Most educational literature on conceptual change concerns the process by which introductory students acquire scientific knowledge. However, with modern developments in science and technology, the social significance of learning successive theories is steadily increasing, thus opening new areas of interest to discipline-based education research,…

This paper presents a literature review of science teaching approaches that seek to support equity in science classrooms, focusing on marginalization based on (i) race/ethnicity, (ii) social class/socioeconomic background, and (iii) religion. Considered were approaches that science teachers can use in science classes in secondary schools. They…

Holistic assessment is an evaluative approach in which assessors work backwards from an overall appraisal of work to determine the criteria relevant to individual student responses. One of the strongest proponents of this approach in higher education is Royce Sadler, whose theoretical contributions over recent decades provide a strong conceptual…

In the undergraduate student laboratory teaching, one of the most common goals is developing improved conceptual understanding linking theory and practice. This study presents a phenomenographic analysis of pharmacy students' conceptions of the theory--practice relation in the laboratory. Through semi-structured interviews with pharmacy students…

In this paper, we utilize the readily known theory of the ideal transformer to furnish a self-contained qualitative explanation on the AC-powered Thomson jumping ring (TJR) experiment.

This study seeks to elucidate the fundamental principles underlying the hydration, hydrolysis, and enolization of [beta]-diketones, aiming to enhance students' comprehension of the link between fundamental chemical principles and the practical implications of keto-enol tautomerization and diketone-gem diol equilibrium in diverse chemical…

This paper addresses a problem that greatly complicates the implementation of dialogic educational approaches in schools: the dilemma between driving children's talk towards normatively accepted conceptions and, at the same time, avoiding the introduction of these normative conceptions into the dialogue by the teacher. I argue that this dilemma is…

The focus of this response to Arthur Galamba and Brian Matthews's 'Science education against the rise of fascist and authoritarian movements: towards the development of a Pedagogy for Democracy' is to underpin a critical pedagogy that can be used as a counterbalancing force against repressive ideologies within science classrooms. Locating science…

This dissertation discusses the gestures produced by students as they learn about the inorganic chemistry topic of symmetry and group theory. Also included is an overview of the development and implementation of a symmetry and group theory laboratory activity, as well as an investigation seeking to promote gestural mimicry and uncover design…

This article addresses the problem of "education for all," and offers a research proposal that replaces procedural learning by a learning practice whereby all are engaged. Although educational research since 1990 of dialogical learning (DL) and collaborative learning (CL) have shown that it is possible to promote the learning practices…

Public perception of agriculture represents a significant barrier in preparing people to enter the agricultural sector because careers in agriculture are outdated, low paying, or less desirable. However, emphasis on science has been shown to attract students to school-based agricultural education (SBAE) programs. Research has shown that offering…

The creation and use of models in science is of great importance for knowledge production and communication. For example, toy models are often used as idealized explanatory models in physics education. Models can be a powerful tool for exploring phenomena in ways that facilitate learning. However, careful consideration of instruction and…

In chemistry, a eutectic mixture refers to a mixture of two or more components at which the lowest possible freezing point is observed. This phenomenon is covered in a wide range of curricula such as physics, chemistry, chemical engineering, and pharmacy to various depths. Despite the significance of this phenomenon in pharmaceutical compounding…

[This paper is part of the Focused Collection on Qualitative Methods in PER: A Critical Examination.] Qualitative research methods have provided key insights in physics education research (PER) by drawing on non-numerical data such as text or video data. While different methods towards qualitative research exist, they share two essential steps:…

Maintaining a commitment to social justice teaching can be especially challenging when navigating the bureaucratic systems and ever-spiraling responsibilities of the education system. To better understand how social-justice-oriented educators navigate these tensions, this paper uses qualitative methods to investigate the social justice problems of…