Science and Mathematics Education Commons^™

Exploring Factors That Contribute To Stem Transfer Student Sense Of Belonging, Brittney R. Gallant, Cate Pocitari

Student Research Symposium

There is an ongoing disconnect between the number of students who enter college intending to earn a STEM degree and the number of students who persist to degree, this is particularly true for transfer students. Sense of belonging has been named as a STEM persistence factor, yet how that belonging develops for transfer students is largely unknown. Here we used a mixed-methods design to explore the experiences of STEM transfer students at PSU (n=38). Participants completed a survey prior to participating in an interview. The survey and interviews explored their science identity, sense of belonging, and involvement in STEM-related activities. …

Interpersonal Experiential Learning And Cancer Research Training Designed To Enhance The Motivation Of Participating Interns Utilizing Self-Determination Theory: A Longitudinal Study With Photovoice Methodology, Alex Vazquez-Cortes, Dierdre Mckay, Connie Tran, Bridget Bugla, Tiffany Bui, Kaisa Holt, Anthony Phan, Clare Hansen, Amy Lin, Amanda Braley, Lisa Marriott Phd

Student Research Symposium

Historically, the underrepresentation of individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, disabled, and diverse racial/ethnic groups in STEM fields is prevalent. Equity in stem fields allows for different perspectives and knowledge backgrounds allows for the cognitive diversity needed to tackle complex research topics. The Knight Scholars Program (KSP) aims to support underrepresented and disadvantaged high school and undergraduate students pursuing a research career by teaching them the tools they need to succeed. Spanning over three summers, KSP utilized the Self-Determination Theory (SDT) of motivation to create an inclusive learning environment and to strengthen the high schoolers' motivation to pursue research careers focusing on …

Counting The Possibilities: New Numerals And New Opportunities, Ryan Fox

Faculty Scholarship Symposium

To support the teaching of a class, I investigated the Kaktovik or Inupiaq number system. What started as an exploration to enhance an education class activity turned into a fascinating addition to my research agenda. The proposed presentation will summarize already accepted work and look forward to new possibilities. My first scholarly work with these numbers had education majors connect their own understanding of mathematics to the addition and subtraction in the number system, challenging the students’ approaches to teaching elementary school children familiar algorithms. In another work, I presented approaches to multiplying these new numbers to local mathematics teachers. …

A Case Study Of The Design Of The Developmental Mathematics Corequisite Courses At Arkansas’ Public Two-Year Colleges, Jean Anne Swillum

Theses and Dissertations

Students determined to be underprepared for college-level mathematics would be enrolled in a sequence of developmental mathematics courses before taking their college-level mathematics course. Students who started in the lowest level of developmental mathematics had a twenty percent chance of completing their college-level mathematics credits (Bailey et al., 2010). Two innovative approaches were implemented to assist students with completing their college-level mathematics course. First, creating mathematics pathways courses aligned with student’s degree plans. Second, implementing developmental mathematics corequisite courses supporting the mathematics pathways courses. Thus, reducing the time it took an underprepared mathematics student to complete their college-level mathematics requirement. …

The Math Guidebook For Educators: Exploring Multiple Ways Students Interact With Math, Reilly Clark

Honors Program Theses and Projects

"93 percent of Americans indicate that they experience some level of math anxiety” (Blazer). The fear of math is a prevalent issue in today’s society and needs to be addressed. The goal of this project was to create an informative Math Guidebook for Educators of all grade levels and address multiple ways that students interact with math. The first part of the Guidebook, developed over the summer through the Adrian Tinsley Program for Undergraduate Research, focuses on the main topics of math anxiety, dyscalculia, and helpful accessibility tools, researched through an extensive literature review. The second part of the Guidebook …

Open Resources For Biology Education (Orbe): A Resource Collection, Sanah Ahmed, Tiffany Adjei-Opong, Ashley B. Heim, Keenan Noyes, Kelly Schmid, Brian A. Couch, Mackenzie R. Stetzer, Lillian G. Senn, Erin Vinson, Michelle K. Smith, Kira Treibergs

School of Biological Sciences: Faculty Publications

In undergraduate life sciences education, open educational resources (OERs) increase accessibility and retention for students, reduce costs, and save instructors time and effort. Despite increasing awareness and utilization of these resources, OERs are not centrally located, and many undergraduate instructors describe challenges in locating relevant materials for use in their classes. To address this challenge, we have designed a resource collection (referred to as Open Resources for Biology Education, ORBE) with 89 unique resources that are primarily relevant to undergraduate life sciences education. To identify the resources in ORBE, we asked undergraduate life sciences instructors to list what OERs they …

Virtual Pair Programming And Online Oral Exams: Effects On Social Interaction, Performance, And Academic Integrity In A Remote Computer Programming Course, M. V. Lubarda, A. M. Phan, C. Schurgers, N. Delson, M. Ghazinejad, S. Baghdadchi, M. Minnes, Minju Kim, C. Pilegard, J. Relaford-Doyle, C. L. Sandoval, H. Qi

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Background and context

Pair programming and oral exams were deployed in tandem in a remote undergraduate computer programming course to promote social interaction and enhance learning.

Objectives

We investigate their impact on social interactions, sense of connection, academic performance, and academic integrity within a virtual learning environment, and explore the dynamics of student collaboration in the context of voluntary pair programming.

Method

Students’ coding activities, pairing preferences, and performance were survey responses were recorded and analyized.

Findings

First and second year students were more likely to participate in virtual pair programming than their more senior classmates. Willingness to pair program …

Using Student Interests To Explore Inclusion In Undergraduate Chemistry, Sonja Hoversten

CSB and SJU Distinguished Thesis

For students who are not chemistry majors, but who are on a career track requiring four chemistry courses, taking the final reactivity chemistry course (CHEM 251) for pre-health students can be daunting. For this reason, this research is focused on the CHEM 251 course at The College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University (CSBSJU) which is one of the four required chemistry courses for pre-medicine and some pre-physician assistant students, and all chemistry and biochemistry majors. Student perception of inclusion in the course increased through the implementation of group assignments including prompts for individual application of the material. The …

Improving Standardized Test Scores, Spatial Ability, And Interest In Math With The Introduction Of 3d Printers Into High School Math Classes, Charles Moore

Dissertations

Mathematics education faces significant challenges with declining ACT scores, national math proficiency rates, and a prevalent dislike for the subject among high school students. Spatial thinking ability, crucial for success in STEM fields, intersects with mathematical comprehension, suggesting a potential avenue for improvement. This study addresses these challenges by integrating 3D printing technology into secondary mathematics instruction. Employing a quasi-experimental quantitative research design, the study evaluates the impact of 3D printers on ACT math scores, spatial abilities, and attitudes toward mathematics. Results from ANOVA tests indicate marginal increases in spatial test scores and positive shifts in students' interest, self-confidence, and …

Key Benefits Of Small Group Instruction For Diverse Learners, Lydia Mcevoy

Master's Theses

Utilizing a mixed method approach this research study investigated the effects of small group instruction on the learning of diverse learners. Informed by a preliminary literature review that supports the use of small-group instruction, the researcher conducted a small-scale action research project to focus on three diverse learners in a 1st-grade classroom over four weeks. One of the findings of this project shows that small group instruction helps promote social and emotional skills as students feel more comfortable interacting with peers in a small group rather than in a whole group. Another finding indicates that students feel more encouraged by …

Exploring The Influence Of Integrating Soft Skills Training Into The Undergraduate Stem Curriculum On The Stem Identity Of Students, Candace King

Dissertations

One of the major issues that STEM graduates face is overcoming Imposter Syndrome, and there is a consensus amongst STEM graduates and job recruiters that the current higher education system is missing some elements that could better prepare students for a successful STEM career. A solution to this issue results from recent research on the importance of “soft skills.” In general, “soft skills” or non-technical skills, include communication, critical thinking, and self-motivation. These skills complement “hard skills,” or technical skills, such as skills needed for performing laboratory experiments, like pipetting and Western blotting. The lack of soft skills among recent …

Understanding Perspectives Of Power In A College Mathematics Classroom, Laura Seeberger

Honors College Theses

Power is embedded in teacher and student actions within mathematics classrooms, whether that power is known or not. Incorporating equity and inclusiveness requires a deeper understanding of this power behind actions. In this study, we developed and administered a three part survey questioning college faculty and college students how they perceive power related to common actions within a college mathematics classroom. For example, participants were asked whether a college math teacher assigning homework increased, decreased, or did both to the teacher’s power; then whether this action increased, decreased, or did both to a student’s power. Analysis of 16 faculty and …

Reconnecting With Nature One Classroom At A Time, Bianca Apuzzo

Senior Honors Projects

Environmental science is more important to today’s society than it has ever been, and developing basic ecoliteracy is the easiest way we can work towards a more sustainable future. Ecoliteracy allows us to connect deeper to nature and provides us with the information needed to protect and restore our beautiful planet. We are rolling downhill, picking up speed as we go, through a silent mass extinction. The scariest part of it all: nobody seems to care.

In response to the lack of environmental education provided to today’s students, I have created a syllabus for a high school level science course …

Using Efficacious Content Area Literacy Practices To Support Student Improvement And Perception Of Self-Efficacy, Christine Mccabe

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis examines how students’ self-efficacy, confidence, and motivation change when students use content area literacy practices in math. This study was guided by the affective theories of Bandura, Maslow, and Guthrie & Wigfield. This study used qualitative research, focusing on collecting data through anecdotal evidence, student self-evaluation surveys, student journal responses, and a teacher research journal. Throughout the six week study, students participated in lessons focused on improving self-efficacy, confidence and motivation. Additionally, students learned to make connections between math and literacy through math literacy tasks, such as numberless word problems. Following the study, data was analyzed through triangulation …

Elementary Science Essential Elements Curriculum Map & Progress Monitoring With Evidence-Based Teaching Strategies, Tasha Jenkins

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

Little research has explored the field of science instruction tailored to students with significant disabilities. However, research studies have begun to emerge that suggest, with specific instructional strategies, these students can be successful in learning science curriculum. This project evaluated literature to find evidence-based instructional strategies for teaching science to students with significant cognitive disabilities. Six strategies were consistently found across multiple studies. The six strategies include (1) time delay, (2) systematic instruction, (3) multiple exemplar training, (4) task analysis, (5) graphic organizers, and (6) guided inquiry-based learning. These strategies were shared with a team of nine special education teachers …

Analyzing Diverse Student Experiences: The Intersection Of Equity, Inclusivity, And Biomedical Engineering Education Through A Clinical Observations And Needs Finding Course, Jacquelynn Horsey

Biomedical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

In the field of biomedical engineering, needs identification and solution development are an important element of the design process. In our undergraduate curriculum, a course was designed to allow clinical observation and provide an opportunity for students to learn about engineering design and engage with clinicians via completing rotations in medical facilities near our campus. While this type of course is not unique, evaluating its efficacy is not simple. Given the broad range of institutional resources available- such as proximity to a medical school, or residency programs- reporting the quality of such courses within the context of such available resources …

The Effectiveness Of Mind Maps As An Instructional Approach For Developing Critical-Thinking Skills And Dispositions: A Meta-Analysis, Carmen De Jesus

Doctoral Dissertations

Mind mapping is the most flexible visual learning and active instructional approach. It has many applications, such as brainstorming, taking notes, memorizing, and conceptualizing complex topics using associations between images and keywords, colors, and visuospatial characteristics. Students can elaborate mind maps individually and collaboratively, digitally or nondigitally. Teachers can also elaborate mind maps for studying purposes. This meta-analysis aims to investigate the effectiveness of mind mapping as an instructional approach for developing critical-thinking skills and dispositions. With 22 studies (20 of which are international) and 1,535 participants, all employing a quasi- experimental study design, this meta-analysis is a comprehensive exploration. …

Stronger Together: The Intersection Between Sandra Harding And Informal Science Education, Reyt Middleton

Honors Theses

Science literacy is an integral skill to knowledgeably navigate the modern world (Dawson, 2014). However, most science education within the Western world takes place in the settings of formal institutions, which rely on and recreate Western cultural assumptions and biases. In these socially Western institutions, non-Western or non-dominant cultural ways of thinking are systemically replaced with science as a way of knowing (Harding, 1991; Andreotti, 2015). This tendency towards assimilation establishes a barrier for entry, preventing underserved communities or non-dominant perspectives from developing the same science literacy allowed to culturally dominant groups (Harding, 1991; Dawson, 2014). One notable exception to …

How To Explain Allen-Manandhar’S Method To Beginner Mathematicians : A Convergence Analysis Of A Hybrid Method For Variable-Coefficient Boundary Value Problems, Rebecca Scariano

Honors Theses

In this project, analogies are employed to make complex math concepts approachable to beginners who may only have a basic understanding of calculus and linear algebra. Serving as the focal point of this project, Allen-Manandhar’s method solves an equation, known as an ordinary differential equation (ODE). The mentioned equation with its coefficients is comparable to a pie recipe with ingredients. With the outcome to a recipe seen as its solution, the solution to our pie recipe is a perfectly baked pie, as in without error. The chosen method for baking a pie then classifies as its baking approach that when …

A Compilation, Analysis, And Categorization Of 403 Atmospheric And Climate Science Misconceptions, Haeli Leighty

Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The National Association of Geoscience Teachers (NAGT) has listed the inaccessibility of research related to misconceptions in atmospheric and climate science as a Geoscience Education Research Grand Challenge (Cervato et al. 2018). This project was a direct response to this call for research and consisted of three distinct steps: 1) data gathering, which included reviewing the literature for relevant misconception data, 2) a qualitative analysis, which included compiling, organizing, and categorizing the data collected, and 3) a quantitative analysis, which included determining the prevalence of each misconception across topic categories, demographic categories, and over time. A total of 403 misconceptions …

Using The History Of Statistics To Teach Introductory Statistics, Melissa Hansen

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

While often taught in high school and required as part of a college degree, statistics classes are sometimes viewed by students as an obstacle rather than a support for their overall goals. One way to increase student engagement in a statistics course is to use the history of statistics. Within the literature review, the advantages to using the history of statistics are discussed as well as the more extensive research on using the history of mathematics in mathematics courses. Included are instructional strategies for using the context around the development of mathematical ideas in math classrooms which can be extended …

Investigating The Relationship Between Metacognition, Motivation, Self-Regulation Strategy Usage, And Physical Activity Participation, Kay Sharon Stanfield

Theses and Dissertations

There are numerous benefits associated with physical activity. Unfortunately, few people participate in enough daily activity to reap the rewards. Health professionals have explored ways to promote adherence to physical activity and healthy behavior. Evidence shows self-regulation to be a determinant of physical activity. This study investigated the relationship between self-regulation strategy usage and levels of physical activity participation. Additionally, the study examined how motivation (through the perspective of Self-Determination theory) impacts physical activity. Six behavior regulation styles correspond to the degree of motivation (from low to high) on the Self-Determination continuum. A comparison of behavior regulation styles to physical …

Concepts In Animal Parasitology: Master Bibliography, Sue Ann Gardner

Concepts in Animal Parasitology

Master bibliography for the open educational resource/open access textbook Concepts in Animal Parasitology, Scott L. Gardner and Sue Ann Gardner, editors, published by Zea Books, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States, 2024. This includes the references from literature cited and suggested supplemental reading.

Teachers' Experiences With Teaching For Social Justice In Tracked Middle School Mathematics Classes., Stephanie Jean White

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Tracking is a longstanding structure in K-12 mathematics that decades of research has shown to be inequitable. Despites calls to detrack mathematics classes, most U.S. schools retain tracking. Mathematics educators have attempted to implement teaching pedagogies such as Teaching for Social Justice (TSJ) that promote equity in all mathematics classrooms, including tracked classes. This research used the Learning to Teach for Social Justice Belief (LTSJ-B) Scale with middle school mathematics teachers who have taught in tracked classes to measure their levels of commitment to TSJ. This research also employed case study methodology with three teachers and cross-case analysis using TSJ …

Exploring The Impact Of Subject Placement On Exam Questions​, Briana M. Craig, Jeremy L. Hsu

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

Quizzes and exams are crucial elements of undergraduate biology courses; however, little research has been done exploring the importance of the phrasing used in the questions on these assessments. Question framing has the potential to impact student performance and sense of belonging greatly. In this study, we conducted an experiment where we created three versions of the exact same question except for the framing for the experimental scenarios. One version was written with self-referential framing using the term “you,” simulating the student conducting the experiment; another version used classmate-referential framing, placing one of their peers in the experiment; the third …

Leaders In Science Education Communities, Jennifer Bateman

All Dissertations

This three paper dissertation investigates the role of the District Science Coordinator (DSC). Due to the lack of research, District Science Coordinators (DSCs) are frequently misidentified as Science Teacher Leaders (STLs). It is important to establish a clear distinction between the roles. This first paper explores the salient similarities and differences between STLs and DSCs, while also attending to their individual roles, responsibilities, and professional support.

This second paper examines how a synchronous, online professional learning (PL) experience resulted in the creation of a community of practice (CoP) among two different groups of participating district science coordinators (DSCs) and how …

Lost In The Identification Process: Where Are Gifted Blacks And Other Minorities In Gifted And Talented Education?, Tiffany M. Chenier

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

The underrepresentation of African American and Hispanic students in gifted and talented (GT) education has persisted for decades, prompting a need for deeper investigation into the policies and procedures governing GT identification. The aim of this research was to investigate whether variations in practices for GT identification and the definition of giftedness, contribute to this underrepresentation. This qualitative case study used predetermined criteria outlined in the Texas State Plan for the Education of Gifted and Talented Students to examine the contents of each district’s GT identification plan available in electronic or downloadable form using document analysis. I also used …

Supporting The Creative Side Of Creative Coding: Helping Students Wield Code In The Pursuit Of Their Own Dreams, Gretchen K. Larsen

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

Creative coding has become more common in art and new media schools, however research describing how teachers navigate the unique challenges of teaching code as a creative medium is limited. This paper presents the details of a creative coding course designed to support the ‘creative’ side of creative coding. As a result of this research, I present a framework for supporting the ‘creative’ side of creative coding, which connects to arts-based education theories, modified for the creative code context. This paper asks—what helps students use creative coding as an artistic medium in the pursuit of their own questions and meaning? …

Addressing Climate Change Anomie In Teacher Education, Teresa Anne Fowler

Northwest Journal of Teacher Education

This research project sought to understand how preservice teachers explore their relationship with Science and confidence in teaching about climate change in Science education amid a culture of denial regarding the impact of the climate crisis. Using data from three cohorts of students in an elementary Science methods course, this paper shares the context of climate change acceptance in the province of Alberta, Canada, the fossil fuel economic hub of Canada, and how using Journell’s framework for controversial issues alongside a critical energy literacy framework using inquiry, supported preservice teachers to address their hesitancy in Science classrooms to engage with …

Intersections Between Science And Social Justice: A Conversation With Liza Finkel, Liza Finkel, Maika Yeigh

Northwest Journal of Teacher Education

In preparation for the special issue: Cascading Crises: Power, Equity and Liberation, the Editors of NWJTE sat down for a conversation with Dr. Liza Finkel, a Science Teacher Educator in the Graduate School of Education and Counseling at Lewis & Clark College. Dr. Finkel’s passions include science (especially geology), finding intersections between science and social justice and helping new teachers learn to include those connections in their teaching, knitting, cooking, birding, and reading mystery novels with women protagonists.