This experiment combines analytical techniques of solid-phase extraction (SPE) and gas chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC-QTOF-MS) to determine organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in river water as a means to develop and improve student understanding of the use of GC-QTOF-MS for qualitative and quantitative analysis. In…

This work aims to evaluate the evolution of chemical bonding concepts of high school students at public schools in southern Brazil. For this, we built the epistemological profile of each student who took part in a teaching-learning sequence (TLS) about this topic, based on the foundations of Bachelard's theory. Following the principles of the…

Organic electrosynthesis is an increasingly popular tool for driving and probing redox reactions. Recent advances in this field often employ an electrocatalyst to enhance the selectivity and efficiency of electrochemical reactions. A laboratory experiment was developed to introduce students to relevant mechanistic techniques in electrochemistry…

In an idealized General Chemistry Laboratory curriculum, students would hone their experimental design ability with practice encouraged by laboratory exercises designed to be open-ended. However, traditional General Chemistry Laboratory courses often lack opportunities for students to design their own experiments, instead opting to provide…

Powder diffraction is one of the most widely used analytical techniques for characterizing solid state materials. It can be used for phase or polymorph identification, quantitative analysis, cell parameter determination, or even full crystal structure analysis using the powerful Rietveld refinement method. As with much of modern crystallography,…

Highly efficient microwave-assisted organic synthesis is now commonplace in both industry and academia. Recently, a conductively heated sealed-vessel reactor was introduced that acts very similarly to a microwave reactor and is more affordable. Application of such reactors in teaching laboratories is advantageous because of the restricted window…

Students' scientific thinking skills can be empowered by implementing certain learning models in which they are given opportunities to perform some scientific activities. This study aims at investigating: (1) effect of guided inquiry learning model on scientific thinking skills; (2) effect of different types of scientific activities on scientific…

Purpose: This paper aims to show how collective embodiment with physical objects (i.e. props) support young children's learning through the construction of liminal blends that merge physical, virtual and conceptual resources in a mixed-reality (MR) environment. Design/methodology/approach: Building on Science through Technology Enhanced Play…

Purpose: The aim of this study is to examine the effect of extracurricular "Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics" (STEM) activities on the scientific creativity of secondary school students. Method: In the study a quasi experimental design with a pre-test post-test control group, one of the quantitative research designs, was…

Background/Context: The emphasis on scientific practices articulated by the National Research Council framework and the Next Generation Science Standards requires significant pedagogical shifts for U.S. science teachers. Purpose/Objective/Research Question/Focus of Study: This study provides a rare window into the challenges and opportunities…

Even though the educational researchers have developed and implemented various educational strategies to teach the concepts of the phases of the Moon and the formation of the lunar eclipse more effectively, many studies conducted by them in recent years reveal that the teachers still do not understand the causes and scientific processes related to…

Achieving the Dream (ATD) is one of 12 higher education and digital learning organizations that make up the Every Learner Everywhere (Every Learner) Network, whose mission is to help higher education institutions improve and ensure more equitable student outcomes through advances in digital learning, particularly among poverty-impacted, racially…

The aim of this study is to examine how the nature of science dimensions are represented in the secondary school 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grade science textbooks of the last twenty years. It is also within the scope of the research to investigate how these dimensions in the textbooks changed during the twenty years. The document analysis method was…

Literacy standards (National Governors Association Center for Best Practices & Council of Chief State School Officers, 2010) and best practices from Institute of Education Sciences practice guides (e.g., Baker et al., 2014; Kamil et al., 2008) encourage content-area teachers to use text reading to improve vocabulary and comprehension for…

This study focused on middle school science teachers' experiences in using technological tools to teach scientific inquiry skills in the middle school science classroom. Technological tools have been increasingly used in middle schools, but knowledge is lacking as to which tools are efficient in teaching scientific inquiry skills. The purpose of…