Teachers are expected to update their instructional strategies. Teaching learning approaches and epistemological beliefs may affect teaching practices. The aim of this study is analyzing the relation of variables that effect epistemological beliefs and teaching learning approaches of teacher candidates on a statistical model. According to…

This retrospective study evaluates early semester predictors of whether or not community college students will successfully complete blended or hybrid courses. These predictors are available to faculty by the fourth week of the semester. Success is defined as receiving a grade of C- or higher. Failure is defined as a grade below a C- or a…

In computational modeling activities, learners are expected to discover the inner workings of scientific and mathematical systems: First elaborating their understandings of a given system through constructing a computer model, then "debugging" that knowledge by testing and refining the model. While such activities have been shown to…

There are limited viewpoints in the literature about peer observation of teaching in higher education and how it can be an effective tool to improve the quality of instruction in the classroom (Bell, 2001; Bell, 2005; Bell & Mladenovic, 2008; Brancato, 2003; Chism, 2007; Huston & Weaver, 2008; Shortland, 2004; Shortland, 2010; Smith,…

To create an atmosphere that encourages student involvement and develops lifelong learners, educators are finding that differentiated instruction provides a viable framework. Typically, students who populate modern classrooms have diverse interests, varied cultural and linguistic backgrounds, and an assortment of literacy skill levels. Many are…

Gestural recognition systems are important tools for leveraging movement-based interactions in multimodal learning environments but personalizing these interactions has proven difficult. We offer an adaptable model that uses multimodal analytics, enabling students to define their physical interactions with computer-assisted learning environments.…

Conceptual change can be a challenging process, particularly in science education where many of the concepts are complex, controversial, or counter-intuitive. Yet, conceptual change is fundamental to science learning, which suggests science educators and science education researchers need models to effectively address and investigate conceptual…

Teaching Experimental Sciences is a compulsory subject in the Bachelor's Degree in Primary Education (BDPE). It belongs to the discipline of Education and to the field of "Knowledge of the social and natural environment", and consists of a total of 24 ECTS, of which 6 ECTS correspond to "Teaching Natural Sciences" (TNS). This…

Recommendations for science education, including elementary education, highlight instructional practices such as using discussion to promote deep understandings of science. A task facing science teacher educators is to craft instruction to support teacher candidates (TCs) to develop skills that will encourage such practices in classrooms. In 2011,…

The purpose of the research reported in this article is to present the notion of Culture of Traits (CoTs) and to develop a 'Communicative Traits Model' (CTM) in teaching, learning, and assessing of Arabic as a first language. The ultimate goal is to create a shared vocabulary, establish a common language and build a consistent understanding of…

Chinese kindergartens' over 110 years of adaptation of foreign models is a vivid example of how globalization comes into direct contact with Chinese culture and creates cultural hybridities. Learning Stories as a narrative assessment tool to children's development from New Zealand, has swept China with the endorsement from the professional…

The "Next Generation Science Standards" ("NGSS") and the guiding "Framework" invite students to engage in practices of scientific argumentation and modeling through which they can collaborate as young scientists and develop understandings of disciplinary core ideas and crosscutting concepts. This article shares…

Although well researched in educational studies, inquiry-based learning, a student-centred way of teaching, is far away from being implemented in day-to-day science and mathematics teaching on a large scale. It is a challenge for teachers to adopt this new way of teaching in an often not supportive school context. Therefore it is important to…

Engaging learners in modeling practices can promote substantial science learning, and anchoring science teaching in societal issues can promote student motivation to learn and make learning experiences more meaningful. However, elementary teachers have had few prior experiences with either modeling or socioscientific issues (SSI) and so are…

Hunte and Wightman come to teaching positions in Portland State's University Studies (general education) program after having served as graduate and undergraduate mentors in the Peer Mentor Program. The unique model employs successful graduate and upper-division undergraduate students as teaching assistants in Freshman and Sophomore Inquiry…