Stiles (2006) suggests that using experiences to investigate relationships is an integral part of moving students from simple knowledge to deep understanding. Understanding, higher-order thinking skills, the ability to work and think collaboratively, effective communication skills, and the ability to make informed decisions are all important goals teachers should support through their instruction. Smith (1996), Freedman (1997), …

Divide & Conquer, Lauren Hackman, Audrey Pohlmann

Iowa Science Teachers Journal

This article presents a modified biology lab used to teach the cell cycle. Many traditional versions of the onion root tip lab are delivered in a “cookbook” format to review what students have already learned about the phases of the cell cycle. This modified version illustrates how the onion root tip lab can be much more meaningful when turned into an inquiry-based, exploratory activity to scaffold from a concrete experience to the more abstract process of cell division. This article promotes National Science Education Standards A, C, and G and Iowa Core Curriculum Standards 1, 2, and 5.