Science and Mathematics Education Commons^™

How The Number Line Can Be Used To Promote Students' Understanding Of The Normal Distribution, Danri H. Delport

Numeracy

A strong foundation in early number concepts is crucial for students’ future success in statistics. Despite its importance in statistics, many first-year students struggle to comprehend the normal distribution due to a lack of basic number sense. Students get confused about the order and magnitude of negative z-scores on a standard normal curve or when problems about normally distributed random variables are presented in word questions which involve phrases that indicate inequalities. As a result, students shade wrong areas on the bell-shaped curve when they have to calculate probabilities for normally distributed variables. Visual representations such as the number …

Message From The President / 2.16.22, Evan M. Glazer

Message from the President

No abstract provided.

Development Of A Men’S Health Course For First-Year Undergraduates Using Culturally Responsive Teaching Strategies, Ania A. Majewska, Johnasha D. Stuart, Kelsey M. Gray, Pearl V. Ryder, Ethell Vereen

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Purpose

A novel first-year experience course was developed using culturally responsive teaching strategies at an undergraduate liberal arts college in the southeastern USA to promote health advocacy and to provide students with an overview of male health. The course focuses on the biological, sociocultural, economic and gender influences that shape men's health beliefs and practices. It also emphasizes health disparities in the USA among Black/African American men compared to other racial groups and intervention strategies to improve health outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

The lecture and laboratory components of the course were designed as a blended learning environment with a modified flipped class …

Message From The President / 2.2.22, Evan M. Glazer

Message from the President

No abstract provided.

Aviation Integration: Topics, Tech, & Career Connections For Enhancing Math Concepts, Kelly W. Remijan

Publications & Research

5th -12th grade teachers will: 1) discover how to incorporate aviation concepts, tech, & tools into math curriculum & 2) gain ideas, corresponding activities, & LOTS of resources to enhance the teaching & learning of math concepts. Aviation Topics: Forces of Flight, Time Zones, Drones, Satellite Imagery, GPS, CNC Programming... Math Concepts: Angles, Area, Coordinate Geometry, Intersecting Circles, Linear Functions, Shapes, ...

Playing With Math And Science In The Early Childhood Classroom, Cassandra Armstrong, Lindsey Herlehy

Publications & Research

Young students are equipped with the curiosity and creativity to be successful scientists and mathematicians. In today’s classrooms, strong foundational skills in STEM promote success for years to come. Through play, young students can subitize, sort, draw, recognize patterns, and explore loose parts. Participants will actively take part in several activities highlighting each of these skills.

Examination Of School Value-Added Growth By Student Population, Sarah C. Mckenzie, Josh B. Mcgee, Charlene A. Reid

Policy Briefs

In this brief, we assess the relationship between Arkansas’ school-level value-added content growth scores for student racial and programmatic groups. We find that on average, African American students receive lower growth scores than other student groups, and that African American elementary students demonstrated large drops in growth since COVID

Analysis Of Skills Sought By Employers Of Bachelors-Level Geoscientists, Gregory Shafer, Karen Viskuptic, Anne E. Egger

Geological Sciences Faculty Scholarship

Bachelors-level geoscientists make up the majority of the geoscience workforce, and positions for entry-level geoscientists are expected to grow rapidly over the next decade, with some jobs anticipating upward of 10% growth (National Center for O*NET Development, 2021). Are geoscience departments adequately preparing undergraduate students to succeed in these positions?

Learning From The Covid-19 Pandemic: How Faculty Experiences Can Prepare Us For Future System-Wide Disruption, Kathryn M. Bateman, Ellen Altermatt, Anne E. Egger, Ellen Iverson, Cathryn Manduca, Eric M. Riggs, Kristen St. John, Thomas F. Shipley

Geological Sciences Faculty Scholarship

The COVID-19 pandemic provided education researchers with a natural experiment: an opportunity to investigate the impacts of a system-wide, involuntary move to online teaching and to assess the characteristics of individuals who adapted more readily. To capture the impacts in real time, our team recruited college-level geoscience instructors through the National Association of Geoscience Teachers (NAGT) and American Geophysical Union (AGU) communities to participate in our study in the spring of 2020. Each weekday for three successive weeks, participants (n = 262) were asked to rate their experienced disruption in four domains: teaching, research, ability to communicate with their …

Talking Is Thinking: Supporting Student Sense-Making Through Discourse And Assessment, Whitney Jackson, Lauren A. Simpson, Brooke A. Whitworth

Publications

Learning in the classroom is highly influenced by the experiences a teacher plans for students. Concerned that students were not achieving adequate conceptual knowledge during traditional undergraduate physics courses, the authors used the Making Sense of SCIENCE curriculum to tailor a course for 21 pre-service elementary teachers at the University of Mississippi. The organization of instruction, facilitation practices, discussion opportunities, and assessment of content are all important aspects of the learning process. We found the changes we implemented significantly impacted the learning of students enrolled in this course.

Connections Between Atmospheric Blocking, General Circulation, And Weather Extremes In A Hierarchy Of Models And Various Climates, Veeshan Narinesingh

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

The field of geophysical fluid dynamics (GFD) includes the study of both the motion and thermodynamic aspects of the atmosphere. These properties are of particular importance because they directly influence both local and large-scale weather and climate and are associated with various phenomena. One phenomena that is particularly influential is atmospheric blocking. Atmospheric blocks are persistent, quasi-stationary anticyclones (a.k.a. high-pressure systems) that occur in the atmosphere and disrupt the flow. Blocks are known to induce heat extremes and cold spells, as well as steer storms and cause numerous types of hazards. Yet despite the hazards associated with blocks, our current …

How Female Stem Undergraduate Students Form Their Science Identity, Todd Martin Medovich

All Theses And Dissertations

This qualitative case study describes how female science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) students choose their undergraduate major, the obstacles they faced when making that choice, and how they overcome gender-based obstacles. These descriptions illuminate the manner in which they form their science identity.

There is a gender gap in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines (Viadero, 2009). This has been attributed to both biological and sociocultural causes. The biological basis for this disparity includes evidence of physiological differences between females and males, as well as the microaggressions and sexual harassment stemming from these differences (Bottia et al., 2015). …

An Urgent Plea For More Graduate Programs In Statistics Education, David Eli Drew, Sam Behseta, Cherie L. Ichinose

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

Lately, much has been written about the importance of amplifying statistics-related content in the K-12 curricula. This can be viewed in parallel or as an addendum to the existing mathematics curricula in the United States. Nevertheless, a key component of this debate is the lack of robust and cutting-edge academic programs in statistics education. In this piece, we emphasize the urgent need for investing in creating strong statistics education programs, which would significantly contribute to nurturing quantitative literacy as well as preparing a more informed citizenry in the 21^st century.

In Search Of Star Clusters: An Introduction To The K-Means Algorithm, Marcio Nascimento

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

This article is a gentle introduction to K-means, a mathematical technique of processing data for further classification. We begin with a brief historical introduction, where we find connections with Plato’s Timæus, von Linné’s binomial classification, and the star clustering concept of Mary Sommerville and collaborators. Artificial intelligence algorithms use K-means as a classification methodology to learn about data in a very accurate way, because it is a quantitative procedure based on similarities.

Teaching Preservice Teachers In The Time Of Covid: What’S Worth Keeping?, Kathy Liu Sun, Jennifer L. Ruef, Kathleen Jablon Stoehr, Madeline Ahearn

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

As we begin to transition from online instruction to in-person, we (four mathematics teacher educators) reflect on how COVID-19 impacted our instruction and address the question: what will we take back to in-person instruction? This article includes our individual reflections and an analytical synthesis of them. Findings reveal that there were unanticipated ways that human connection and consideration arose from teaching online, much of which we want to maintain in some form when returning to brick and mortar classrooms. We conclude by highlighting the value and importance of reflection for our own well-being.

Middle School Students Generating Mathematical Problems From A Real-Life Situation, David Coffland, Ying Xie

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

In this study, we examined the effect of different presentation formats of a realistic situation on students’ mathematical problem-posing behavior. We divided thirty-six middle school students into two groups, gave them a pretest, and then showed them a realistic, problem-posing situation in Artifact or Video format. We used Silver’s core dimensions of creativity, namely fluency, flexibility, and originality, to measure participants’ problem-posing activity. The results for the fluency measures showed that the Artifact group wrote more questions than the Video group but the same number of mathematics problems. The Video group posed problems in more mathematical domains than the Artifact …

Plane Figurate Number Proofs Without Words Explained With Pattern Blocks, Gunhan Caglayan

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

This article focuses on an artistic interpretation of pattern block designs with primary focus on the connection between pattern blocks and plane figurate numbers. Through this interpretation, it tells the story behind a handful of proofs without words (PWWs) that are inspired by such pattern block designs.

Classroom Interaction In An Online Speaking Class, Rahma Vindyasari, Francisca Maria Ivone, Primardiana Hermilia Wijayati

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

The qualitative study aims to look into the patterns and characteristics of interaction in an online speaking course. This research was conducted at Sekolah Vokasi Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) Yogyakarta's Oral English for Daily Communication Class of the Applied English Study Program. The researcher observed the online learning sessions to learn about the online teaching and learning process synchronously on Google Meet. The findings revealed that the teacher and students produced various patterns of interaction involving teacher-class, teacher-student, student-teacher, studentstudent, and teacher-group interaction, as well as mixed interaction features such as confirmation check, code switching, self-repetition, clarification request, elicitation, completion, …

Secondary School Efl Teachers' Perceptions And Experiences Of Professional Development, Arif Rahman, Mirjam Anugerahwati, Sri Rachmajanti

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

Professional development (PD) is not just a short involvement but a long Abstract: Professional development (PD) is not just a short involvement but a long process starting from teacher training at university and going on throughout the working life of the individuals. This study assessed the perceptions and experiences of upper secondary school EFL teachers. A semi-structured interview was used to gather the data from five teachers from different schools. The findings revealed that teachers were aware of the significance and necessity of PD and saw it as a process that helped them to be more knowledgeable and experienced teachers. …

The Integration Of 6cs Of The 21st Century Education Into English Skills: Teachers’ Challenges And Solutions, Adani Shabrina, Utari Praba Astuti

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

In the 21st Century education, the 6 competencies are necessarily integrated into the classroom remembering the importance to complete students with better competencies. In line with the 6Cs integration, teachers’ challenges and solutions also need to be known. This study investigates English teachers’ challenges in integrating 6Cs of the 21st Century education into English integrated skills, and their solutions to cope with the challenges. This qualitative study elicited data from 20 English teachers through a questionnaire and an interview. The findings showed that students’ low motivation and poor vocabulary, time management, the difficulty in integrating some competencies and designing lesson …

The Effects Of Using Varanus Salvator Wildlife Monographs On Urban Students' Concept Understanding, Siti Roudlotul Hikamah, Suhadi Suhadi, Facthur Rochman, Nia Kurniawan, Ibrohim Ibrohim

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

This study aims to reveal the effects of using the wildlife monograph Varanus salvator on the conceptual understanding of urban students. This type of research is a quasi-experimental, one-group pre-test, and post-test design. The sample of this study was students at private universities in the Jember Regency, Indonesia who took the Vertebrate Zoology course in the even semester of the 2019/2020 academic year with total of 27 students. This research was conducted because of the findings from previous research that in private universities, books from the research results are still needed, especially those that discuss examples of wildlife species as …

Strengthening Discipline Character And Student Learning Outcomes Through Implementation Of Portfolio Assignments In E-Learning, Edy Herianto

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

Discipline character cannot be realized without continuous habituation. In portfolio assignment-based e-learning, students can practice habituation. If the habituation of discipline is continuously carried out through the portfolio lever, students will get a strengthening of the character of discipline and optimal learning outcomes. By using qualitative research type phenomenology on 42 students in the PIPPKn course, this research aims to answer how to implement e-learning based on portfolio assignments that have an impact on strengthening the character of discipline and student learning outcomes? Data were obtained through observations, interviews, questionnaires, and tests. Data analysis was carried out qualitatively with descriptive …

The Effect Of Prediction-Observation-Explanation (Poe) Method On Learning Of Image Formation By A Plane Mirror And Pre-Service Teachers’ Opinions, Gonca Harman, Nisa Yenikalayci

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

In this research, we examined the effect of the prediction-observation-explanation (POE) method on learning of image formation by a plane mirror and pre-service teachers’ opinions. Twenty pre-service science teachers studying at first grade in the Department of Science Education in Turkey participated in the research. We used a one group pretest–posttest design. In the teaching process, carried out in accordance with the POE method, the pre-service teachers made their own plane mirror by using glass and mirror-effect spray paint, and then analyzed the image of a cube by using these mirrors. We analyzed the data by using the SPSS software …

Sustainable Polymers: New 4-H Stem Curricula, Steven Worker, Jennifer Mccambridge, Anne Stevenson, Jane Fields, Alexa Maille, C L. Meehan, Amie Mondl, Charles Malone, Martin H. Smith

Journal of Extension

There are many environmental issues surrounding the global production and use of plastics. Three science curricula (Grades K-2, 3-5, and 6-8) were developed to introduce youth to the past, present, and future of plastics. Designed using research-based methods and grounded in effective science pedagogy, the curricula provide young people opportunities to explore viable alternatives to plastics and develop knowledge and skills necessary to help mitigate environmental impacts associated with the production, use and disposal of plastics. Evaluation results demonstrated that youth improved their understanding of polymers and intention to help reduce impacts of plastics on the environment.

Message From The President / 1.19.22, Evan M. Glazer

Message from the President

No abstract provided.

Covid-19: A Developing Crisis For Quantitative Reasoning, Nathan D. Grawe

Numeracy

Assessment data show substantial learning losses resulting from pandemic-era teaching and learning. While all learning domains have been affected, mathematics performance shows particularly large losses among elementary and secondary school students. Advocates for quantitative reasoning in high schools and colleges should anticipate weaker levels of basic numeracy among entering cohorts for a decade to come. As a consequence, the urgency to reform curricula and student support has never been greater.

Message From The President / 1.13.22, Evan M. Glazer

Message from the President

No abstract provided.

Navigating The “Covid Hangover” In Physiology Courses, Jennifer E. Schaefer

Biology Faculty Publications

Undergraduate educators and students must navigate lingering aftereffects of the COVID pandemic on education in the 2021–2022 academic year even as COVID continues to impact delivery of undergraduate science education. This article describes ongoing difficulties for undergraduate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) students and educators and suggests strategies and easy-to-use resources that may help educators navigate the “COVID hangover” and ongoing COVID-related disruptions.

Message From The President / 1.11.22, Evan M. Glazer

Message from the President

No abstract provided.

Emory-Tibet Science Initiative: Changes In Monastic Science Learning Motivation And Engagement During A Six-Year Curriculum, Kelsey M. Gray, Cindy Achat-Mendes, Ann Cale Kruger, Tashi Lhamo, Rinchen Wangyal, Gelek Gyatso, Carol M. Worthman

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Led by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the initiative taken by the Tibetan Buddhist monastic community to connect with western science and scientists presents a unique opportunity to understand the motivations and engagement behaviors that contribute to monastic science learning. In this study, we draw on quantitative data from two distinct surveys that track motivations and engagement behaviors related to science education among monastic students. The first survey was administered at one monastic university in 2018, and the second follow-up survey was completed by students at two monastic universities in 2019. These surveys assessed the reception of science education related …