The 2011 "Vision & Change" report outlined several recommendations for transforming undergraduate biology education, sparking multiple pedagogical reform efforts. Among these was the Promoting Active Learning and Mentoring (PALM) network, an NSF-funded program that provided mentorship and training to instructors on implementing…

Inquiry-based instruction has played an important role in science education, and been recognized as a critical approach to improve students' scientific learning effectiveness. However, current research revealed that it is a challenge for teacher education programs to improve pre-service science teachers' inquiry-based instructional activity design…

Drawing upon the model for science teacher assessment literacy developed by [Abell, S. K., & Siegel, M. A. (2011). Assessment literacy: What science teachers need to know and be able to do. In "The professional knowledge base of science teaching" (pp. 205-221). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-3927-9_12], this study…

This study advances the understanding of providing effective professional development for elementary teachers in the field as the Pennsylvania STEELS standards require inquiry-based learning as a component of the science classroom. I sought out elementary teacher perceptions surrounding professional development as it pertained to their ability to…

Teachers' teaching practices are influenced by various factors, including the teacher's personal (e.g. beliefs, efficacy and attitudes) and school context (e.g. administrative and collegial support). However, the previous model did not consider the interactions between these factors simultaneously in effecting the teaching practices. Thus, an…

Teacher professional development (PD) is essential to continuously improve teaching skills, to adapt to diverse student needs, and to promote equity and inclusion. Only a few studies to date have synthesized how PD programs improve teachers' content knowledge and instructional quality, as well as students' academic performance. In this…

The enhancement of higher-order thinking skills (HOTS) can be achieved through the implementation of active learning models. The current study aimed to examine the efficacy of the Pj4CS (Integrated Project-Based and 4C-Scaffolding) learning model on pre-service biology teachers' HOTS. This study employed a quasi-experimental design. The…

Pre-service science teachers need to be aware of eco-literacy and biotechnology as they will teach science subjects to students from the perspectives of 21st-century skills. This study aimed to develop a web-based module on biotechnology and examine preservice science teachers' eco-literacy skills after using the developed module. The study used a…

A survey of 722 physics faculty conducted in 2008 found that many physics instructors had knowledge of research-based instructional strategies (RBISs), were interested in using more, but often discontinued use after trying. Considerable effort has been made during the decade following 2008 to develop and disseminate RBISs in physics as well as…

We examined an outdoor, experiential learning approach within a science methods course for nontraditional adult learners who are often career changers or individuals transitioning into teaching later in life. Through immersive, nature-based experiences, the course connected adult learners to science via direct engagement with the natural world. We…

The acceptance of Fourth Industrial Revolution technology for teaching and learning during the pandemic lockdown suggests that a significant portion of educational interactions will shift online shortly. However, the suitability of this technology for inquiry-based learning requires further investigation. This study aimed to assess the…

Although most teachers recognize the importance of taking investigative, open-ended approaches to students' learning experiences, implementing them in high school classes can be challenging for teachers. In this work, we analyzed data from multiple sources from a teaching Community of Practice (CoP) to investigate (a) barriers to taking an…

It is crucial for students with learning disabilities (SLDs) to possess psychological resilience in order to pursue their careers as entrepreneurial individuals. One of the areas where entrepreneurship skills are taught in middle school is in science courses. This shows the importance of teaching psychological resilience in science courses. On the…

This study aimed to investigate early childhood teacher candidates' perceptions of teaching Science and Technology in Society (STS) through a project-based interdisciplinary model. The model comprised activities like STS field trips, roleplay contests, documentary movie projects, classroom tasks, and group discussions, to foster an understanding…

The Next Generation Science Standards call for engineering design solutions using computer technologies, but many K-12 classrooms either do not have accessible technologies or the teacher pedagogical knowledge on how to effectively implement engineering design into the curriculum. Without access to computer or mobile technologies, teachers are…