Physics-related tricks that use simple everyday materials, which many children attempt, are often entertaining, memorable, and motivate their interest to physics. One example is balancing a stick on a fingertip or open palm (Fig. 1). To balance a stick, there are two important aspects that must be considered: (1) the rotational dynamics of the…

U.S. education generally portrays science from the Western perspective. As a result, students from different cultures, also referred to as nonmajority students, often struggle to relate material learned in class to their own cultures and lived experiences. Cultural relevance is gaining momentum in broader education reform movements to relate…

In this paper, we examine the potential of authentic learning activities and assessment to enhance the student learning experience in a standalone introductory geospatial information science module. Computer laboratory sessions form seventy-five percent of contact hours and final grade, so authentic learning used a field-based project with…