Understanding students' capacity to direct their learning in school and beyond has been a sustained area of interest for practising science teachers, policy-makers, and educational researchers. This paper presents results from a longitudinal quasi-experimental study carried out to examine changes in students' self-reported levels of…

In the wake of interest-study research in science education over the past 10 years, investigators have published many articles on how to define, measure, and develop students' interest in learning science. This present study approaches empirical investigations on students' interest in learning science from a different perspective. We…

We built on two cognitive and three motivational theoretical constructs to create a combined intervention aiming to improve course achievement and retention in STEM for first-year ("gateway") biology students. Participants were 350 students in one of 8 conditions or a no-treatment control group. Messages supporting cognition and…

Reports on a case study of meaningful science learning in two African-American female high school students. Finds that complex cultural factors that permit cognitive passivity, confidence-without-competence, and attention to behavior over learning contribute to cognitive disengagement and ultimately to the blocking of intentional, meaningful…

This book provides a full framework for integrating science and literacy. It shows how tapping into children's interest in science can help them develop key literacy skills and strategies as they explore the world around them. Examples of integrated science units include hands-on instructions and reproducible materials for learning activities that…

Psychological factors that may underlie the consistent gender and ethnic group differences found in science achievement were studied in a sample of 557 college students (297 male and 260 female) taking the first semester of a 2-semester sequence in organic chemistry. About 70 percent were Caucasian, with 23 percent Asian and 37 percent African…