This dissertation proposes novel Domain Adaptation (DA) methods in real-world industrial settings, where the availability of labeled data is limited and test data can significantly differ from training data. Particularly, our research addresses key challenges in DA, including the applicability of DA methods in industrial settings, strategies to…

In a high school classroom, there are many factors that may influence academic achievement. One such factor may be due to the grit of individual learners. While much of the literature related to grit is focused on deficit ideological elements, structural elements, which are often overlooked, may also be present and could impact a student's ability…

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship and prediction of motivation, conceptual understanding, and critical thinking on metacognition in introductory physics. A correlational research design with multiple regression analysis was used to analyze the data from 84 first-year pre-engineering students from two public universities in…

Misconceptions coexisting with scientific understanding pose significant challenges in physics education. Inhibitory control may enable individuals to overcome interference from misconceptions. However, discerning the role of inhibitory control becomes intricate when the saliency of scientific- and misconception-related features varies in a…

In this paper, we present the results of an investigation into the effects of engaging with robotic telescopes during an Astronomy 101 (Astro101) course in the United States and Canada on the self-efficacy of students. Using an astronomy self-efficacy survey that measures both astronomy personal self-efficacy and instrumental self-efficacy, the…

The developmental growth of any society depends greatly on the progression and innovations made by students' in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The current study determines the moderating effect of gender on the relationship between senior school physics students' STEM self-efficacies and science identity. The study was a…

Problem solving is considered an essential ability for becoming an expert in physics, and individualized feedback on the structure of problem-solving processes is a key component to support students in developing this ability. Problem-solving processes consist of multiple elements whose order forms the sequential structure of these processes.…

Quantum mechanics is an integral course for physics students. An understanding of quantum concepts is imperative for enrollment in physics graduate programs, participating in research within physics fields, and employment with companies developing quantum technologies. This study analyzes 188 U.S. research-intensive institutions' course catalogs…

University Physics is a foundational course offered to undergraduate students in science and engineering programs outside of physics majors and it represents a foundational discipline in science and engineering education. However, traditional University Physics instruction has many areas in need of improvement. A questionnaire for undergraduate…

This article reports on a controlled study to investigate the efficacy of incorporating explicit discussions about the duality of human reasoning and its implications for learning in physics instruction. The central goal is to probe to what extent, if at all, such discussions improve student performance on tasks that tend to elicit intuitively…

Reform documents advocate for innovative pedagogical strategies to enhance student learning. A key innovation is the integration of science and engineering practices through engineering design (ED)-based physics laboratory tasks, where students tackle engineering design problems by applying physics principles. While this approach has its benefits,…

We used student surveys to assess changes in proficiency with integral calculus, calculus self-efficacy, and physics self-efficacy in a second semester course of introductory physics focused on electricity and magnetism. In addition to tracking the fraction of quantitative problems solved correctly on the calculus proficiency survey, we also used…

This study investigates how undergraduate physics majors develop an interest in specific subfields. We examine interest formation through the lens of social cognitive career theory (SCCT) using four SCCT constructs: learning experiences, self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and proximal environmental influences. We conducted 27 interviews with…

Students often search for answers online, and gravitate to short explanation videos, which are abundant online. While they seem useful and can be quite engaging, it is unclear if these videos benefit classroom learning. We hypothesized that when carefully matched to the class instruction, video can be helpful, but that benefits will depend on the…

Today's students must excel in collaboration and communication to succeed, particularly in science education. Preliminary observations revealed that Acehnese students exhibited poor teamwork and communication skills. Socio-scientific issues can enhance these competencies when integrated into science teaching. This study used the "Tarek…