The research practices of academics of science teaching and learning (academics-"of-st&l") may be considered a connected, constructed landscape, the peaks of which are shaped by accumulation of like practices. Entangling interviews with twenty-seven academics-"of-st&l" and document analyses, in this paper I map the…

This study evaluates the use of an open-ended question to determine students' knowledge structure on the topic of galvanic cells. The open-ended question was developed and administered to 163 Grade 10 students who had earlier completed a course on electrochemistry. Students' responses were marked as well as coded on the basis of the fields…

In this age of science, there is a need for rational individuals who are open to innovations to be able to limit and combine information and establish inter-system relationships. Problem solving is considered to be the most important cognitive activity that requires mental effort and will-power. The processes applied in mind when solving a…

An important but challenging problem-solving technique in introductory mechanics is that of using "tilted axes." For inclined plane and centripetal motion problems, using axes that are aligned relative to the ramp direction or the radial direction (rather than the horizontal and vertical) yields equations that are conceptually more…

When students first encounter energy bands in semiconductors, and how the properties of simple semiconductor devices such as the "p-n" junction diode depend on them, the concept can be a bit difficult to grasp. As part of an undergraduate physics course for non-STEM majors that includes semiconductors and simple devices based on the…

Many teachers like to introduce the Bohr atom toward the end of an introductory physics course. This is an excellent idea, given the historic importance of Bohr's 1913 work, which provided the bridge from Planck's quantized interaction of matter and radiation (1900) to the full theory of quantum mechanics (1925-28). Unfortunately, the version of…

A novel experiment has been developed with a goal of enhancing engagement and deepening understanding of fundamental molecular biology concepts. In this laboratory activity, students investigate the composition of pet foods through quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis. By conducting this experiment, students address a scientific…

Genetics has become increasingly important in everyday life, a fact that is reflected in state and national science education standards. This study examines the relationship between 474 fifth graders' understandings of the core ideas of "inheritance of traits" and "variation of traits". A confirmatory factor analysis,…

North Korea's development of nuclear weapons and, more recently, intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) has added a grave threat to world order. The threat presented by these weapons depends critically on missile range, i.e., the ability to reach North America or Europe while carrying a nuclear warhead. Using the limited information available…

The goal of this paper is to propose tables of contextual cognition as a tool for research and a model to facilitate the intercultural dialogue on science education in schools. The proposal arose from a qualitative case study, involving the use of tables of compared cognition in biology classes in a Brazilian public school. The results indicate…

As part of a research study on student reasoning in quantum mechanics, we examine students' use of ontologies, or the way students' categorically organize entities they are reasoning about. In analyzing three episodes of focus group discussions with modern physics students, we present evidence of the dynamic nature of ontologies, and refine prior…

This dissertation presents results from research and curriculum development related to student understanding of the principle of superposition in introductory optics and upper-division quantum mechanics courses. The focus is on the extent to which students are able to relate the mathematical formalism used in physics to real-world phenomena. In…

In this chapter we envision the science classroom as an authentic scientific community. In this vision, student ideas can influence the trajectory of scientific investigation. Teachers serve as experts and guides, but they also can learn alongside their students. To do this, they need to listen to the students and be able to build on students'…

In this approach, formulae based mnemonics by counting lone pair of electrons (localized or delocalized) have been highlighted by innovative and time economic way to enhance interest of students' who belong to paranoia zone of chemistry for the prediction of Hybridization state of hetero atom and Aromatic, Anti aromatic, non aromatic behavior of…

The relevant literature has shown that student teachers hold alternative conceptions of soil erosion. Even though Turkish science student teachers are expected to teach the concept of 'soil erosion' in lower secondary schools (grades 5-8), none of the earlier studies have explored their conceptual growth and/or mental models throughout a 4-year…