The objective of this project was to address design gaps in previous programs that address scientific argumentation in middle schools. We adopted gamification mechanics (e.g., stimulus and response and progression) to design a computer-assisted program to better support students' development of scientific argumentation. In this paper, we describe…

The objectives of this research were to: 1) develop online lessons with the Google Classroom application on computer system operation for secondary 2 (Grade 8) students; 2) study pre-test and post-test academic achievement; and 3) study the students' satisfaction with the online lessons with the Google Classroom application on computer system…

The incorporation of metaverse technology in education, particularly within standardized state educational frameworks, holds promise for significant improvements in learning outcomes. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of integrating an online metaverse platform into state educational services, thereby fostering the development of…

We designed, developed, and researched a virtual and in-person curriculum for how to explore computational thinking using dance choreography, focused on engaging upper elementary and middle school girls. However, this paper explores our observations and interactions with our young participants who identified as boys through a series of vignettes.…

In my post-qualitative inquiry, I investigated four middle school mathematics teachers' curriculum work during the COVID-19 pandemic. Curriculum has been undergoing a transformation as teachers have greater access to online resources and digital tools (Pepin et al., 2017; Webel et al., 2015). The transformation was further exacerbated by the…

The disruption of in-person delivery of a sexual health education curriculum to students in 19 urban middle schools in the Midwestern United States was one of many complications in education due the COVID-19 pandemic. Given time constraints and need for program delivery, community partners collaborated to convert the curriculum for virtual…

This paper describes the development of two versions of an NGSS-aligned principles of engineering design unit for use in middle schools. By employing a narrative framework that can help students to connect more deeply with the human contexts and consequences of the engineering design process, our goal was to enhance students' cognitive and…

Project OCCAMS (Online Consortium for Accelerating Middle School) developed and piloted an accelerated curriculum through a design-based research approach combining the Integrated Curriculum Model, principles of culturally responsive instructional design, and extensive compacting. The program created a pathway for diverse middle school students to…

Teachers were given the challenging task of transferring their formal science classroom lessons to an online format at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. How were teachers able to recreate student-centered science lessons online? What challenges did teachers face in teaching science online? This study examined how a group of teachers, working to…

In early 2020, the COVID-19 virus hit many places, including New York City, with such a force that nobody could have foreseen the events following its spread. The education system was pushed to transition itself to meet with 21st century technology. This study explores this disruption in the education system and how middle school teachers in…

This paper describes a collaborative project between a district curriculum specialist and university-based researchers to provide on-going support to social studies teachers as they transitioned to digital learning during the Covid-19 pandemic. We developed an asynchronous, on-line and self-guided professional learning project to support teachers…

Declining academic performance, along with a growing apathy of students toward the value of education, demonstrates that students in the United States public education system do not recognize the value of a positive experience in middle schools. A plethora of research and writing has been done on elementary schools and secondary schools, but…

The indispensability of ICT tools in EFL classrooms is rather taken for granted, often in a way to promote the teaching/learning experience. Accordingly, teachers more than ever are encouraged or even explicitly instructed to use different tools inside the classroom. However, the lack of a systematic approach that governs the design and the…

For the forty-third time, the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT) is sponsoring the publication of these Proceedings. Papers published in this volume were presented online during the annual AECT Convention. Volume 2 contains 15 papers dealing the practice of instructional technology including instruction and training…

A small school in southern Minnesota, strapped for funds and needing new math books and a fresh curriculum, flipped its classrooms and raised achievement and student engagement. The math teachers led and implemented the changes. Upon reflection, they found 10 good reasons educators should consider flipping their classroom. Among the most…