In this study, we examine how prospective teachers perceive the efficacy of manipulatives and if these perceptions relate to their future use of manipulatives and their mathematics self-efficacy. Survey responses from 97 preservice educators who had completed a mathematics method course indicate three essential findings. One, preservice teachers…

The grounding of cognition in embodied actions has resulted in both theoretical formulations of encoding of information and instructional applications of these encodings. Actions on objects typically occur within matched formats: physical actions on physical objects, virtual actions on virtual objects, or mental actions on mental objects. Instead,…

On the basis of recent advances in battery research and technology, we have developed a novel laboratory exercise centered on an organic--inorganic battery using the redox chemistry of the organic molecule anthraquinone-2,7-disulfonic acid disodium salt (AQDS). Although most commercially available batteries are based on inorganic redox couples,…

Background: Beginning readers are typically introduced to enlarged print, and the size of this print decreases as readers become more fluent. In comparison, beginning blind readers are expected to learn standard-sized Braille from the outset because past research suggests letter knowledge cannot be transferred across different sizes of Braille.…

NMR is a fundamental part of any undergraduate chemistry degree, and training students how to measure and interpret NMR spectra is essential for postgraduate research or chemistry-based careers. Traditionally, the undergraduate laboratory experience with NMR is restricted to sample submission for NMR analysis, which is typically conducted by a…

The purpose of this note is to discuss how paper folding can be used to find the exact trigonometric ratios of the following four angles: 22.5°, 67.5°, 27°, and 63°.

Developmental dyscalculia (DD) is a specific mathematical learning disability, with a prevalence of around 3%-7% in the school-aged population. It negatively affects individuals, and even the national, development. Previous DD-intervention programs usually targeted on numerosity, number, simple arithmetic, or even general cognitive ability. The…

Research exists on mathematical interventions to support elementary students experiencing mathematical difficulties, yet little examines the provision of such interventions within an online learning environment. This study explored the online delivery of the virtual-representational-abstract (VRA) instructional sequence, taught via explicit…

Educational games can be used as an effective means of transferring knowledge in a fun way to complement education and training. The aim of the study was to develop a game and get students' opinions on the game that can be played in Organic Chemistry courses in order to teach the names of commonly used organic compounds with cyclic and aromatic…

There is a large volume of published studies describing the positive role of Augmented Reality (AR) in educational settings. However, there is a paucity of empirical work that explores its role in supporting primary school pupil's motivation and creativity. Moreover, numerous studies have confirmed that pupils have difficulties in learning…

Fraction knowledge has been found to predict later mathematical performance, but many students have difficulty with fractions. Virtual manipulatives (VM) and concrete manipulatives (CM) are effective approaches to teaching fractions, but previous research has not been able to reach a consensus on which manipulatives are the most effective. This…

This study compares the effect of Augmented Reality (AR) based virtual manipulatives to physical manipulatives for teaching geometric shapes to preschool children to improve their spatial skills. A quasi-experimental research design was utilized in order to answer the research questions. The context of the research was a public primary school in…

Earlier "Discovery" articles (de Mestre, 1999, 2003, 2006, 2010, 2011) considered patterns from many mathematical situations. This article presents a group of patterns used in 19th century mathematical textbooks. In the days of earlier warfare, cannon balls were stacked in various arrangements depending on the shape of the pile base…

Research has shown that adults can engage in cognitive offloading, whereby internal processes are offloaded onto the environment to help task performance. Here, we investigate an application of this approach with children, in particular children with poor working memory. Participants were required to remember and recall sequences of colors by…

An experiment which investigates the wettability of natural surfaces was developed for undergraduate students, which allows them to explore concepts of surface structure, wettability, superhydrophobic surfaces, and self-cleaning. The students choose their own samples of leaves and flowers present in their local environment, examine their surface…