Science fiction conventions are places where individuals with an interest in diverse genres and mediums can engage with a community that bridges the world of science fiction and fact. Many of these conventions provide a science "track" where science experts share their expertise and research on scientific findings and applications of…

A learner's perception of what a career in physics is like has a major impact on their decision to pursue physics professionally. This decision can also be influenced by a high school student's awareness of issues concerning diversity within the physics community. We surveyed current high school physics students and investigated their perception…

Motivating students to endure teacher education and enter teaching is a pressing challenge in many countries. We address this challenge by exploring the concept of "situational interest" (SI) in teacher education and students' interest in teaching. Survey data was collected from Norwegian student teachers (N = 347) using a…

Dutch secondary education counsellors and tutors guide students in their study profile choices. Case studies were used to identify factors that characterise profile recommendations. In Case Study 1, vignette (fictitious) students asked for advice. Of the 12 participants, eight provided product advice (study profiles) and 12 provided process advice…

Although widely used, video lectures may have negative effects on maintaining student interest. When content is presented in video lectures, information processing issues can contribute to a decrease in interest and engagement. One solution is to scaffold instruction so that information is processed efficiently, and interest is maintained. While…

This study utilized a qualitative case study design to explore participants' perspectives regarding the value of ECHO Education Nigeria (EEN) program. EEN is a social Learning Space created for educators in Nigeria in 2021. A survey on value creation was disseminated to all participants of EEN, and subsequent interviews were carried out with a…

Children's storybooks often contain fantasy elements, from dragons and wizards to anthropomorphic animals that wear clothes, talk, and behave like humans. These elements can impact children's learning from storybooks both positively and negatively, perhaps due in part to their ability to capture children's interest and attention. Prior research…

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…

This research explored ways in which educators can provide learners with differentiated instruction through student choice that provides engagement to positively interact with a student's reading identity. Throughout their learning journey, learners may have both positive and negative experiences with reading that directly affect their reading…

Educators have a critical stake in supporting the development of interest--as the presence of interest benefits sustained engagement and learning. Neuroscientific research has shown that interest is distinct from, but overlapping with, self-related information processing, the personally relevant connections that a learner makes to content (e.g.,…

As the world around us becomes more accessible, so do our students' options to engage with that information. With the increased disconnect within the classroom, many educators are seeking ways to re-engage students. Research supports the use of choice for reading within the classroom to increase engagement. The article establishes the impact of…

It is essential that concepts surrounding species interactions and their importance for biodiversity conservation are widely taught and understood. Incorporating playfulness into ecological education initiatives can attract more interest in these aspects of ecology. Over the last three decades Pokémon has engaged with millions of people by…

Considering the prevalence of mathematics teacher shortages in the United States, together with declining enrollments in teacher preparation programs, it is crucial for districts and teacher preparation programs alike to investigate new recruitment initiatives. In this pilot study, a university aimed to increase high school students' interest in…

The present study focuses on Chinese students' mathematics-specific grit and its relationship with students' deep/surface strategies and mathematics achievement. A total of 926 students from secondary schools in China participated in this study. The results of structural equation modeling indicated that consistency of interest had a negative…

Background: Circumscribed interests (CIs) are regarded as one of the common symptoms for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Although some studies have found attentional bias toward CI-related stimuli for individuals with ASD, few studies have directly explored the reasons for these findings. Method: Children with ASD (n = 15) and…