Science and Mathematics Education Commons^™

How Do Beliefs Come Into Play? An Examination Of The Influence Of Core Conceptions On Science Teachers’ Inquiry Lesson Plan Designs, Mehmet Fatih Dulger

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Teaching science through inquiry-based methodologies has been advocated by several governmental and professional organizations (National Research Council [NRC], 2000; NGSS Lead States, 2013); however, their use is not widespread. Why is this? What science teachers do in their classrooms is shaped by their beliefs, especially their beliefs about the nature of science, about the goals and purposes of school science and the goals of teaching science, and about the teaching and learning science. By critically examining these core conceptions and their influence on teacher lesson planning, this study aims to shed light on the role conceptions play when teachers design …

What Do General And Organic Chemistry Students Consider When Making Decisions About Acids And Bases? A Phenomenographic Study, Sarah Wood

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Chemistry students often struggle in organic chemistry courses. In fact, these courses are viewed by some as “weed-out” classes. There are many fundamental concepts covered in general chemistry that contribute to students’ ability to succeed in organic chemistry. One of those fundamental topics, and the focus of this study, is the topic of acids and bases. Acid–base topics are featured in both general and organic chemistry courses, and the interests of this study lie not only within the realm of organic chemistry but also general chemistry.

The purpose of this study was to determine both undergraduate general and organic chemistry …

Efficacy Of Professional Development Models In Dismantling Scientific Misconceptions, Tyler Hansen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Scientific misconceptions held by educators are both common and well documented. As science education becomes more and more important to students, it is evident that there is a need to not only identify scientific misconceptions held by teachers as a means of bettering the education of students, but also determine effective methods of deconstructing them. Although studies have indicated that professional development can assuage the prevalence of misconceptions held by teachers, there is a dearth in the literature of what makes these professional developments effective. Therefore, this study investigated which models of professional development are most effective in dismantling misconceptions …

Mathematicians’ Beliefs, Instruction, And Students’ Beliefs: How Related Are They?, Rachel Rupnow

Faculty Articles, Papers, and Other Scholarship

It is generally accepted that teachers’ beliefs impact their instructional choices, but characterizations of that relationship are limited in college settings. Furthermore, examinations of instructor beliefs, instruction, and student beliefs together in one setting are rarely described. Based on interviews with two Abstract Algebra instructors, classroom video from three units of instruction, and survey and interview data from students in the classes, this paper examines instructors’ stated beliefs, ways these beliefs manifested in their teaching, and students’ beliefs across the course. Both instructors made curricular choices clearly aligned with their stated views of the nature of mathematics, learning, and teaching. …

Engaging Students With Disabilities In Universally Designed Science Education, Latifa Sebti, Michelle L. Damiani

Journal of Science Education for Students with Disabilities

Increased student diversity in classrooms and the need for equitable STEM opportunities for all, creates an impetus for educators to establish inclusive and equitable environments and use teaching practices that facilitate meaningful learning for all students in science education. This article offers a three-part framework for combining inclusive philosophy, the science and engineering practices, and Universal Design for Learning. The article is intended to help teachers and teacher educators universally design science education to level the science learning field through access and equity for all students, including students with disabilities. We advocate for the use of four practices: creating an …

Barriers Teaching Environmental Justice Education, Jodi Devonshire

Dissertations

The idea of freedom in education has its roots in the social justice movements of the 1950s and 60s. Civil rights groups coalesced independently of other marginalized groups and movements of its time. While similar in nature, environmentalism and civil rights issues rarely crossed paths. As environmentalism made its way into science education and curriculum, social justice issues were restricted to historical perspectives in education. This research initially sought to create an understanding of purpose driven, social justice conscious, Environmental Education as it is related to marginalized learners and identify the barriers of creating and implementing culturally relevant environmental education …

The Relationship Between Number Of Instructional Minutes And Science And Mathematics Achievement In Elementary Schools, Gwendolyn Randolph

Dissertations

ABSTRACT

The Next Generation Science Standards and the Common Core Mathematics Standards were created to assist U.S.A. school districts in providing the rigorous instruction needed to equip all students for college and career readiness and citizenship. Many minority students in the U.S.A. specifically, those in disadvantaged communities are still showing deficits in mathematics and science. The relationship between the number of instructional minutes and science and mathematics achievement of fourth grade students on the Northwest Education Association (NWEA) assessment was explored. Research questions addressed the degree of mathematics and science integration in school programming, number of minutes allocated to science …

Peer-Led Team Learning In Mathematics: An Effort To Address Diversity And Inclusion Through Learning And Leadership, Janet Liou-Mark, Melanie L. Villatoro, Ariane Masuda, Malika Ikramova, Farjana Shati, Julia Rivera, Victor Lee

Publications and Research

The Peer-Led Team Learning (PLTL) model has shown to be an effective instructional method to support females, underrepresented minorities, and first-generation students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). The collaborative problem-solving setting, led by a peer leader, fosters learning that engages all the students. There are six critical components that are vital to the PLTL model: 1) The PLTL Workshop is integral to the course; 2) Faculty is actively involved; 3) Peer Leaders are well trained; 4) The PLTL Workshop modules are challenging; 5) PLTL workshops are allocated time and space; and 6) There is institutional support. City Tech …

Creating Communities Virtually: Educators Cross-Cultural And Multidisciplinary Reflections Of Covid-19, Alankrita Chhikara, Michael Lolkus

Journal of Multicultural Affairs

As a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic, personal relationships and professional communities were instantaneously transformed and thrust into virtual and hybrid settings. In light of these, amongst many, strains on people’s daily lives, teachers and teacher educators have worked tirelessly to provide equitable educational opportunities for their students. We highlight a multidisciplinary effort from curriculum studies and mathematics education to explore the similarities and differences between our personal experiences teaching during a pandemic without a manual or warning from our cross-cultural perspectives. To capture our unique personal experiences working with prospective teachers in multicultural- and social justice-focused courses, we …

High-Growth High Schools In Arkansas Based On Performance On The Act Aspire Examinations, Charlene A. Reid, Sarah C. Mckenzie

Arkansas Education Reports

This section highlights high schools across the state whose students demonstrated high growth on the Arkansas ACT Aspire exams. The ACT Aspire was administered to students in grades 3 through 10 in April 2021 in Math and ELA courses which include English, Writing, and Reading.

Each table in this section presents the Top 20 schools for the noted subject area and school level. In addition, these tables include the region in which the schools are located, the grades served at the school, the weighted achievement score, and the content growth score in that particular subject.

The level of the schools, …

Message From The President / 11.17.21, Evan M. Glazer

Message from the President

No abstract provided.

Insights From Two Decades Of P-12 Engineering Education Research, Cary I. Sneider, Mihir K. Ravel

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

The 21st century has seen a growing movement in the United States towards the adoption of engineering and technology as a complement to science education. Motivated by this shift, this article offers insights into engineering education for grades P-12, based on a landscape review of 263 empirical research studies spanning the two decades from January 2000 to June 2021. These insights are organized around three core themes: (1) students’ understandings, skills, and attitudes about engineering and technology; (2) effective methods of P-12 engineering education; and (3) benefits of P-12 engineering education. The insights are captured in the form of evidence-based …

An Investigation Examining The Closing Of The Achievement Gap In Louisiana With The Ngss, George Cage

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and its implications of being a curricular and pedagogical intervention in terms of narrowing the achievement gap in science education for Children of Color. In using the explanatory mixed methods design, standardized test data and one-on-one interviews were examined to assess the effectiveness and impact of the NGSS’ implementation in the state of Louisiana. This study utilized student performance results from the LEAP 2025 to conduct a statistical analysis that measured trends in performance by Children of Color, specifically Black students, before and after the implementation …

High-Growth Middle Schools In Arkansas Based On Performance On The Act Aspire Examinations, Charlene A. Reid, Sarah C. Mckenzie

Arkansas Education Reports

This section highlights middle schools across the state whose students demonstrated high growth on the Arkansas ACT Aspire exams. The ACT Aspire was administered to students in grades 3 through 10 in April 2021 in Math and ELA courses which include English, Writing, and Reading.

Each table in this section presents the Top 20 schools for the noted subject area and school level. In addition, these tables include the region in which the schools are located, the grades served at the school, the weighted achievement score, and the content growth score in that particular subject.

The level of the schools, …

Preservice Elementary Teachers’ Beliefs About The Role Of Definition In The Learning Of Mathematics, Dana C. Cox, Suzanne Harper, Jane M. Keiser

Journal of Educational Research and Innovation

Answering a call to emphasize the act of defining over the learning of definitions, we have shifted the content of a geometry course for preservice elementary teachers (PSETs) away from comparing and applying pre-written classification structures to classroom episodes centered on authoring definitions for special quadrilaterals. PSETs complete activities using geometry software, and collaboratively create definitions for specific quadrilaterals. In order to fully understand the potential of this curricular shift, we asked preservice elementary mathematics teachers’ to share their perceptions of the process of writing mathematical definitions. Data from participant reflections were analyzed for themes related to mathematical definition and …

High-Growth Elementary Schools In Arkansas Based On Performance On The Act Aspire Examinations, Charlene A. Reid, Sarah C. Mckenzie

Arkansas Education Reports

This section highlights elementary schools across the state whose students demonstrated high growth on the Arkansas ACT Aspire exams. The ACT Aspire was administered to students in grades 3 through 10 in April 2021 in Math and ELA courses which include English, Writing, and Reading.

Each table in this section presents the Top 20 schools for the noted subject area and school level. In addition, these tables include the region in which the schools are located, the grades served at the school, the weighted achievement score, and the content growth score in that particular subject.

The level of the schools, …

Message From The President / 11.3.21, Evan M. Glazer

Message from the President

No abstract provided.

Early Field Experiences For Stem Undergraduates : A Possible Pathway Into Teaching, Judith Quander, Timothy Redl

Journal of STEM Teacher Education

In this article, the authors describe an effort to recruit undergraduate STEM majors to secondary STEM teaching through engaging them in an early field experience by which the majors serve as peer advisors as part of a summer program for middle and high school students. The authors report on longitudinal data indicating that a fair number of peer advisors did go on to a career in teaching. Using qualitative data, the authors discuss how the participants reflect on opportunities for professional identity development as part of their experience in serving as peer advisors. Connections between these opportunities and participants' decisions …

Stem Major Perceptions And Persistence To Teacher Certification, Chrissy Cross Ph.D., Keith Hubbard, Dennis A. Gravatt, Lesa Beverly

Journal of STEM Teacher Education

In this qualitative research study, researchers from a rural regional university in Texas examined the perceptions of STEM teaching and persistence to STEM teacher certification in a group of STEM majors participating in a hybrid recruitment and early intense field experience. The findings from this study indicate that the hybrid recruitment and early field experience influences the desire of the STEM majors to persist to teacher certification and influences the accuracy of their perceptions regarding STEM teaching and general perceptions of teaching as a career.

Microcredentials To Promote Stem Professional Learning, Angela Rowley

Publications & Research

No abstract provided.

When 2+2 Is So Much More Than Four: Integrating Social Justice Into Advanced Mathematics Classes, Marti Shirley

Faculty Publications & Research

No abstract provided.

Engaging Students In Equitable Hands-On Assessments, Sowmya Anjur

Faculty Publications & Research

I have successfully replaced written assessments with more equitable and innovative hands-on projects such as heart modeling and creating graphic novels in my classroom, which help improve student engagement and stimulate their passion for learning.

Diverse Ways Of Assessing Students In Science, Sowmya Anjur

Faculty Publications & Research

No abstract provided.

Mapping E-Commerce Locally And Beyond: Citt K12 Special Investigation Project, Thomas O’Brien, Deanna Matsumoto

Mineta Transportation Institute

As all aspects of the American workplace become automated or digitally enhanced to some degree, K12 educators have an increasing responsibility to help their students acquire the technical skills necessary to organize and interpret information. Increasingly, this is done through Geographic Information Systems (GIS), especially in careers related to transportation and logistics. The Center for International Trade & Transportation (CITT) at CSU Long Beach has developed this K12 Special Investigation Project to introduce ArcGIS StoryMaps, an engaging, accessible and sophisticated web-based GIS application. The lessons center on e-commerce and its accompanying environmental and economic impact. Still, the activities can be …

Learning, Planning For, And Reflecting On Teaching Mathematics For Social Justice: A Case Study Investigation Of A High School Mathematics Methods Course, Queshonda J. Kudaisi

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

While much is known about learning to teach for social justice in other content areas, less is known about how mathematics education students learn to teach mathematics for social justice, specifically at the high school level. Hence, this mixed-methods convergent case study addresses this gap in the research literature by examining and describing the experiences of mathematics education students learning to teach mathematics for social justice within the context of a high school mathematics methods course at a large research university in the southeastern United States. The data sources accessed for this study include a survey measuring beliefs about teaching …

Proposing A Framework For Science Teachers’ Competencies Regarding Translanguaging In Multicultural Settings, Noushin Nouri, Alma D. Rodríguez, Maryam Saberi

Teaching and Learning Faculty Publications

The increasing cultural and linguistic diversity in today’s classrooms calls for science teachers to facilitate science learning for all students. Drawing from a sociocultural framework that values diverse students’ cultures and languages, a translanguaging pedagogy has been identified as one way to help linguistically diverse students develop science concepts. A meta-synthesis of studies exploring translanguaging pedagogy in science classrooms was conducted to create a framework for the competencies needed by science teachers to incorporate a translanguaging pedagogy in their instruction. The resulting framework consists of six competencies: (1) The teacher should know pedagogical methods on how to teach bilingual students, …

Is Conceptual Learning Based On Conceptual Change Text (Ctt) Effectively Applied To Pgsd Students' Science Classes?, Wati Sukmawati, Sri Lestari Handayani, Yeni Yeni

Jurnal Inovasi Pendidikan IPA

For Elementary School Teacher Education (PGSD) students, the introductory science concept course is part of the compulsory course. The understanding of PGSD students in basic science concepts will affect the quality of learning in the classroom. This research was conducted in odd semesters with 60 students who attended lectures on basic science concepts, and the sample selection was made randomly. To collect data on the effectiveness of the implementation of CCT, instruments used in the form of cognitive and clinical test questions have gone through validation and reliability tests. Students were divided into two groups in the study: the experimental …

A Study Of Interests And Science Process Skills, Retni Sulistiyoning Budiarti, Dwi Agus Kurniawan, Putri Ayu Rivani

Jurnal Inovasi Pendidikan IPA

This study aims to determine the differences and the relationship between interest and science process skills with 80 female students and 56 male students. This research uses quantitative methods so that this research is more systematic and objective. The sampling technique used in this study used simple random sampling. Analysis of the data used using hypotheses in the form of normality, linearity and homogeneity tests and assumption tests in the form of T test and correlation test. From the results of the T test and correlation test, it was found that there were differences and relationships between the sexes in …

Analisis Kedalaman Dan Keterkaitan Antar Konsep Pada Pembelajaran Ipa Di Masa Pandemi, Asita Al Mufida, Ari Widodo

Jurnal Inovasi Pendidikan IPA

Paper ini bertujuan untuk menunjukkan hasil analisis kedalaman dan keterkaitan antar konsep pada materi interaksi makhluk hidup dengan lingkungan dan materi pencemaran lingkungan yang disampaikan oleh guru kepada siswa SMP dalam pembelajaran jarak jauh. Guru yang menjadi subjek penelitian berjumlah tiga orang yang menggunakan media yang berbeda dalam menyampaikan materi. Guru pertama menggunakan kombinasi WhatsApp dan Google Classroom, Guru kedua menggunakan kombinasi WhatsApp dan Zoom, dan Guru ketiga menggunakan kombinasi WhatsApp dan E-learning sekolah. Penelitian dilakukan dengan menganalisis pembelajaran yang dilakukan oleh ketiga guru dan materi yang disampaikan, serta didukung dengan hasil wawancara dengan guru. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa, …

Meta-Analisis Pembelajaran Kooperatif Di Indonesia, Putri Utami, Kadir Kadir, Yanti Herlanti

Jurnal Inovasi Pendidikan IPA

Abstrak: Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis besar pengaruh penggunaan model pembelajaran kooperatif terhadap pembelajaran Biologi. Metode yang digunakan adalah meta-analisis yaitu analisis hasil-hasil penelitian yang telah dipublikasikan secara nasional yang berkaitan dengan penggunaan model pembelajaran kooperatif terhadap pembelajaran Biologi. Dari 70 jurnal mengenai pembelajaran kooperatif dianalisis lebih lanjut sebanyak lima belas jurnal nasional terakreditasi sinta 1 sampai 3 yang diterbitkan pada rentang tahun 2010-2019 pada jenjang SMP dan SMA, yang membahas penenelitian eksperimen penggunaan model pembelajaran kooperatif terhadap pembelajaran Biologi. Instrumen penulisan berupa lembar pengkodean yang merangkum data dan informasi jurnal. Berdasarkan analisis nilai pengaruh secara keseluruhan didapatkan nilai …