As part of a larger study of student understanding of concepts in linear algebra, we interviewed 10 university linear algebra students as to their conceptions of functions from high school algebra and linear transformation from their study of linear algebra. An overarching goal of this study was to examine how linear algebra students see linear…

This experimental study extends conflict elaboration theory (1) by revealing social influence dynamics for a knowledge-rich computer-supported socio-cognitive conflict task not investigated in the context of this theory before and (2) by showing the impact of individual differences in social comparison orientation. Students in two conditions…

Preservice teachers are typically educated in university settings and learn teaching methodology through coursework. Many preservice teachers find themselves underprepared for handling challenging situations in art classrooms. Teaching is very often influenced by contextual factors such as the space and design of the classroom, demographics and…

Understanding the students' programming misconceptions is critical in that it identifies the reasons why students make errors in programming and allows instructors to design instructions accordingly. This study investigated the mental models of programming concepts held by pre-service teachers who were novice programmers. In an introductory…

This paper discusses the level of critical thinking skills adapted from The Cornell Critical Thinking Test Level X (CCTTX) by Ennis and Milan (1985) among final year diploma students from the Faculty of Business Management, UiTM Melaka taking the course of Office Administration and Introduction to Critical Thinking. This paper aims to encourage…

In this research, we gave to technical university students (N=50) and high school students (N=75) a verbally described situation of a partially defined physics problem. The task for the both groups of the students was to generate drawings of how they imagined the situation that the problem referred to. A fully abstract drawing was generated by 48%…

This study examined mathematics self-efficacy and the characteristics of flow in the context of performing mathematical tasks. In particular, it explored the subjective experiences of 113 undergraduate students enrolled in a developmental mathematics course while they were independently solving certain mathematical problems. This study…

We investigate thirty-three second and fifth-grade students' solution strategies on integer addition problems before and after analyzing contrasting cases with integer addition and participating in a lesson on integers. The students took a pretest, participated in two small group sessions and a short lesson, and took a posttest. Even though the…

While information theory is typically considered in the context of modern computing and engineering, its core mathematical principles provide a potentially useful lens through which to consider human language. Like the artificial communication systems such principles were invented to describe, natural languages involve a sender and receiver, a…

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines "transition" as: (a) the passage from one state, stage, subject, or place to another: change; or (b) a movement, development, or evolution from one form, stage, or style to another. The word transition can refer to an active shift of the person in space and time or status, for example; it can also…

Knowing the facts is not enough. If we want students to develop intellectually, creatively problem-solve, and grapple with complexity, the key is in "conceptual understanding." A Concept-Based curriculum recaptures students' innate curiosity about the world and provides the thrilling feeling of engaging one's mind. This updated edition…

We compared self-regulatory processes and mathematics achievement with 138 elementary students across three conditions: learning by actually teaching (LAT), learning by preparing to teach (LPT), and learning for learning (LL). Students completed concept maps and then solved the problem. Students in the LAT condition created a teaching video, while…

With growing evidence about the critical period of birth to age 5 for child development and learning, the imperative to professionalize the early childhood education workforce has never been greater. In this follow-up to "The New Early Childhood Professional: A Step-By-Step Guide to Overcoming Goliath", the authors share lessons learned…

The EnCoMPASS project (Emerging Communities for Mathematical Practices and Assessment) at the Math Forum and Drexel University has produced a web-based software tool for the assessment of student work. This paper discusses research on the impact of the tool on teachers' attitudes toward work with students in the software environment. The tool…

To enhance critical thinking and problem-solving skills, a project-based learning (PBL) approach for "Instrumental Techniques" courses in undergraduate physical chemistry was specifically developed for a pharmacy bachelor degree program. The starting point of this PBL was an open-ended question that is close to the student scientist's…