The integrated STEAM approach arises when a contextualized problem's resolution requires different contributions (views) from each discipline. In this descriptive article we discuss the views needed from chemistry, technology, design skills, mathematical modelling and the artistic support necessary for constructing a scientific model that explains…

The purpose of this study is to examine how the reasoning of elementary school students develops and progresses within a learning progression. In order to do this, we analyzed third, fourth, and fifth grade elementary school students' levels of reasoning about phenomena related to changes of state of water. The results show that higher grades…

The research presented in this dissertation describes a series of studies characterizing and assessing undergraduate chemistry students' knowledge related to the epistemic nature of scientific models and modeling. Engaging in authentic scientific practices, for instance, developing and using scientific models, has been identified as an important…

This exploratory study examines an instructional activity in which undergraduate biology students at a Canadian university who, after receiving instruction from an expert science communicator on how to publicly address pseudoscience in online media, were asked to research online a pseudoscientific news of their choice, demonstrate how they would…

This study employed a non-equivalent quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test control-group design to study the effect of the PhET simulation intervention on students' engagement, satisfaction, and academic achievement in the learning of direct current electric circuit concepts among Bhutanese students. We analysed the pre- and post-test scores and…

Although teachers are eager to facilitate community of inquiry (CoI) in their classrooms, they also fear being unable to convey the necessary knowledge to their students in an inquiry due to the inherent involvement of conflicting views, confusion, and a lack of strict definitions about the concepts. The author argues that the banking model of…

The prevailing portrayal of science and scientists within the public domain is a multifaceted mix of conventional stereotypes. Our study investigates these perceptions among Mexican children, analyzing 816 drawings and descriptions collected from fourth to seventh graders in rural and urban schools in Northwestern Mexico. Drawings were analyzed…

Virtual classrooms based on the metaverse or virtual reality are useful and effective for imparting basic chemistry concepts. Interactive and immersive environments can effectively teach fundamental chemistry concepts, such as chemical bonding and formulas, thereby making these otherwise abstract and intangible ideas more accessible and…

"Research Findings:" Promoting children's science knowledge by adequate measures such as guided or free play is a cardinal goal of preschool. However, there is considerable variability in preschool teachers' instructional quality in block play, which might be associated with children's domain-specific science skills but also their…

Learning the periodic table of elements can pose a challenge for students due to the complex organization and relationships between the different elements. Game-based interventions have been shown in past studies to be one of the feasible ways to overcome this challenge. In this research, a tabletop game, called "Little Periodic" was…

Understanding the relevant aspects of the construction of knowledge in science, as well as the elements that are an essential part of a scientific inquiry, need to be discussed in teacher training courses in the area of natural sciences. This study aimed to identify and classify investigative elements present in the conceptions of undergraduates…

Integrating genetic engineering and molecular biology lab activities into open inquiry-based teaching is an innovative, unique process that has taken place in Israeli high schools since 2018, becoming part of biology studies for 11th- and 12th-grade students. Engaging these students in lab techniques and practices in this field enables them to…

The ability to communicate science effectively is a key attribute for science graduates, and considerable work has been done to establish the techniques and skills associated with effective communication. What is less clear however, is the learning progression students traverse as they develop proficiency in science communication. In this study we…

While existing studies have underscored the educational benefits of generating explanatory hypotheses (EHs) in response to unexpected outcomes, empirical research on the underlying mechanisms driving their effectiveness in science learning remains limited. Thus, this study aimed to empirically examine the effectiveness of generating an EH for…

Computational thinking in physics has many different forms, definitions, and implementations depending on the level of physics or the institution it is presented in. To better integrate computational thinking in introductory physics, we need to understand what physicists find important about computational thinking in introductory physics. We…