Previous research suggests that the use of metaphors in science education have both possibilities and challenges. In this study, we analyse the role of metaphors in meaning-making in the upper primary science classroom. We investigate the potential of metaphors about nutrient uptake occurring in classrooms in which an animation was used. To…

In the past decade, we have witnessed the emergence of a large number of different computer-based animations and simulations that have the goal to foster better learning of different physics topics. Past studies have shown many benefits of animations and simulations, but for their efficient usage it is very important that teachers are well…

The educational benefit of the traditional didactic lecture to learners in Higher Education is hotly debated. Given increasing student numbers, existing technical set ups and many logistical concerns, lectures remain the norm in many Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). In this personal view piece, we discuss the benefits, opportunities, and…

The biological concept has a broad scope and requires the visualisation of bioprocesses to provide complex understanding. Learning media can help visualise bioprocesses to enhance students' cognitive abilities. The study aimed to develop, test the practicality, and test the effectiveness of video animation in improving grade XI high school…

Previous research suggests that everyday expressions are commonly used in students' descriptions of nutrient uptake. This study investigate a classroom context in year 5 with a focus on signs of scientific meaning-making about nutrient uptake with an animation as a resource in two different schools. In one of the schools there was also a teacher…

Earth science concepts can be challenging for children to grasp due to their abstract nature. This study explores the potential of 3D computer animation as an engaging and effective medium to communicate various earth science processes to young learners. By creating age-appropriate, scientifically accurate visualizations of geological features and…

Metabolism, including cellular respiration, encompasses a large component of the topics covered in foundational biochemistry and life science undergraduate courses. The difficulty in instruction and student retention of this topic lies in the conceptualization of the numerous enzymatic reactions involving various substrates/products and their…

This study investigated the effect of visual anthropomorphic stories on students' understanding of the particulate nature of matter and their level of anthropomorphic discourse. This study employed a quasi-experimental research design with pretest and posttest control groups. Science activities supported by visual anthropomorphic stories were…

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of different ways to use visualizations on high school students' electrochemistry conceptual understanding and motivation towards chemistry learning. Expanding upon a model-based learning approach (Khan, 2007), we adopted a VGEM sequence (View, Generate, Evaluate, and Modify) to create three…

Using external representations (ERs) to foster content understanding in biology education has increased as they allow for the visualization of abstract biological phenomena. However, the extent to which students have visualization skills required to learn from ERs effectively remains an open question. The current quantitative quasi-experimental…

This paper analyses students' conceptual sense-making of two representations of protein synthesis: animations and static visualizations. Even though several studies have focused on the effect of animations versus static visualizations or support aspects that enable students to effectively benefit from animations, existing research has not yet…

The use of smartphone technology with various operating system platforms and Android is also widely used in education. Various types of applications were created to support the learning process at school and outside of school. The purpose of this research is to create an alternative learning media in the form of an interactive animation…

Through the implementation of the free website/smartphone application Sketchfab, we have found a simple means to introduce 3D visual tools into the chemistry classroom. Sketchfab stores 3D models and animations with free cross-platform accessibility. Blender is a free 3D modeling tool that has been used to prepare models and animations for…

In recent years, student-generated stop-motion animations (SMAs) have been employed to support sharing, constructing, and representing knowledge in different science domains and across age groups from pre-school to university students. The purpose of this review is to give an overview of research in this field and to synthesize the findings. For…

This paper describes two studies comparing students' explanations of an oxidation-reduction reaction after viewing the chemical demonstration and one of two different particulate-level computer animations. In the first study, the two animations differed primarily in the complexity of the visual images. Students viewing the more simplified…