In this paper, we highlight examples from school mathematics in which invariance did not receive the attention it deserves. We describe how problems related to invariance stimulated the interest of both teachers and students. In school mathematics, invariance is of particular relevance in teaching and learning geometry. When permitted change…

The aim of education is to ensure a holistic development towards knowledge and well-being. Despite exhaustive effort on embedding twenty-first century skills in science teaching, students show lack of interest to learn and pursue their science careers. This present study has attempted to develop an instrument for measuring attitude towards science…

Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) are at the forefront of conversations in education, not only in Indiana, but across the country. This conversation is crossing boundaries from primary and secondary education, to academia, to government agencies, to industry. The inherent focus on STEM comes from an understanding of the impending…

Decisions related to career choice are influenced by person's interactions with his or her environment. The purpose of this study was to examine the characteristics of a STEM (Science-Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) career choice. The study included two stages in which two different questionnaires were used. The purpose of the first…

While the impact of authentic research experiences in STEM on student engagement and interest in science has been documented, less is known about the role of peer communities in fostering this interest and engagement. This research explores the idea that a strong peer community can catalyze deep learning and engagement in scientific research among…

In recent years, there has been a rapid growth in interest about the relationship between the arts and the sciences. This article explores this developing relationship and the suggestion that science and science learning are not complete without the arts. We see three levels at which the arts might improve the teaching and learning of science. The…

Many countries desire more students to study science subjects, although relatively few students decide to study non-compulsory physics at upper-secondary school and at university. To gain insight into students' intentions to study non-compulsory physics, a longitudinal sample (covering 2258 students across 88 secondary schools in England) was…

In this paper, we use dimensions of the construct "science identity" as an analytic lens to tap into the motivation and learning of science center visits. This exploratory empirical study was based on a large international dataset drawn from 10 science centers in countries across Europe, Asia, and North America, to investigate the…

This paper aims to explore middle school children's interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in the context of Holland's model of vocational interests. The participants comprised 627 students aged 13 years, equally distributed by gender. The results showed that boys expressed stronger STEM interests than girls, with the…

Turning everyday activities such as baking into scientific activities is more than just fun: it is important for our children's futures. Science investigations provide an opportunity for children to learn about scientific concepts and listen to their peers, family, and community members, and to respond to their questions or ideas. It also provides…

When new PISA data are published, many researchers around the world analyse them with the aim of shedding light on all sorts of questions. One question in search of an answer: why are women under-represented in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) professions? Using data from the Program for International Student Assessment…

Research has shown that interest and engagement in learning physics declines with years of schooling, and leads to low enrolment later on in physics courses. Since the first experiences with physics in elementary education is important for the formation of attitudes and interest in physics, the aim of this research was to examine the contextual…

My dissertation is a pre-mid-post-test, quantitative research design, including surveys and written assessments, to answer these research questions: 1. How do students' science mindset vary over time when engaged in science inquiry activities? Is there a difference between male and female students? 2. Is there a relationship between 7th grade…

Attrition from the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) pipeline limits the number of graduates needed to meet STEM workforce demand and impedes efforts to diversify the workforce. Identifying factors that underlie academic success and STEM persistence is an important component to increasing the number of STEM graduates. The current…

This article reports findings from a study of an integrated science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education program on student interest and awareness in science and engineering. The analysis features grade 3-5 students from a high-poverty, urban school system in the Mid-Atlantic region. Through the quantitative analysis of…