Microscopy skills are critical for many aspects of biology, yet they are notoriously difficult to teach, especially to large classes. We trialled the use of widescreen monitors with touch-screen capability connected to compound microscopes in an introductory-level plant biology lab. Working in teams, students used the screens to interpret,…

The purpose of this article is to share a new approach for introducing students to the definition and standard examples of Abelian groups. The definition of an Abelian group is revised to include six axioms. A bullseye provides a way to visualize elementary examples and non-examples of Abelian groups. An activity based on the game of Jenga is used…

Today technology allows for the utilization of new classes of mathematical objects which are themselves subject to new modes of student interaction. A series of notable examples may be found in the National Library of Virtual Manipulatives. These virtual manipulatives draw much of their power from their physical embodiment in the form of hand-on…

Learning to compute with fractions is a major challenge for many students and especially for students with disabilities (SWD). Phase 1 of this study employed a randomized pretest-posttest comparison design to test the effects of two versions of formative assessment combined with an instructional program called Fractions at Work. In one condition,…

Peristalis is a propulsive activity that involves both circular and longitudinal muscle layers of the esophagus, distal stomach, and small and large intestines. During peristalsis, the circular smooth muscle contracts behind (on the orad side) the bolus and relaxes in front (on the aborad side) of the bolus. At the same time, the longitudinal…

This study analyzed pre-service teachers' ability to identify and implement cognitive levels. The framework involved the use of the Concrete, Pictorial and Abstract (CPA) cognitive levels combined with the Virtual-level (CPVA-levels). The V-level involves applets and apps, and three digital-dynamic sublevels: virtual-Concrete, virtual-Pictorial…

This document presents a step-by-step description of an activity that demonstrates how learners at all levels and all ages can use percussion and percussion instruments to support their learning of English pronunciation.

Many students with learning disabilities demonstrate difficulty in developing a conceptual understanding of mathematical topics. Researchers recommend using visual models to support student learning of the concepts and skills necessary to complete abstract and symbolic mathematical problems. Virtual manipulatives (i.e., interactive visual models)…

Paper folding is an easy and inexpensive way to engage students artistically, culturally, and mathematically. The pinwheel base is the source for many origami playthings, from a pinwheel to a boat to a butterfly. This article explores a fourth grade activity that repurposes the pinwheel base into a rich and inexpensive manipulative for the review…

Several therapeutic strategies and approaches are used to facilitate handwriting skills in children with illegible writing. One strategy is weighted pencils; however, there is little empirical evidence of the strategy's efficacy. In case scenarios of three children who were unable to form letters, weighted pencils improved their handwriting, and a…

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of free rotate gesture used in multi-touch screen design on pre-school children's achievement in learning shape. Multi-touch screen design enables users to perform multiple finger gestures such as free rotate, pinch and spread. The gestures are often selected because it is similar to…

Another year of COVID-19 meant another virtual meeting but the Canadian Mathematics Education Study Group/Groupe Canadien d'Étude en Didactique des Mathématiques (CMESG/GCEDM) made the best of the situation and found ways to learn together and share connections. Having learned a lot from the 2021 virtual meeting, the executive was able to once…

This study aimed to determine the improvement in writing skills of science teaching materials for elementary school teachers students through the Project-Based Learning (PjBL) model. This study used a quasi-experimental method with One Group Pretest-Posttest Design using portfolio assessment sheets to write science teaching materials. Data were…

In theory, both virtual manipulatives and explicit instruction are viable options to support students with disabilities as they learn mathematics. This study explored the effect of a treatment package--an app-based virtual manipulative (Cuisenaire® Rods) in conjunction with explicit instruction--on students' acquisition and generalization of…

Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is an easy to use neuroimaging technique that is portable and maintains a liberal tolerance to movement. As such, fNIRS represents an ideal tool to observe children's neural activity as they engage in real-world classroom activities, such as the interaction with digital math apps on an iPad. Here, we…