Developing social competence of madrasa teachers is increasingly popular in the classroom, but of these teachers, mixed results (without clear reasons) are reported. This study aims to see if increasing the use of problem-based learning (PBL) by "madrasa aliyah" or senior high school teachers in Indonesia increases their social…

In an ethnographic study of one high school mathematics department made up of four African American teachers, I explored their co-construction of knowledge about teaching mathematics for social justice. This began with an in-depth study of each teacher's professional identity, their emotional connections to teaching in their local African American…

In this qualitative study, the researchers explored the ways in which 21st-century skills (specifically communication and critical thinking) are enhanced by Grade 10 beginner Physical Sciences teachers while teaching Particulate Nature of Matter (PNM) through the implementation of problem-based learning (PBL). The study was conducted in one of the…

Authentic pedagogy is a complex enterprise for students and teachers. Planning and developing the instructional procedures and scaffolds for student success is daunting. In addition, the teacher implementing the lesson makes dozens of quick decisions as they attend to student thinking and decide how to respond. These spontaneous decisions can have…

The concept of self-directedness is a missing link in South African science classrooms, and as a result, science teachers are often not self-directed in employing innovative teaching and learning strategies such as blended problem-based learning (BPBL) that might enhance self-directed learning. The literature is replete with studies showing that…

The integration of innovative learning models is essential for preparing vocational high school (VHS) students with 21st-century skills. This study aimed to explore the need for a Problem-Based Flipped Learning (PBFL) model with a Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM) approach tailored to the needs of vocational high school students.…

Problem-based learning (PBL) offers a powerful approach to engage students in meaningful learning experiences by connecting classroom content to real-world challenges. This Spotlight explores how PBL can be implemented across K-12 to foster critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving skills. From preparing students for the workforce…

The study reported in this article addresses the question of how professional development can increase teacher noticing of student thinking over time. The data come from five teachers' participation in a two-year professional development intervention that combined lesson study, video clubs, and animation discussions. The analysis focuses on…

For three weeks each June, the authors' PDS hosts a summer program called the Academy for Future Teachers (AFT), serving high school students interested in a teaching career. Partners across the PDS convene to support high-school AFT participants, including master teachers (P-12 teachers from local school districts and university faculty) and PDS…

This quantitative study examined factors underlying middle and high school teachers' choices about whether to use problem-based learning (PBL). Survey items measured respondents' perceived competence, autonomy, and relatedness, and the value and costs they placed on implementing PBL. Teachers who have taught with PBL (n = 126) had significantly…

Manu Prakash, the developer of the foldscope microscope reported on in this paper, stated that it is important to use tools that can support open-ended inquiry in the classroom, without dumbing down those tools. Scientific equipment in the school laboratory is often very expensive and only available to those who can afford it. "Frugal…

Supporters of project-based learning (PBL) argue that outcomes from the model include better performance in academic (Bell, 2010; Thomas, 2000) and non-academic outcomes (Saunders-Steward, Gyles, & Shore, 2010). The New Tech Network (NTN) is a school improvement network that provides training and development for high school faculty who commit…

The need to increase students interested in pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) is growing. The current study delivers results of an Upward Bound program focused on advancing students' interest toward STEM fields and careers. Project STEMulate, funded by the National Science Foundation's ITEST program, used…

This book represents a crop of wide-ranging research conducted by renown scholars in sub-Sahara Africa revolving around mathematics teaching and professional development programs for mathematics teachers. The research-based proposals and actual how-to-conduct professional development initiatives that enhance effective mathematics instruction are…

TechMath is a professional development program that forms collaborations among businesses, colleges, and schools for the purpose of promoting Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) careers. TechMath has provided strategies for creating highquality professional development by bringing together teachers, students, and business…