In this study, we aimed to develop an instrument that could be used to measure students' achievement in modern physics at high school level in a valid and reliable manner. The study was carried out in fall 2013-2014 with a total of 304 students. In this study, expert opinions were obtained to determine the test's content validity. The reliability…

Determining the ethnic differences in academic performance among immigrant students is important in terms of adapting them into the system they live in. Examining the variables related to students' performance will be a guide in overcoming the issue. The purpose of this study is to examine the direct effect of economic, social, and cultural status…

Whether the current post-16 qualifications system in the UK is fit for purpose has long been under discussion, with many calling for a broader, more interdisciplinary approach to preparation for university. This paper examines the relationship between post-16 (A-level) qualifications and degree success for students on the University of Exeter's…

General chemistry is a gateway course for most STEM majors, so student success is a priority for chemistry faculty. Providing quality information resources for students, including textbooks, is one way that instructors can support student learning. However, these resources can be prohibitively expensive for some students, causing them to opt out…

This study, which was reviewed through the Registered Report process, examined the initial efficacy of the Scientific Explorers program (Sci2) on second-grade students' science achievement. Sci2 is grounded in the growing body of empirical research on science instruction, embedding principles of explicit instruction within a guided inquiry-based…

Teaching organic chemistry requires supporting learning strategies that meaningfully engage students with the challenging concepts and advanced problem-solving skills needed to be successful. Such meaningful learning experiences should encourage students to actively choose to incorporate new concepts into their existing knowledge frameworks by…

General chemistry courses are key gateways for many Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) majors. Here, we report on the implementation and evaluation of an adaptive, ALEKS-based online preparatory module (PM) for general chemistry. The module was made available in Summer 2018 at no cost to all students entering any section of…

This paper reports on the relationship between the pre-service teachers' enacted Topic Specific Pedagogical Content Knowledge (eTSPCK) observable in the classroom teaching of Organic Chemistry and learner achievement in the topic. The study employed a mixed-methods research design with a sample of 17 pre-service teachers (PSTs). The PSTs were…

The General Biology-Measuring Achievement and Progression in Science (GenBio-MAPS) assessment measures student understanding of the "Vision and Change" core concepts at the beginning, middle, and end of undergraduate biology degree programs. Assessment coordinators typically administer this instrument as a low-stakes assignment for which…

The "Current Insights" feature is designed to introduce life science educators and researchers to current articles of interest in other social science and education journals. In this installment, I highlight three that explore how different types of stress can produce different educational outcomes, how studying by writing questions can…

This research explores whether classroom life (CL), textbooks (TE), and learning initiative (LI) are mediators between instruction (P) and science performance, as well as whether these mechanisms are moderated by gender. 484 eighth grade students completed the questionnaire with four subscales of P, LI, TE, and CL. For the needs of triangulation…

Self-efficacy scales have been used widely across curriculum and demographic structures, while retaining their objectivity in a specific domain. This pilot study aimed to test the validity and reliability of adapted scales that incorporated four sources of self-efficacy (mastery experiences, vicarious experiences, social persuasion, and emotional…

This study explores the association between intellectual risk taking and science achievement of gifted students and difference in grade levels and gender. The participants were 122 sixth, seventh and eighth grade gifted students in Turkey. In data collection, "science achievement test" and "intellectual risk taking scale in learning…

For the possibility of using competitive tasks from the Biology Olympiad (BiO), either directly or after certain adaptations for everyday teaching tasks in the teaching process, it was aimed to determine if students could work meaningfully with them. The success of 2nd-year secondary school students (n = 113) in solutions of tasks (n = 5)…

Employers believe that people with the ability to work in teams can bring success to their business. Therefore, it is very essential to start cultivating students' teamwork skills in lower-secondary school to prepare students for the future. This study took "Physics in Bicycles" as an example to explore the effect of Teaching and…