Early teens face distinctive challenges. They are entering adolescence with new and more intense social and academic pressures. They are beginning to ask big questions and seek deeper meaning in all aspects of their lives--including what they're learning at school. Unfortunately, for many students at this unique developmental stage, classroom…

Integrating science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM) education has become an emphasis in many countries' K-12 curricula. Design-based learning is an instructional approach that allows students to learn STEAM in more integrated ways than the traditional method. Using design thinking as a pedagogical framework, design-based…

This study investigates the problem-solving strategies employed by ninth-grade students when addressing symbolic and real-world contextual problems involving trigonometric ratios. Conducted with 46 ninth-grade students from a Turkish public high school, this research employed a worksheet consisting of six problems aligned with the Turkish…

Non-formal learning settings like out-of-school labs provide students with insights into authentic learning situations. For example, in physics, students are engaged in experimenting as an authentic method. However, increasing the authenticity in experimentation can lead to overwhelming demands and hinder concept development and does not even need…

Productive struggle is a process in which students expend effort to grapple with perplexing problems and make sense of something that is not immediately apparent and beyond their current level of understanding and capacity. The experience encourages students to reflect on and restructure their existing knowledge toward a new understanding of…

One reason for the widespread use of the energy concept across the sciences is that energy analysis can be used to interpret the behavior of systems even if one does not know the particular mechanisms that underlie the observed behavior. By providing an approach to interpreting unfamiliar phenomena, energy provides a lens on phenomena that can set…

Acquiring mathematical literacy requires students to apply mathematics in various real-world contexts. However, mathematics classes often provide brief, content-focused descriptions of reality-based tasks and tasks that describe the situation as more complex, closer to reality, are still lacking. Students with different sociodemographic…

Background: With around 200,000 autistic students set to enter universities and the workforce in the next decade, inclusive programs are receiving increased attention to helping educational systems carefully integrate these students' needs. Moreover, educational programs recognize that problem-solving is critical for school success and optimal…

One of the points of science learning is to extend students' competence, counting problem-solving and analytical thinking. Conditions within the field appear that most students encounter trouble in fathoming relevant issues including the application of science concepts in real-world circumstances. This condition appears the require for compelling…

There is growing recognition of the value of the Arts in helping shape understandings and capabilities for life essential for meeting the challenges of the 21st century. Consequently, in Australia, the Arts are now mandated for all students from kindergarten to year 9. In the lower secondary setting, this has led to a high demand for educators…

The ability to apply mathematical knowledge to solve real-life problems is often considered one of the fundamental educational goals. However, more attention in mathematics education has been given to the development of abstract mathematical computations in symbolic form. The current investigation aims to disclose whether there are different…

Research in STEM education has focussed on integrated STEM projects that combine knowledge and skills across science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. These integrated STEM projects are typically designed by teachers or researchers addressing a limited range of topics that do not always cater well to the diversity of interest among…

An intelligent tutoring system (ITS, henceforth) is currently defined as a computer system that delivers personalized instruction to students by using computational techniques to evaluate the learner in a variety of ways, including (but not limited to) their prior knowledge, competency/skill levels, motivation, and affective states. ITSs are…

This study explores the integration of Design Thinking into the Key Stage 3 Design and Technology (D&T) curriculum at a school in North-West England, focusing on fostering 21st-Century Skills alongside subject-specific knowledge. The research draws on a multiple case study approach derived from the 'Solving Genuine Problems for Authentic Users…

Satellite laboratories, designed to ignite interest in technical and computer science topics, employ cross-age peer tutoring and physical computing platforms. Catering to students from 5th grade onwards, these laboratories are led by tutors from 9th grade onwards. Employing a design-based research approach, the project aims to comprehensively…