Science and Mathematics Education Commons^™

Elementary Science Teacher Self-Efficacy In The Context Of Ngss-Aligned Curriculum Enactment: An Explanatory Sequential Mixed Methods Study, Wesley P. Sliger

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

A confluence of circumstances in educational policy and teacher preparation have placed a low priority on elementary science teacher preparation. Historically, a lack of elementary science teachers’ subject matter knowledge and pedagogical knowledge has negatively impacted science teaching self-efficacy, which is linked to many teacher and student outcomes. Meanwhile, the past decade has ushered in the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and the modern era of reform-based science teaching. The emergence of self-proclaimed NGSS-aligned resources has outpaced academic examination regarding professional development (PD), curriculum implementation, and curriculum enactment. The purpose of this study was to use social cognitive theory to …

Breaking Boundaries: A Qualitative Exploration Of Scientific Motivation And Persistance From The Perspectives Of Arab Women Undergradute Students In Stem In The Us, Fadwa Hamad

Dissertations

There is a lack of information regarding the motivational experiences of Arab women undergraduate students in STEM fields in the US and the factors that contribute to their engagement and persistence in this field. This is because of their categorization as white on census documents, which renders them invisible. Research has shown that motivational beliefs are effective predictors of students' persistence especially for women from minority groups. Thus, it is important to understand the motivational experiences of Arab women students as part of the minority women in STEM in the US. Using an intersectionality framework, and a multi-component motivational model, …

A Scoping Review On The Experiences Of Queer And Trans Students In Stem, Elliot P. Tingey

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Efforts to increase diversity in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) are ongoing, but within these efforts queer and trans individuals are often left out. While initial data does suggest that queer and trans individuals are significantly absent from the STEM workforce, research into the causes of such underrepresentation is scattered. Given the importance of educational experiences in the pursuit of a STEM career, it is likely that these early experiences may play a role. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the current research on the experiences of queer and trans students in STEM educational spaces, what …

7th International Conference On Creative Mathematical Sciences Communication (Cmsc`24), Frances A. Rosamond

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

The 7th International Creative Mathematical Sciences Communication (CMSC) conference is scheduled for October 2024 in Trier, Germany. Initiated in Darwin, Australia in 2013, CMSC aims to explore novel methods of imparting computational thinking to diverse audiences including non-specialists, modern citizens, and children. Participants from around the world and from various and interdisciplinary disciplines such as science, education, dance, drama, and visual arts convene to exchange ideas, present experimental approaches, and collaborate on engaging children in the exploration of ongoing, unresolved research challenges.

The Value Of Adding Nothing: A Call For Reform-Oriented Polynomial Division, Jonathan Clark, Jeneva Clark

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

The call to implement reform practices in schools reflects the historical turn away from the behaviorist theory of learning in education. Yet the praxis of this turn remains a significant challenge, particularly within mathematics classrooms where procedural memorization is emphasized. In this article, we show one means of how to advance our pursuit of meaningful mathematics into polynomial division. Building on the literature for reform-based division methods, an alternative to the long division algorithm will be explored that relies solely on adding zero and fundamental algebraic principles.

Sociomathematical Norms And Automated Proof Checking In Mathematical Education: Reflections And Experiences, Merlin Carl

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

According to a widely held view, mathematical proofs are essentially (indications of) formal derivations, and thus in principle mechanically checkable (this view is defended, for example, by Azzouni [3]). This should in particular hold for the kind of simple proof exercises typically given to students of mathematics learning to write proofs. If that is so, then automated proof checking should be an attractive option for math education at the undergraduate level. An opposing view would be that mathematical proofs are social objects and that what constitutes a mathematical proof can thus not be separated from the social context in which …

Mathematical Anxiety In The Turkish Context: Mathematical Experiences Of High School Students, Vahap Yorgun, Serdal Mert

Journal of Humanistic Mathematics

Although a handful of studies have investigated the prevalence of math anx- iety among Turkish school children and its relationship with several variables like attitudes toward math, gender, self-efficacy, parental style, there is as of now no study focusing on development psychological interventions to cope with math anxiety. Most of the extant studies use quantitative approaches, but in order to develop intervention programs, researchers need to know how math anxiety develops, what kinds of personal variables or factors take place in this process, and what kind of emotional and cognitive reactions hold by students about math. Thus in our research, …

Teacher Outcomes Of An Intensive Stem-Focused Professional Learning Initiative: An Examination Of Their Beliefs, Practices, And Perceptions, Elizabeth L. Adams, Leanne R. Ketterlin-Geller, Caitlin T. Cox, Karen Pierce

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

The purpose of this paper is to describe teacher outcomes from participating in an intensive science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professional learning (PL) initiative for middle school science teachers in the United States. The initiative included intensive summer coursework and ongoing support (e.g., individual coaching, professional learning communities), and focused on enhancing teachers’ STEM instruction and their pedagogical content knowledge (PCK), with the ultimate goal of improving student outcomes.

In this mixed method study, we examine change across time in teachers’ beliefs, use of STEM instruction, and PCK. In general, we did not observe statistically significant change in teachers’ …

We Think, We Smell, We Remember: The Effect Of Smell On Memory For Chemistry Lab Learning, Michael A. Marino, Francine Wisnewski, Catherine Reilly, Andre Alexis

BCES: Faculty Presentations

The traditional five senses are the primary receptors of external stimuli for the brain. While tactile learning and visual observations are integral to the chemistry laboratory, olfaction is a sense that should be considered part of an educator's repertoire. Previous studies have discovered that our sense of smell plays a significant role in triggering memories. Moreover, specific scents like vanillin can prompt anamneses to recall previous experiences. A sample of 61 college students was employed for a three-week pretest-posttest control group experimental design. In the first week, participants conducted a chemical reaction to synthesize isoamyl acetate, the familiar and nontoxic …

The Influence Of Misconceptions On Pedagogical Choices Of Secondary Science Teachers: An Embedded Case Study, Tracey Beyer

Dissertations

This case study, using phenomenography within science disciplines, examines how educators' experiences with misconceptions affect teaching methods in high school physics, chemistry, and biology. Based on constructivist and interpretive theories it highlights that personal experiences shape learning and involve continuously reconstructing knowledge. The shared misconceptions of 13 educators across science disciplines reveal how those experiences influenced both their content knowledge and instructional practices. The findings indicate that educators who openly acknowledge and learn from their past experiences with misconceptions are better equipped to recognize and address gaps in understanding, an asset to furthering student learning. This research highlights the importance …

The Impacts Of Authentic Learning On Student Outcomes, Evan Sheppard, Cameron Conner

Dissertations

This dissertation explores the evolving American education system, emphasizing the role of authentic learning in bridging the gap between schooling and employment, especially in the context of the modern post-pandemic student. Authentic learning, characterized by hands-on activities and real-world applications, is posited as a solution to the skilled labor shortage impacting the economy. This study delves into the history and current practices of authentic learning, examining various programs and strategies implemented in educational settings. Utilizing a phenomenological approach, qualitative data was collected through interviews with recent high school graduates to assess the impact of authentic learning on their post-secondary trajectories. …

Students Bypass The Syllabus To Utilize Alternate Lms Locations For Assignment Deadlines, Savannah Lopez, Allison Pham, Jeremy L. Hsu, Patricia A. Halpin

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

The syllabus is a required document for all courses to provide students with course information, policies, and assignment deadlines. The goals of this study were to investigate students’ perception of the role of the syllabus, preferred location of assignment deadlines, and preferred style of receiving deadline notifications. Faculty (n = 14) and students (n = 324) from community colleges through professional schools were invited to participate and complete a survey. We used a mixed-method design of survey questions, and the results demonstrated that students defined a syllabus as both a contract and a learning tool and that it …

Demographic Study Of College Of Sciences At University Of Nevada, Las Vegas, Laura Seo, Nastasija Damjanovic, Angelica Amansec, Aika Dietz, Monika Neda

Spectra Undergraduate Research Journal

In the United States, STEM-related industries are among the fastest-growing. Our study examines the enrollment of students in the College of Sciences (CoS) and the demographics of the student bodies in both undergraduate and graduate programs from 2010 to 2021 at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Using the method of least squares, a polynomial fit model was used to find trends as well as to calculate enrollment predictions for the years 2025 and 2030. Our results demonstrate that, currently, the UNLV CoS is male dominant in the graduate program and female dominant in the undergraduate program. However, female …

Critical Scoping Review Of Critical Consciousness As A Framework For Precollege Engineering Education, Devon Riter, James Holly Jr.

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

Engineering’s promise to build a better world has been realized differently across the United States, often with lines of social identity determining who becomes an engineer, who benefits from engineering innovations, and who suffers devastating consequences. Many educational scholars have argued that engineering inequities are in part due to deep inequities in precollege engineering education, including the failure to enact pedagogies in which engineering educational spaces can help students recognize oppression and act toward liberation. In this critical scoping review we searched five databases to identify 72 relevant peer-reviewed articles for review. Our findings indicate that research on critical consciousness …

Safety In P–12 Engineering Courses Within The Southern United States, Tyler S. Love

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

Engineering education programs, especially at the P–12 level, pose inherent legal and ethical responsibilities pertaining to safety that cannot be ignored. Cultivating safer practices and habits during the design and hands-on development of engineering solutions starts well before students enter higher education engineering programs. P–12 engineering education programs play a critical role in enhancing safety awareness, developing safer habits, and improving safety culture, which has an influence on the safety practices that students carry with them into higher education programs and the workplace. This study analyzed the safety factors and accident occurrences reported by 305 P–12 engineering educators from the …

What Are The Odds? Integrated Stem And Student Conceptual Understanding Of Genetics Dihybrid Inheritance, Jessica Cooper

Dissertations

Integrated Science Technology Engineering Math (STEM) education allows students to build conceptual understanding by connecting material to other content areas and real-world contexts. Strong conceptual understanding allows students to move beyond factual recall and instead synthesize and transfer their knowledge to new applications. In high school biology, students need to develop a strong conceptual understanding of genetic inheritance in the context of dihybrid inheritance. This qualitative case study was designed to understand the influence of an integrated STEM approach on student conceptual understanding of genetic dihybrid inheritance. The situated STEM learning and conceptual change theoretical frameworks guided the research design …

The Effects Of A Mediated Field Experience Methods Course On Pre-Service Elementary Mathematics Teachers' Beliefs, Valorie L. Zonnefeld, Luralyn M. Helming

Faculty Work Comprehensive List

A mediated field experience (MFE) mathematics methods course increased both pre-service elementary teachers’ (PSTs) self-efficacy for teaching mathematics and mathematical dispositions. The semester-long MFE with significant, structured teaching experiences was conducted onsite at an elementary school. Quantitative, pre- and post-surveys of mathematics teaching efficacy revealed statistically significant increases over the semester. A qualitative analysis of PSTs as sophomores and seniors further explored and supported this increase in PSTs’ self efficacy for teaching mathematics. Qualitative data also revealed interesting changes in mathematical dispositions and a shift in PSTs from a self-as-student perspective to a self-as-teacher focus.

Cultivating Critical Statistical Literacy In The Classroom, Liza Bondurant, Stephanie Somersille

CoE Publications

Learn about an activity and resource from The New York Times that can be used to help learners cultivate critical statistical literacy.

Teaching Learning Newsletter Vol 4 Issue 1, Sastra Deemed To Be University

TLC Newsletter

No abstract provided.

The Role Of Apparatus In Problem-Solving And Model Construction And Contemplation, Maré E. Sutphen, Laura Ríos

Physics

Problem-solving serves a crucial role in learning physics, as it is required that students absorb laws, principles, and concepts and arrange their understanding in a structure accessible for application. Further, these arrangements necessarily include methods and strategies gained from past experience, required for the implementation of these structures. Although tedious, problem-solving requires not only the arrangement of knowledge, but the construction and contemplation of models of physical phenomena. Research shows that while amateur problem-solvers typically approach problems by stringing together equations, experts will first look at the larger picture of the physical phenomena at hand, and through a “series of …

Differentiated Instruction In Geometry Using Low Floor, High Ceiling Mathematical Tasks, Franklin R. Falculan, Maria Alva Q. Aberin

Mathematics Faculty Publications

This study investigated the effects of using Low Floor High Ceiling (LFHC) mathematical tasks on students’ conceptual understanding and procedural fluency in seventh-grade Geometry by closely examining pre-test and posttest results. Two intact classes composed of thirty-two grade 7 students in each class participated in the study. The control group was taught and had practice using conventional, algorithmic tasks while the experimental group was taught and had practice using LFHC mathematical tasks. Data analysis revealed that, as compared to students exposed to algorithmic problems, students exposed to LFHC activities were much more mathematically proficient in Geometry, at the very least …

Exploring The Intersection Of Visualization And Language Through Cognitive Restructuring, Dennis Lee Jarvis B. Ybañez, Lester Hao

Mathematics Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Student Perceptions Of Integrated Stem Education In A High School Geometry Class, Alyssa Noland

Dissertations

Integrated Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM) education provides students with opportunities to solve integrated real-world problems. Integrated STEM instruction aims to develop 21^st-century skills in students and promote interest in STEM subjects through authentic real-world tasks. Student perceptions can help educators and administrators to understand the benefits and constraints of integrated STEM instruction. This qualitative case study was designed to understand student perceptions of integrated STEM instruction and student perceptions of the value or applications of mathematics. The situated STEM learning and social constructivism theoretical frameworks guided the design of the lessons and methods of the study. High …

A Case Study Of Mathematical Instructional Leadership, Theresa Haack

Dissertations and Doctoral Documents, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2023–

This dissertation looks at the impact of instructional leadership in mathematics teaching on teachers at various stages in their careers. Using a case study methodology, the researcher explores the nuanced needs and effective strategies for beginning, mid-career, and established teachers. Peer instructional leaders provided data that involved a mix of qualitative methods, including surveys, interviews, and questionnaires, targeting five assistant principals selected randomly from diverse school environments. The study identifies common themes and differences in instructional approaches, highlighting how strategies vary and overlap across different career stages. Analysis gives insights into the practical application of leadership in educational settings, emphasizing …

How Do Preservice Teachers Learn To Teach Integrated Computational Thinking?: Evidence From Planning, Enactment, And Reflection, Rachael Dektor, Samuel Severance, Kip Téllez

Journal of Computer Science Integration

This study examines pre-service teachers’ (PSTs) beliefs and understandings about computational thinking (CT) integration and lesson implementation over time. Utilizing a design-based research approach, 3 PSTs led the co-design of integrated CT lessons with support from researchers and enacted these CT integrated lessons with K-5 students. All PSTs participated in a whole-group CT workshop and engaged in one-on-one lesson design sessions with a researcher. We utilized a grounded theory approach to qualitatively analyze pre-surveys, semi-structured interviews, and video data of three PSTs enacting their lessons. We found that PSTs’ initial beliefs about CT instruction – including the importance of it …

Post-Baccalaureate Research Experiences For Students At Two Hispanic-Serving Institutions (Experience), Dessaray Monique Gorbett, Benjamin C. Flores, Cristina Villalobos, Sara E. Rodriguez, Ariana (Ari) Arciero, Josef A. Sifuentes

School of Mathematical & Statistical Sciences Faculty Publications

This study examines the implementation of a one-year program that offered post-baccalaureate research experiences to a cohort of recent STEM graduates from two large Hispanic-serving institutions. Both institutions are collaborators in an NSF Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) grant, which is dedicated to enhancing the academic experience of historically underrepresented minorities. Applicants were either self-nominated or were nominated by faculty to participate in the post-baccalaureate program. Following an application process that included an interview, selected participants were matched to research faculty and committed to engage in a high-impact research project for at least one semester and for up …

Teacher Candidate Learning Of Interdisciplinary Controversial Issues: Linking Social Studies And Science In The Elementary School Curriculum, Brandon M. Butler, Stephen R. Burgin, Mark Diacopoulos, William Mcconnell

Open Educational Resources - Teaching and Learning

Teaching controversial issues poses challenges for teacher candidates, stemming from apprehensions about potential backlash and gaps in content and pedagogical knowledge. The prevailing emphasis on tested subjects such as mathematics and reading/writing in elementary school education often sidelines social studies and science, limiting opportunities for candidates to engage with these disciplines and their associated instructional strategies, including addressing controversial topics. Integrating social studies and science with other subject areas emerges as a viable approach to ensure comprehensive education. Teacher education coursework serves as a vital platform for exposing educators to interdisciplinary curriculum design and implementation. Such exposure prompts teacher candidates …

Supporting Elementary Engineering Instruction In Rural Contexts Through Online Professional Learning And Modest Supports, Rebekah J. Hammack, Julie Robinson, Tugba Boz, Min Jung Lee, Ryan G. Summers, Ashley Iveland, Martha Inouye, Meghan Macias, Maria Zaman, John Galisky, Natalie Johansen, Carolyn Ringstaff

Teaching, Leadership & Professional Practice Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Wip: A Novel Learning Log Application For Classifying Learning Events Using Bloom’S Taxonomy, Alex M. Phan, Jenna Metera, Sonia Fereidoona, Cham Yang, Minju Kim, Carolyn L. Sandoval, Phuong Truong

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Learning can be a daunting and challenging process, particularly in engineering. While cognitive models for learning such as Bloom's taxonomy have been developed since the 1950s and evidenced to be useful in designing engineering courses, these models are not commonly explicitly taught in classrooms to help students manage and regulate their own learning. In highly demanding curriculum such as engineering, ineffective strategies can lead to poor academic performance that cascades throughout a student’s academic career. Feedback from traditional examinations often do not provide personalized and actionable changes to study habits (i.e., with suboptimal scores, students may know they need to …

Board 125: Work In Progress: Faculty Experiences And Learning Through Oral-Assessment Implementation In Engineering Courses, Minju Kim, Carolyn L. Sandoval, Josephine Relaford-Doyle, Torus Washington Ii, Saharnaz Baghdadchi, Nathan Delson, Marko Lubarda, Alex M. Phan, Curt Schurgers, Huihui Qi

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

This WIP qualitative research paper explores faculty experiences with implementing oral exams in high-enrollment undergraduate engineering courses at a research university. With a primary goal to improve conceptual mastery, as well as a desire to ensure academic integrity in the sudden move to remote instruction at the height of the pandemic, a group of faculty in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and Electrical and Computer Engineering departments implemented oral assessments in their own engineering courses across several quarters. They formed a research group with educational developers in a teaching and learning center on campus, and investigated the impact of oral assessments …