The mathematical modeling process is also a powerful way to teach students the meaning of data. In mathematical modeling, students are collecting data to answer a question. Data collection is the means to an end and not the end in itself. The author was looking for an engaging way to introduce his third-grade mathematics class to the skill of…

Background: The data revolution in education has led to more data collection, more randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and more data collection within RCTs. Often following IES recommendations, researchers studying program effectiveness gather data on how the intervention was implemented. Educational implementation data can be complex, including…

Mathematical modelling competencies have become a prominent construct in research on the teaching and learning of mathematical modelling and its applications in recent decades; however, current research is diverse, proposing different theoretical frameworks and a variety of research designs for the measurement and fostering of modelling…

How might fourth graders address the problem of measuring the size of a leaf? And why might their classroom teachers choose such a shape to measure? One group of fourth-grade students in an urban Australian school were interested in knowing the sizes of leaves on a passionfruit vine growing at their school. The children were excited after a visit…

In the article 'How Long Is My Toilet Roll--A Simple Exercise in Mathematical Modelling' several models of increasing complexity are introduced and solved to calculate indirectly the length of paper on a toilet-roll. All these results are presented without errors. The authors of this comment believe the error analysis of measurements made in a…

Chalmers recently published a critique of the use of ordinal a[alpha] proposed in Zumbo et al. as a measure of test reliability in certain research settings. In this response, we take up the task of refuting Chalmers' critique. We identify three broad misconceptions that characterize Chalmers' criticisms: (1) confusing assumptions with…

This paper presents an application of the Kalman filter in signal processing in instrumentation systems when the conditions of the environment generate a large amount of interference for the acquisition of signals from measurement systems. The unwanted interferences make important use of the instrumentation system resources and do not represent…

The research presented in this article is a systematic review of the literature on the assessment of mathematical modeling in the setting of mathematics education published in the previous five years. This research has compiled the current best information from around the world to offer an overview of the assessment of mathematical modeling for…

Fermi problems are useful for introducing modelling in primary school classrooms, although teachers' difficulties in problem solving may hinder their successful implementation. These difficulties are associated with the modelling process, but also with the estimation and measurement skills required by Fermi problems. In this work, a specific…

In first- and second-year algebra classrooms, the all-too-familiar whine of "when are we ever going to use this in real life?" challenges mathematics teachers to find new, engaging ways to present mathematical concepts. The introduction of quadratic equations is typically modeled by describing the motion of a moving object with respect…

Folk wisdom of the state of Montana asserts that Flathead Lake, located in the state's northwest corner, is the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi. But what does it mean to be the "largest?" And, how does one respond to Californians' claims that Lake Tahoe, located on the California-Nevada border, is the rightful…

Colorimetry allows every color to be defined as a combination of three values, known as "color coordinates." Color coordinates allow researchers to universalize and standardize their color measurements, and nowadays, determining the color coordinates of samples is a routine method applied by organic and analytical chemists, students, and…

Have you ever noticed trash collecting in streams or waterways? How does trash influence our environment, and what can be done to enact change? These are questions middle school students explored as the authors launched the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) task. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch activity involves an urgent environmental issue that…

Integrating the disciplines of mathematics and science is one way to place the calculations of volume and surface area into a real life context. The authors present an activity for middle-school students that aims to promote their learning of these key concepts in a personally meaningful way, whilst also developing inquiry and problem solving…

This study is an exploratory research aims to find and know about a phenomenon by exploration. Therefore, the approach used in this study is ethnographic approach, an empirical and theoretical approach to get description and deep analysis about a culture based on field study. From the sustainable interviews and confirmation about field research…