Angela Chapman and Allan Feldman (2016) conducted a study that aimed to exam how a group of diverse urban high school students were affected by the participation in a contextually based authentic science experience. The analysis of all data led the authors to conclude that the experience of authentic science positively influenced the science…

The number of students majoring in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) is declining due in part to a lack of student interest (Fairweather 2008; NRC 2012; PCAST 2010). One reason may be the difference between how science is done in school and how it is done in the field (Osborne, Simon, and Collins 2003). An interdisciplinary…

The present study aims to identify the effectiveness of summer science camp experience on middle school students' content knowledge and interest towards biology. For this purpose, two instruments including reflective journal and pre-post questionnaire were developed by four researchers who are expert in science education. Besides, the instruction…

A Victorian government initiative called "The Primary Science Specialists Professional Learning Program" is designed to tackle students' falling interest in science by investing in the building of teacher capacity. The aims of the initiative are: to improve the science knowledge base of all teachers and therefore increase teachers'…

Understanding how to better engage young students in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) is essential. The constraints of U.S. K-12 schools (e.g. insufficient institutional supports, lack of technology access, testing pressures, etc.) often make it difficult to create truly engaging STEM curricula with which students can deeply…

Much is known about high school students' attitudes towards science but there is almost no research on what passion for science might look like and how it might be manifested. This exploratory case study took advantage of a unique group of highly gifted science students participating in the Australian Science Olympiad (N = 69) to explore their…

Since 2007, Chevron has funded the Research Experience Vitalizing Science -- University Program (REVS-UP), which lasts four weeks each summer to develop Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) projects at CSUB [California State University, Bakersfield]. Over the past six years, a total of 26 STEM professors have led the…

The PARSEL project was initiated to disseminate teaching modules, based on a philosophical model, which was in line with a need to promote scientific literacy, in a manner considered to be both popular and relevant for students. The project was based on the belief that this approach would allow students to better realize that science was for all,…

In the study, one of each of pairs of average and high ability eighth-grade classes was designated, by random means, as the experimental class. Students in the experimental classes viewed projected 2 x 2 colored slides which represented sequences of the same laboratory activities as those performed by the manipulative group. All other…

THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE TRAVELING SCIENCE DEMONSTRATORS TO THE PROFESSIONAL GROWTH OF THE TEACHERS CONTACTED WERE STUDIED. TWO QUESTIONNAIRES WERE CONSTRUCTED TO MEASURE THE IMPACT OF THE PROGRAM. A "TEACHER-VISITED" QUESTIONNAIRE WAS SENT TO 415 PERSONS VISITED BY A DEMONSTRATOR, AND A SECOND QUESTIONNAIRE WAS MAILED TO ELEVEN…

The purpose of this study was to determin the effects of an individualized instruction approach and a teacher centered approach on student achievement of science content and problem solving skills, science interest, and self concept. Eighty-one fifth grade pupils were divided into three classes of 27 each: a teacher-centered active control group,…

A quasi-longitudinal case study was used to determine the effects on secondary students of participation in a program of enrichment and extracurricular science activities in terms of their interest and enjoyment in being involved in science activities, their motivation to continue to participate in science, and their perceptions about scientists…