This dissertation focuses on three manuscripts all related to bolstering science achievement through recommendations from the National Research Council (NRC) regarding the teaching and learning of science. The manuscripts address meeting the NRC's call to incorporate curriculum and assessment that lead to more in-depth knowledge that can be…

The studies in this dissertation were conducted to better understand how to measure students' use of multiple representations in introductory science courses by expanding the possibilities of a variable representation assessment (VRA). The VRA is a computer-based assessment originally designed to measure general chemistry students' use of…

Serious Educational Games (SEGs) have been a topic of increased popularity within the educational realm since the early millennia. SEGs are generalized form of Serious Games to mean games for purposes other than entertainment but, that also specifically include training, educational purpose and pedagogy within their design. This rise in popularity…