Back-of-the-envelope (BOTE) calculations require the use of estimations and approximations. They are used by expert physicists to simplify complex problems to obtain quick and approximate solutions. Though BOTE calculations are routine for experts in physics, they are not well defined in academic literature. In this study we interviewed 9…

The COVID-19 crisis has demonstrated the importance of being able to understand complex computational models for everyday life. To make sense of the evolving predictive models of the COVID-19 pandemic, global citizens need to have a firm grasp of both systems thinking (ST) and computational thinking (CT). ST is the ability to understand a problem…

Problem posing has received increased attention among researchers and educators. One of the most important aspects is to understand the cognitive process of problem posing. In this study, we conceptualized a framework for the cognitive process of mathematical problem posing in three stages: (a) input--understanding the task, (b)…

In this research, it was aimed to examine the effects of interdisciplinary science activities on 5th grade students' creative problem-solving skills and 21st century skills. The study group consisted of 50 5th grade students, 26 girls and 24 boys, were studying at a public school in Ankara, Çankaya district in the 2018-2019 academic year. The…

In this article, we examine how 10th graders make use of different intertwined representations when solving algebraic word problems. It is structured in a quantitative phase, with 61 students and a subsequent follow-up case study with nine pairs of students. We found that drawings and tables, used as auxiliary representations within variants of…

Preschool environments offer an abundance of opportunities for exploring the physical world where children can learn "engineering concepts" and "principles" (theories or laws). Yet how teachers design motivating conditions for engineering thinking has not been fully investigated. The study reported in this paper examined how…

Representational competence in science is the ability to generate external representations (e.g. equations, graphs) of real-world phenomena, transform between these representations, and use them in an integrated fashion. Difficulties in achieving representational competence are often considered central to difficulties in learning science.…

Purpose: This paper aims to understand what drives people -- their motivations, autonomous learning attitudes and learning interests -- to volunteer as mentors for a program that helps families to ideate technological solutions to community problems. Design/methodology/approach: A three-phase method was used to build volunteer mentor profiles;…

Computational thinking in the educational environment has awaken a rising interest, having been included as part of the curricula from the very beginnings of education. Programmable robots have become a valuable positive resource in order to succeed in the development of computational thinking, demanding proper training from kindergarten teachers…

Nowadays, students often practice problem-solving skills in online learning environments with the help of examples and problems. This requires them to self-regulate their learning. It is questionable how novices self-regulate their learning from examples and problems and whether they need support. The present study investigated the open questions:…

Productive problem solving, concept construction, and sense making occur through the core process of abstraction. Although the capacity for domain-general abstraction is developed at a young age, the role of abstraction in increasingly complex and disciplinary environments, such as those encountered in undergraduate STEM education, is not well…

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need to adapt to and rebound from unexpected change and uncertainty. The increasing climate chaos of the Anthropocene additionally underscores the necessity of resilient societies and individuals. Individuals able to problem-solve in emergent situations are integral to a resilient society, and science…

In this study, it is aimed to reveal the effect of creative drama activities implemented in early childhood on the executive functions of children who are between 60 and 72 months old. The study is designed as quasi experimental study with pretest and posttest control group. In the class determined as the experimental group, 18 drama sessions,…

Problem solving and reasoning are two key components of becoming numerate. Reports obtained from international assessments show that Australian students' problem solving ability is in a long-term decline. There is little evidence that teachers are embracing problem solving as part of the classroom routine. In this study, we analyse 598 Year 7 to…

This study aimed to describe the validity and effectiveness of the floating market-based BioPhy magazine to improve problem-solving skills and encourage students to conduct environmental awareness campaigns. This research was development research with Tessmer formative evaluation model. The field test subjects were 24 students who studied fluids…