In this paper, we discuss what creativity may look like in the science classroom and what we learnt from teaching with student-generated diagrams to promote creativity in Year 7 Science lessons. As a result of this study, most students were able to communicate a deeper understanding of complex phenomena and were able to apply this knowledge both…

This study aims to develop Nature of Science (NOS) measurement instrument for high school students in the Mathematics and Natural Sciences program using COVID-19 cases that had occurred since the end of 2019. This study also attempts to validate test items with the Rasch model approach. The participants in this study are 194 high school students…

Students who learn the language of instruction as an additional language represent a heterogeneous group with varying linguistic and cultural backgrounds, contributing to classroom diversity. Because of the manifold challenges these students encounter while learning the language of instruction, additional barriers arise for them when engaging in…

Research on test accommodations provides valuable information that informs policy and practice. This report presents a synthesis of the research literature published in 2022 on testing accommodations for U.S. elementary and secondary students (K-12). The National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO) has reported on accommodations research since…

Multilingual learners (MLs) represent an increasing proportion of public school students. Although much attention has been given to their academic performance in English language arts and math, less research has addressed their academic performance in science, particularly in elementary school. This study leveraged nationally representative data…

The COVID-19 pandemic provided an opportunity to better understand the transition from secondary school to higher education regarding students' assessment and written-exam experiences. We used mixed methods to investigate students' experiences of first-year university physics exams and cancelled secondary school exams, regarding their motivational…

The study aims to investigate how confidence in mathematics/science, amount of books in the home, gender, whether a student likes being in school, and computer software predicted mathematics and science achievements of students in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2019. The sample of the study consisted of…

College students report stress and anxiety when taking science courses, such as anatomy & physiology. Mindful breathing is a technique that can be used in the classroom before taking exams. To determine the impact of mindful breathing exercises on the student experience, students were randomly assigned to either course sections that included…

This study investigated the role of interactivity on the protégé effect, and explored how biology teachers can utilize it in their classrooms to reduce rote learning and facilitate long-term retention. This investigation utilized the generative learning theory, and adopted a non-equivalent quasi- experimental research design involving 60 students.…

This paper examines and builds on an earlier contribution to this journal focusing on private supplementary tutoring -- widely known as shadow education -- in Francophone West and Central Africa. Drawing on wider literature about research methods in this domain, it examines the basis for the numerical estimates presented in the original article…

When analyzing large-scale assessments (LSAs) that use complex sampling designs, it is important to account for probability sampling using weights. However, the use of these weights in multilevel models has been widely debated, particularly regarding their application at different levels of the model. Yet, no consensus has been reached on the best…

TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study) is a long-standing international assessment of mathematics and science at the fourth and eighth grades, collecting trend data every four years since 1995. Over 70 countries rely on TIMSS to monitor their education systems in a global context, benchmarking national curricula and…

According to the situated expectancy-value model, students' motivational beliefs interact and are influenced by situations. This study examined how within-person fluctuations in science-related self-concept, intrinsic value, and cost are associated over time among Helsinki elementary students (N = 538, ages 7-12). The random intercept cross-lagged…

Background: Test score comparability in international large-scale assessments (LSAs) is greatly important to ensure test fairness. To effectively compare test scores on an international scale, score linking is widely used to convert raw scores from different linguistic version of test forms into a common score scale. An example is the multigroup…

Preparing students for science, technology, and engineering careers is an urgent state policy challenge. We examined the design and roll-out of a science testing requirement for high school graduation in Massachusetts. While science test performance improved over time for all demographic subgroups, we observed rising inequality in failure rates…