Tasks used in the Biology Olympiad (BiO) appear to be promising alternatives to traditional teaching tasks in biology education, as they frequently incorporate inquiry-based elements. This makes them a valuable resource for increasing students' exposure to inquiry activities during classroom instruction. However, for teachers to effectively…

Contextualized chemistry curricula have been shown to positively impact academic outcomes, especially in middle and secondary school levels. However, only a limited number of investigations on the impact of real-world contextualized curricula on students' learning outcomes in chemistry lecture courses in postsecondary education have been reported.…

Background Study: Developments in science and technology, have created a need for technology-supported learning environments. Robotics is a technology widely used in science education. Collaborative learning is one of the methods used in education based on the constructivist approach. Using robotic and cooperative learning together is a new and…

Boasting a wide range of interactive and engaging features, narrative-based learning has become increasingly popular in educational settings. Narrative-based instructional approaches engage students in a novel set of engaging experiences for educational purposes. Although it is not a new concept, the implications of narrative-based learning for…

The COVID-19 global pandemic has prompted educators in universities to reconsider their teaching methods, mainly due to the social distancing measures imposed within the classroom settings. On the other hand, the growing importance of continuing education opportunities for adult learners after graduation has seen the need to transform traditional…

Data from PISA and TIMSS have recently fuelled the debate on the efficacy of Inquiry-Based Science Teaching (IBST). Some analyses of these data show that the effects of different scientific activities related to IBST carried out with students vary according to the frequency of their implementation. Extending this research, the present study…

Biochemistry and molecular biology students are asked to understand and analyze the structures of small molecules and complex three-dimensional (3D) macromolecules. However, most tools to help students learn molecular visualization skills are limited to two-dimensional (2D) images on screens and in textbooks. The virtual reality (VR) App Nanome,…

The present study examines the exemplification practices of a university biology instructor during a semester-long course. Attention is given specifically to how the instructor approaches "memorable exemplification"--classroom episodes identified by students as a source of memorable learning experiences. A mixed-method research approach…

In order to help students become scientifically literate citizens, science education should allow them to gain a more concrete understanding of the potential social and ethical impacts of scientific and technological change. Using Mary Shelley's Frankenstein as an imaginative tool, we designed simple hands-on activities and a digital narrative…

Background: One of the technologies that can be used to enhance the education process is digital stories. Digital stories can be used for different purposes due to their benefits to the education process. When the research conducted on higher levels of education has been examined, it has been determined that the use of digital stories in science…

Research has called for greater emphasis on outdoor science activities in preservice teacher education. Therefore, in this study, preservice teachers reflect on an outdoor chemistry unit that aimed to model outdoor science activities to be conducted in local settings within short time frames. Data from the preservice teachers' reflections were…

This action research study aimed to find ways to adjust my practice by incorporating inquiry-based, science activities and virtual simulations to improve student conceptual understanding of physical and chemical changes. A multi-lesson, curricular intervention combining inquiry-based activities and virtual simulations was developed using…

The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of astronomy activities in science education with preschool children through semi-structured interviews. The interviews were conducted with the children before and after the implementation of the activities. Five activities about astronomy were conducted for five weeks in practice. A total…

Background: Previous studies have investigated effects of out-of-school STEM activities aimed at stimulating children's interest in science with positive results. However, research has not discussed the reasons why such activities are successful. Purpose: In this study, we address this gap by investigating which factors children themselves…

This study analyzes how students' reported teaching practices of their teachers and their attitudes towards science are related to the science achievements of four high-performing countries/economies in PISA 2015: Hong Kong, China, Canada, and Finland. A study of these regions can shed light on the commonalities of and differences between the…