Science and Mathematics Education Commons^™

Low-Vision Students’ Experiences With And Suggestions To Improve Desktop Virtual Reality: A Qualitative Study, Tanveer Mansur Syed

Theses and Dissertations

Visually impaired students have faced challenges in the field of education, particularly in science education. Not surprisingly, the unemployment rate for working-age visually impaired people has been above 70%. This persists despite federal laws to support the education and employment of visually impaired people,

Virtual Reality (VR) technology has evolved for several decades. Its use has proliferated in areas that include education. Today, VR science lab simulations are presented as a cost-effective alternative to traditional science labs. Research shows these to be viable substitutes to traditional science labs without a significant drop in learning outcomes. However, this researcher was unable …

Science For All: Utilizing Native And Everyday Language To Increase Academic Performance And Student Engagement For High School English Language Learners, Lashanda K. Whitworth

Dissertations

In public high schools across the U.S. high stakes assessments are seen as a lever to facilitate high-quality education and to gauge student learning. English Language Learners are mainstreamed into content classes and despite having low English proficiency scores are expected to perform as well as English first students and are required to take district and state mandated biology assessments. At the research site, ELLs comprise 25% of students and consistently score below the other subgroups in biology. This quasi-experimental study tested whether using disaggregate instructional strategies—incorporating ELLs’ native and everyday language—increases learning gains, academic growth, and engagement in a …

Teaching Through A Cultural Lens: A Practitioner’S Self-Study On Fostering Science Engagement Among Latina/O And African American Middle School Students, Michelle R. Estrada-Quezada

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Latina/os and African American students are underrepresented in STEM fields and STEM majors. Participation in STEM related activities and course work dwindles over the course of K-16 schooling, a phenomenon known as the leaky pipeline. Culturally relevant teaching is one practice that has been found to increase engagement and academic success among underrepresented student populations. This research project aims to study the impact of culturally relevant science teaching on the teacher and the students through a semester-long self- study in an eighth-grade middle school classroom. Data sources included daily reflection journals, critical friend debrief sessions with an advisor, student pre- …

The Team In Steam: Integrating Disciplinary Practices Into Project-Based Experiences, Margaret L. Borden, Meghan Raftery, David Reese, Michelle Richter

The Transdisciplinary STEAM+ Journal

In recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on integrating science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM) education into the curriculum to enhance student engagement and prepare them for success in an evolving global society. Project-Based Learning (PBL) has emerged as a powerful pedagogical approach to address these goals, offering opportunities for rigorous, collaborative, and authentic learning experiences. Drawing from literature and practical examples, the article discusses the implementation of PBL in STEAM curriculum development, emphasizing the importance of authenticity, interdisciplinary collaboration, and real-world connections. Additionally, the article provides insights into the GRASP framework as a tool for infusing …

Learning With Ai: A Structured Approach To Student-Ai Collaboration, April Ursula Fox

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

The rapid integration of generative artificial intelligence (AI) into higher education has created an urgent need for instructional models that move beyond tool use toward intentional, pedagogically grounded practice. This study presents a structured assignment design that positions AI as a scaffolded collaborator within undergraduate educational psychology courses. Across a multi-part, semester-long sequence, students engage in concept explanation, self-directed inquiry, AI-supported knowledge construction, and reflective documentation of their learning process. Findings from recurring student artifacts indicate progressive gains in conceptual understanding, integration of research sources, and transfer of knowledge to personally meaningful contexts. Students demonstrate increased capacity for self-regulated learning …

The Prep‑Check Routine: How Students Prepare With Ai, Homa Soroudi-Terzian

UNLV Best Teaching Practices Expo

This poster presents a simple, repeatable Attempt & Audit routine that supports students in using AI as a learning partner rather than a shortcut. The Prep_Check structure guides students to attempt a problem on their own, ask AI for help on only one part, compare their work with the AI’s reasoning, and reflect on differences. This routine promotes metacognition, reduces anxiety, and helps students build confidence and independence in gateway math courses.

Teacher Candidates’ Reflective Practices Of Mathematics Curriculum From The Lens Of Universal Design For Learning, Weichen Zhao

Journal of Practitioner Research

The Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework encourages educators to proactively remove barriers in curriculum and instruction to increase accessibility for all learners. While UDL is often applied during lesson planning, it can also serve as a powerful tool for critically examining and revising existing mathematics curricula. Drawing on qualitative data from teacher candidates’ reflective journals and curriculum artifacts collected over two semesters, this study examines how guided reflection supported teacher candidates in identifying barriers, proposing inclusive adaptations, and deepening their understanding of equity-oriented mathematics instructional design. As a self-study grounded in participatory action research, the findings also informed the …

Exploring Researcher-Practitioner Authorship Collaboration In English, Foreign Language, And Mathematics Education, Rachel Cullen, Joseph Taylor, Matthew Laney, Mohamed Nouri

Journal of Practitioner Research

This study examined collaboration and bidirectional relationships between researchers and practitioners in the context of journal publications. Through exploration of research and practitioner journals in the areas of English, Foreign Languages, and Mathematics, we aimed to understand how authorship patterns and types of references illustrate the gap between research and practice. Findings indicate that collaboration between researchers and practitioners in the context of journal publications is minimal, and practitioner presence is scarce in research. The types of references included in publications are high quality regardless of authorship, but there is a problem of exposure that limits the research from reaching …

Program And Proceedings, The Nebraska Academy Of Sciences 1880–2026: 146th Anniversary Year, One Hundred-Thirty-Sixth Annual Meeting

Nebraska Academy of Sciences: Programs and Proceedings

Program and abstracts of the proceedings for the Nebraska Academy of Sciences 136th annual meeting, 2025

Sessions

Aeronautics and Space Science

Anthropology

Biological and Medical Sciences

Earth Sciences

Ecology, Sustainability, and Environmental Science

Physics and Engineering

General Poster Session

2026 Maiben Lecture: Shifting Extremes: Understanding Nebraska’s Changing Climate and Preparing for What Lies Ahead, Deborah Bathke

2026 Friends of Science Awards: Julie Shaffer and Irina Filina

2026 C. Bertrand and Marian Othmer Schultz Colleaguate Schoalrship Award: Piper Ryschon and Bryce Reeson

In Memoriam: Paul Royster

Hqcm And Strengthened Physics Content Curriculum: Effects On Preservice Teachers And Partnership Schools, Elizabeth Hallock, Veronica Stowe

Education Student Scholarship

In responding to Rhode Island’s 2019 legislative call for High Quality Curriculum Materials (HQCM), this study examines how the integration of HQCM and physics content- strengthened curriculum in a teacher preparation program helps develop preservice teachers’ Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK) and elementary students’ understandings of physics ideas. This project investigates a new practicum model in which preservice teachers first learn a mini-unit on electrical energy to deepen their content knowledge and then to adapt state-suggested HQCM and select appropriate pedagogies to design and implement science lessons that meet the high expectations. This study collects data to measure changes in preservice …

Explicit Instruction First Vs. Exploration First: Which Order Is More Beneficial In Science Teaching?, Haley Gould, Hanna Szyller

Education Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Reflective Refinement Through Iterative Model Building, Idris Solola, Hillary Swanson, Sarah Schwartz, Rida Munir, Jared B. Arnell, Ravi Sinha

Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences Student Research

While research has emphasized the role of classroom discourse, hands-on demonstrations, and carefully crafted prompts in eliciting and responding to students’ ideas, there’s a need to investigate how the systematic design of modeling instruction can serve as the structure that naturally supports responsive teaching. Drawing on the knowledge in pieces (KiP) epistemology and the concept of responsive teaching, we present an instructional approach called guided reflective refinement (GRR), which guides students to articulate and examine their thinking through building and evaluating models. We analyzed middle school students’ model drafts over a 7-day unit on conservation of energy to understand the …

Math In Melody: How Music Strikes A Chord With Memory And Learning, Aidan V. Waters

Honors Theses

As a result of personal curiosity, this thesis seeks to understand the current status of music integration within educational settings, discussing its importance and potential impact. By considering existing literature, it analyzes music’s effectiveness in K-12 education, particularly within the mathematics classroom. Based on the current body of research, the study identifies three key features of music integration: its effectiveness as an energizer, a memory tool, and a means of creating structure within the classroom. Building on these findings, a proposed ten-day, music-integrated Algebra I unit on functions is presented, applying the research in a variety of ways. The unit …

Development Of Bestari Eco-Environmental Learning Teaching Materials To Enhance Critical Thinking Skills Among Fifth-Grade Students On The Topic Of “My Earth”, Mayna Aryunita, Siti Mayang Sari, Mhd. Syafii

Jurnal Pendidikan Humaniora

This research aims to develop contextual teaching materials based on the "BESTARI" eco-environment framework to enhance the critical thinking skills of 5th-grade students on the topic "My Earth." Utilizing the Research and Development (R&D) method with the ADDIE model (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation), the study was conducted at SD Negeri 4 Aceh Tengah. Data collection involved expert validation, practicality questionnaires, and pretest-posttest instruments. Results indicate that the materials achieved a "Very Valid" status (90.6%) and "Very Practical" status (92.3%). Effectiveness tests demonstrated a significant improvement in critical thinking, with a student mastery rate of 88.7%. This study implies …

Emergent Storylines That Influence Positions And Mathematical Status In Collaborative Small-Group Proof Activity, Brittney M. Ellis, Tenchita Alzaga Elizondo

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

In this paper, we used positioning theory to examine storylines that emerged in students’ discourse as they collaborated on a proof construction task. We purposefully selected a case of group work from an inquiry-oriented introduction to proof course as prior analyses showed it was highly collaborative (Alzaga Elizondo, 2022), yet power dynamics seemed unbalanced. We hypothesized that positioning theory could provide a useful lens to interrogate such power dynamics. Through this analysis, we identified several implicit storylines that influenced the interaction related to the nature of proofs, the nature of mathematics, writing proofs, the role of an external authority, …

Imsaloquium 2026 Event Booklet, Student Inquiry And Research (Sir)

IMSAloquium Event Booklets

Cover designed by Joyce Symoniak.

Welcome to IMSAloquium, our annual, school-wide symposium for research and inquiry! This booklet contains abstracts for over 220 outstanding projects conducted by IMSA students in the 2025-26 academic year. The topics range from biomedical research to artificial intelligence, from history to the social sciences, and from business to entrepreneurship. Many of our students are working with off-campus mentors at world-renowned universities, research laboratories, and businesses. Others are working on-campus with IMSA’s own outstanding Faculty. The SIR and IN2 Teams would like to thank all of our mentors for their efforts. Our experiential programs would not …

David Berkowitz, Enzyme-Assisted Organic Synthesis & Nsf Officer, Mark A. Griep, David B. Berkowitz

Department of Chemistry: Faculty Interviews

Dr. Dave Berkowitz was born in Urbana, Illinois. He earned his bachelor's degree in chemistry from the University of Chicago, where he did undergraduate research. Next, he earned his doctorate from Harvard University. However, his advisor, Steve Benner, moved from Harvard to ETH Zurich, also called the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. Dave accompanied him to Zurich, where he completed his dissertation work. When Dave returned to the U.S., he did a postdoc with the legendary Samuel Danishefsky at Yale University. In 1991, he joined UNL as an assistant professor of chemistry and quickly rose through the ranks. Dave is …

Atp Architect - Development Of A Metabolism Boardgame, Selene J. Welch, Micah Burk, Brooklyn Gilchrist, Emma Haase, Timothy T. Jones

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Traditional metabolism instruction often leaves students struggling with pathway interconnectedness and metabolite flux. To foster systems thinking, we are developing an educational board game where students manipulate tokens to navigate physiological constraints and achieve target energy goals. Grounded in Design-Based Research (DBR), the game undergoes iterative refinement based on player feedback. The design utilizes constructivism by allowing students to "fail safely" and revise strategies in real-time, while leveraging embodied cognition to externalize abstract flux into the physical trading of resource tokens.

Humanizing Engineering For Preservice Elementary Teachers Through Sustainable Engineering Stories, Jeffrey D. Radloff, Madison M. Morris, Jacob Pleasants

Journal of Pre-College Engineering Education Research (J-PEER)

Meeting the goals of US K–12 science education reform requires that preservice elementary teachers (PSTs) understand engineering as a specialized discipline and a human endeavor that addresses real-world issues. Yet in their formal education, few PSTs receive opportunities to learn about the humanistic dimensions of engineering: engineers’ personal values and motivations, the sociocultural nature of engineering work, and the societal significance of engineering. Storytelling about engineering offers a practical way to give PSTs access to these ideas. This study examines the impacts of integrating storytelling about engineering in a science methods course for future elementary school teachers. Over a two-year …

Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Adaptive Learning Strategies Among Deaf Students In Inclusive Higher Education: A Thematic Analysis, Mayasari Manar, Murni Winarsih

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of learning adaptation strategies implemented by students with hearing impairments in the context of inclusive higher education. The study employs a qualitative approach using an open-ended survey design involving 15 students with hearing impairments who are currently enrolled in or have previously attended higher education institutions. Data were analyzed using a reflexive thematic analysis approach to identify thematic patterns related to perceptions of the effectiveness of the adaptation strategies employed. The findings indicate that the majority of respondents perceived the adaptation strategies they used as “fairly effective,” although not yet fully optimal. The …

Development Of Lkpd Based On Vba Powerpoint Assisted Discovery Learning Model To Improve Creative Thinking Ability And Learning Independence Of Grade Iv Elementary School Students, Neng Ira Sonia, Asep Ikin Sugandi, Masta Hutajulu

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

Pembelajaran di sekolah dasar masih menghadapi banyak masalah berupa rendahnya kemampuan berpikir kreatif dan kemandirian belajar siswa karena penggunaan LKPD yang belum sepenuhnya mendorong keterlibatan aktif siswa. Oleh karena itu, perlu dikembangkan bahan ajar yang inovatif dan kontekstual. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengembangkan Lembar Kerja Siswa (LKPD) menggunakan model pembelajaran Discovery Learning dengan bantuan PowerPoint VBA dan menguji kelayakan serta efektivitasnya dalam meningkatkan kemampuan berpikir kreatif dan kemandirian belajar siswa kelas IV sekolah dasar. Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah Penelitian dan Pengembangan dengan tahapan analisis, pengumpulan data, desain produk, validasi, uji coba terbatas, uji coba ekstensif, dan pengujian produk. Subjek …

Hispanic Students As Environmental Scientists: Culturally Sustaining Stem Pathways Through Raíces Y Ciencia, Uma Ganesan

Teaching and Learning Faculty Publications

This study examines how culturally and linguistically sustaining environmental STEM education (CLSE-STEM) fostered student agency and environmental consciousness among Hispanic/Latinx students in Rio Grande Valley border schools. Through qualitative analysis of the Raíces y Ciencia project's water quality investigations, the research explored how teachers integrated students' cultural and linguistic resources with environmental science learning. Data from conference panel presentations, educator surveys, and classroom artifacts revealed three key themes: linguistic border-crossing as scientific understanding pathways, connecting family knowledge to environmental justice advocacy, and positioning students as community researchers. Findings demonstrate that centering Hispanic students' cultural assets while addressing local water quality …

Energy Scaling And Frequency Ratios Of Particles And Constants, Alison Christina Menzmer, Donald Chakeres, Vola Andrianarijaona

Campus Research Month

We are exploring quantum aspects of various physical quantities (including Bohr radius, Rydberg constant, Planck time, and Hubble constant) and mass energies of elementary particles (including electron, neutron, and quarks). We express all physical units in an energy equivalence in Hertz, normalized to 1 Hz. Furthermore, the logarithms of these normalized energies are scaled by the logarithm of a chosen particle, which allows the generation of an Arrhenius plot exhibiting numerical structures. Our results presented in this poster show that the proton is a good candidate for an Arrhenius plot with partial fractions (1 + 1/n) and (1 - 1/n).

Development And Effectiveness Of Spatial Learning Module To Enhance The Students’ Spatial Reasoning, Mathematics Problem-Solving, And Higher-Order Thinking Skills, Rizky Oktaviana Eko Putri

Student Works (2020-2029)

The primary aim of this study is to develop a mathematics learning module that utilizes spatial reasoning as an intervention for learning, which is called the Spatial Learning- Integrated Mathematics (SLIM) learning module. The SLIM learning module is expected not only to enhance the quality of mathematics education but also to support students’ spatial reasoning, problem-solving abilities, and higher-order thinking skills (HOTS). This objective is based on the understanding that teachers, as learning designers, must ensure students achieve their educational goals. Teachers should offer various forms of innovative teaching, including learning modules, enabling students not only to reach their learning …

Development Of Problem-Based Teaching Modules On Linear Systems Of Equations And Inequalities To Improve Mathematical Problem-Solving Skills, Elsya Suharnita, Kartini Kartini, Sehatta Saragih

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

This study addresses the low mathematical problem-solving competency among Indonesian students, as evidenced by the PISA 2018 results that showed 71% failed to meet the minimum mathematical competency level. This study aims to develop a problem-based learning (PBL) module for systems of equations and inequalities content to improve Phase E students' mathematical problem-solving abilities. Using the ADDIE (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, Evaluation) model, this study involved expert validation, a small group trial with 12 students, and field implementation using a posttest-only control group design with 24 students in the experimental group and 25 students in the control group. The results …

Bibliometric Mapping Of Problem-Based Learning In Primary Science Education, Lintang Auliya Kurdiati

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

The field of Problem-Based Learning (PBL) in primary science education has expanded rapidly over the past decade, yet it remains fragmented and lacks full structural and intellectual coherence. Scholarly collaboration patterns, thematic evolution, and the interconnections among research topics are still insufficiently understood. This study employs a Systematic Literature Network Analysis (SLNA) approach, integrating a PRISMA-guided systematic literature review with bibliometric network analysis, to examine 146 peer-reviewed journal articles published between 2015 and 2025 and indexed in Scopus. VOSviewer and Biblioshiny were used to map co-authorship networks, keyword co-occurrence, citation linkages, and thematic clusters. The findings reveal increasing structural centralization …

Cognitive Conflict In Iconic Visual Representations: Comparing Conventional And Ai Approaches, Endrayana Putut Laksminto Emanuel, Herfa Maulina Dewi Soewardini, Radhitya Duta Pradana, Sikky El Walida

Jurnal Pendidikan Sains

Background of study: The rapid integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in higher education has transformed mathematical problem-solving practices, yet it introduces potential discrepancies in students’ visual understanding, particularly in geometric contexts, leading to commognitive conflicts in visual mediators. Aims and scope of paper: This study aims to analyze and compare the sources of commognitive conflict in iconic visual representations when students solve flat shape problems using conventional methods versus AI-assisted approaches. Methods: A qualitative design was employed involving 20 first-year mathematics education students divided into two groups (AI-assisted and conventional). Data were collected through students’ written work and semi-structured interviews …

Biosensors For Biomedicine, Drake O'Leary

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

This project investigated the use of engineered bacterial reporter systems to detect cellular stress responses associated with antibiotic activity. While constructs were successfully introduced and tested against known antibiotics, the reporter consistently produced a blue signal across conditions, limiting the ability to distinguish specific stress responses. This suggests issues such as leaky expression, insufficient regulatory control, or lack of specificity in the reporter design. Although results were inconclusive, this work highlights key challenges in developing reliable biosensors and provides a foundation for future optimization. Improving signal specificity and reducing background expression will be critical for enabling accurate characterization of antibiotic …

Asphalt Pavement Rejuvenation Investigated By Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Relaxometry, Catherine Skaggs

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

Asphalt is a relatively inexpensive material commonly used for road pavements; however, asphalt ages from exposure to oxygen and UV radiation, leading to loss of elasticity, which leads to cracks and potholes. To slow or reverse asphalt aging, pavement preservation treatments are in use. It’s unclear whether these treatments truly rejuvenate the pavement structure or merely offer a short-term benefit. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) relaxometry is an analytical technique that uses the recovery of excited nuclear magnetization as a parameter to gain insights into molecular environments. Recovery-time distributions gathered from asphalt materials show differences between regular and rejuvenated asphalt samples, …

A Design-Based Mixed-Method Study On Mathematical Fluency Interventions Implemented In A Midwestern School District, Shari Fox

Dissertations

The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to implement math fluency interventions with intention and fidelity to increase student math achievement. Recent studies have reported a decline in students' mathematics achievement scores, calling for an urgent redesign of instructional practices. Aligning with strategic organizational change, the scholar-practitioner designed math fluency activities to be implemented during math instructional time, embedding the strategies within the current curriculum, which lacked sufficient resources. The researcher then collected data from student reflections, end-of-unit assessments, and the beginning-of-year math diagnostic to design a specific implementation of math fluency activities that would help students increase their mathematical …