Students with disabilities (SWD) have consistently been excluded in science in science classrooms. As inquiry-based instruction is the preferred method of science instruction, finding the best ways to teach using inquiry as an inclusive methodology is essential. The Science Writing Heuristic (SWH) is an argument-based inquiry approach that has…

Inquiry-based lab experiences have been shown to be more effective than traditional lab experiences. Students' perceptions of the types of thinking required in science lab settings have implications for interest and persistence. This study compares students' perceptions about the thinking required in traditional and inquiry laboratory settings.…

The goals of science education include providing students with real-world learning experiences that connect directly to learning objectives and deepen student interest in science. Learning experiences that occur outside of the science classroom can help science educators respond to these goals. To encourage the use of learning environments beyond…

Even though the "Next Generation Science Standards" (NGSS) were released over a decade ago, science is still infrequently taught in early childhood and elementary classrooms. A lack of teacher confidence due to inadequate content knowledge may be a contributing factor, making access to high-quality elementary science methods courses even…

This study investigates challenges of enactment teachers notice when analyzing artifacts of teaching in a professional development focused on supporting the enactment of NGSS-aligned modeling instruction. Five secondary science teachers participated in a semester-long video club. Transcripts of the segments of their meetings in which they analyzed…

Several observation protocols in different theoretical frameworks and components have been designed and validated by teacher trainers and professional development providers to capture and categorize observational data on the characteristics and level of inquiry in science practices. However, certain constraints limit their wide use, such as the…

The advocacy for writing in science and STEM-related fields through reasoning-based writing, critical thinking and argumentation has been accentuated as a core competence in curriculum documents. In South Africa, the CAPS document for Physical Sciences acknowledged the importance of writing and consequently, call on teachers to engage in teaching…

This study examines shifts in science teachers' (N = 15) beliefs and practices within the context of a research-practice partnership (RPP) that developed and implemented curriculum modules in middle school science classrooms. Interview, document, and observation data gathered over the course of the project indicate that the vast majority of…

Teachers often struggle to implement inquiry-based science teaching. To support them, IndagApp--a 3D educational app that offers curriculum-aligned, inquiry-based lesson plans--was designed. The app is rooted in the inquiry phases recommended in best-practices literature, which arguably align with most international standards. This study describes…

This study brings together the research focused on science education through project-based learning (PBL). This learning project was carried out in a rural learning community and an attempt was made to adapt to the natural resources of the area by organizing educational outings, experimental activities, and encouraging the participation of…

The goal of this article is to inform professional understanding regarding preservice science teachers' knowledge of engineering and the engineering design process. Originating as a conceptual study of the appropriateness of "knowledge as design" as a framework for conducting science teacher education to support learning related to…

Guided and open inquiry strategies are found to improve students' attitudes toward science. Yet, confirmation and structured inquiry are more often enacted by teachers. The effectiveness of these approaches involving high teacher guidance remains unexplored. Students in six classes (N = 119, M[subscript age] = 11.25 years) were assigned to control…

This qualitative, ethnographic study focuses on how combining aspects of visual learning with a social media application (app)--Instagram--can be a useful learning tool for digital natives (DNs). Current students are classified as digital natives because they are inundated with technology, which has become an essential tool in their everyday…

This multiple-case study examined constraints encountered by early career elementary school teachers as they try to deliver high-quality science instruction. Four first-year teachers, who expressed confidence in their preparation and enthusiasm for teaching science, were asked to reflect on the most effective strategies for teaching elementary…

To increase the likelihood for continuous growth and improvement, professional development for high school biology teachers should include long-term, targeted instruction with an accompanying peer-coaching component. This study examined the views of biology teachers who were engaged in a two-year professional development program, which included a…