Science education theory and reform call on elementary educators to provide authentic science learning experiences in a constructivist learning environment. The natural surroundings of the schoolyard offer an often undeveloped and/or undiscovered pedagogical tool that can help teachers meet these reform-based goals in science teaching. There is…

In this paper, science lecturers' perspectives on how they authentically prepare to teach are explored, to establish how academic development practices can better support them. Science lecturers in higher education do not always feel comfortable engaging with pedagogical training initiatives, often finding the ideas presented confusing,…

High-stakes testing (HST) is critical in the educational system of East-Asian countries like China, and the ongoing standards-based reform in many Western countries like the USA. HST has been criticized for corrupting an educational system through means like disengaging students from authentic learning. It seems that students' affective learning…