This article describes a simple way to introduce nanomaterials using the presence of carbon nanodots (CNDs) in widely available food. Budweiser® beer and Coca-Cola®, commercial foods that are commonly accessible, were utilized to demonstrate the optical property of nanoparticles. Specifically, green and violet laser pointers were employed for the…

While Montana teachers are tasked with including American Indian culture when teaching science, barriers exist, such as no knowledge of American Indian cultures or low efficacy for teaching science. In an exploratory study, survey responses were collected from elementary (K-8) preservice teachers in a science methods course about their perspective…

The falling rod paradox, i.e. the fact that the tip of an almost horizontal rod falls with an acceleration 'higher than g', when the other end is hinged or supported, is a popular physics demonstration. It can be visualized by placing e.g. a coin on the tip of the rod and fixing a cup next to the coin. When the rod is released the free-falling…

Teaching Science innovatively has become a key motivation in educational parlance to uplift the academic achievement of the learners. There are numerous teaching strategies and skills developed by educationists, researchers and teachers to teach the subject creatively in the classroom. Thinking Maps is one such teaching strategy that enables the…

This convergent mixed methods study sought to explore the effects of engineering design challenges (EDCs) on middle school students' achievement. Data was collected from four middle schools from an urban school district in Maryland. Two of these, Group A, included teachers with experience with EDC design and implementation; the other two schools,…

Through this non-experimental descriptive correlational study, 31 high school classrooms were observed, and instances of non-content teacher talk were identified and correlated with female student science identity survey responses to determine the presence or absence of a relationship between the two constructs. A correlational research design was…

This study focused on the influence of instructional 3D Model Biological Systems (MBS) in understanding cell diversity. It determined the academic performance of the students according to content knowledge, quality of the artwork, and communication skills; and determined what group of learners benefited most from using 3D instructional models. It…

During the COVID-19 global pandemic students have been exposed to a multitude of stressors and disruptions to their every-day life. Mindfulness has been described in research as one tool to address anxiety and increase attention in young adolescent students (Goldin et al., 2008). This study's purpose was to understand the ways my seventh-grade…

The process of unpacking educational standards is one method elementary teachers can use to analyze the science standards they are required to teach in the classroom. However, it is not the only method for teachers to familiarize themselves with the science standards. The goal of this study was to determine if receiving formal training in…

Socioscientific issues (SSIs), or controversial scientific issues with social implications, influence members of society regardless of demographic. SSIs are contentious and ill-structured, meaning they do not have a definitive answer. To properly equip students with the tools needed to handle SSIs, undergraduate science curricula emphasize…

In this Perspective, we contribute to the "Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education" special issue "Opportunities and Challenges of Online Instruction--Blurring the Lines Between Online and On-Site Teaching and Learning" by introducing a framework to guide instructors in transitioning from on-site to online instruction.…

Scientific argumentation is a core scientific practice. Although scientific argumentation has been linked to increased learning of scientific content, improved reading, writing, and critical thinking, traditional science classrooms have not included scientific argumentation. Teachers often have little experience learning or teaching science…

Middle school students love to talk in multiple social settings, but talking in science can be a different situation. With the shift required in teaching the Next Generation Science Standards, students are tasked with making sense of phenomena often much different than a traditional science classroom. Traditional Science classrooms are one that…

Nanotechnology has been recognized as an important driver of the future economy, and so nanoscience is increasingly being incorporated into the undergraduate chemistry curriculum. This experiment includes the chemical synthesis, optical and chemical testing, and microscopic imaging of gold nanoparticles. Since nanoparticles are too small to…

In the sciences, the laboratory is one of the most impactful spaces for student learning, engagement, and experience. Prior knowledge gleaned during lecture and laboratory discussion (i.e., a course section designed to further emphasize conceptual content underlying experiments and inform students about laboratory procedures or safety precautions)…