This research explores the effect of mental model-based learning on understanding school chemistry. The learning activity included group discussion, presentation and class discussion. Pre-service chemistry teachers (PCT) analyzed school chemistry topics in relation to essential underlying concepts. The development of mental models was monitored…

Multiple studies have shown that testing contributes to learning at all educational levels. In this observational classroom study, we report the use of a learning tool developed for a Genetics and Molecular Biology course at the college level. An interactive set of practice exams that included 136 multiple choice questions (MCQ) or matching…

The aim of this study is to develop a valid and reliable achievement test on the subject of 'Basic Compounds in the Structure of Living Things'. During the preparation of the draft form of the test, a 32 item-question pool was created by the researchers in the light of the relevant literature. Then, these questions were presented to expert opinion…

This study examines the relationship between instructional clarity in physics lessons and students' motivation and self-confidence to learn physics. We conducted a secondary analysis of data from the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2019. Using data from six countries, whose students' science achievement scores were…

The effectiveness of a formal charge method to draw Lewis structures that was developed by Curnow was studied quantitatively by direct comparison of two groups of students: one of which was taught the new formal charge method and another that was taught a traditional method. Students' marks on a common assessment were found to improve by…

The paired-term biochemistry exam comprises five pairs of "unrelated" biochemical terms, where the collection of pairs, overall, is unique for each student. The student selects four of the pairs and answers three short essay questions about each, with a focus on how structure leads to function at the molecular level. Both…

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate clustering methods within a functional data analysis (FDA) framework for identifying subgroups of individuals that may be exhibiting categories of misfit. Person response functions (PRFs) estimated within a FDA framework (FDA-PRFs) provide graphical displays that can aid in the identification of persons…

The emergence of ChatGPT as one of the most advanced chatbots and its ability to generate diverse data has given room for numerous discussions worldwide regarding its utility, particularly in advancing medical education and research. This study seeks to assess the performance of ChatGPT in medical biochemistry to evaluate its potential as an…

This ex-post facto quantitative study examined how a comprehensive STEM education program impacts high school students' ACT math and science scores as well as their attitudes toward STEM. Using data from one STEM-designated school, the researcher examined ACT math, science, and STEM results for students who took the ACT in the Spring of 2024,…

A school's emphasis on academic success (SEAS) is a crucial aspect of school climate that can be rated by different informants, such as teachers or principals, and with respect to their perception of different groups' emphasis on academic success, such as parents or students. We know little about whether there is agreement between these ratings.…

Systems thinking (ST) is an essential competence for future life and biology learning. Appropriate assessment is critical for collecting sufficient information to develop ST in biology education. This research offers an ST framework based on a comprehensive understanding of biological systems, encompassing four skills across three complexity…

When learning physics, students need more than just an understanding of mathematical and physical concepts. Integrating the two fields is crucial, as research indicates that students often struggle even when they have a strong grasp of both. In this paper, we use the heat equation as an example from higher education. Given the importance of the…

In this study, we explore the use of analogies with classical physics in introductory quantum physics (QP) teaching. This work is part of a larger project in which a learning sequence covering three introductory QP topics was designed, tested, and evaluated in collaboration with high school teachers and physics education researchers. Based on the…

Learning style (LS), either visual or verbal, has become debatable in the f ield of education vis-à-vis its relation to student success. However, it remains a valuable research theme for improving learning activities in the teaching of highly visual science fields, including biology, physics, and chemistry. Previous studies have primarily focused…

Electricity and magnetism are fundamental areas of physics and are integral to science curricula at various educational levels. However, this area has been reported to contain several concepts that students find challenging, leading to perspectives that diverge from scientifically accepted views. This study examines the errors made by physics…