Spatial reasoning has been shown to be an important, trainable cognitive skillset for developing successful engagement in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), but little empirical work has been conducted in the context of digitally mediated pedagogies. This paper reports on a study into the effectiveness of a technologically…

This article presents the views of 72 Australian middle school students from 12 metropolitan schools across six states and territories as to their understanding of leadership. Initially, literature is reviewed regarding the developments in middle-years education and theories of leadership pertinent to student leadership. The research methodology…

Moderating the intensity and expression of our emotions is necessary for successful engagement in learning. This systematic review explored, "what are schools doing to support autistic children and young people to develop their emotion regulation skills?" Critical analyses considered the inclusiveness of interventions and whether/how…

Educational researchers have long noted the apparent link between positive student attitudes and a student's desire to continue their study of particular subjects beyond the compulsory years of schooling, with much of the research motivated by concerns around declining student participation rates in high-school and university. However,…

People who regard nature as important and personally meaningful are often compelled to conserve it. This compulsion is increasingly vital in a world where global climate and biodiversity crises are worsening, with younger generations set to bear most of the resulting ecological burden. By understanding why children and adolescents value nature, we…

In recent years, the science education research community has become increasingly interested in the learning domain of Einsteinian physics (EP). While the literature has provided accounts of how EP education can impact secondary and undergraduate students' attitudes and engagement with physics, we still lack such research with younger students.…

The fields of science and literacy education continue to be shaped by pervasive gender inequality. Previous research has documented how the formation of a 'science identity' is contingent on access to science capital while research in literacy education continues to highlight how boys struggle in their literacy acquisition. Despite a robust…

Few studies in science education have examined how place-based experiences influence students' STEM career aspirations. Rural school students' lived experiences of place and non-traditional STEM career aspirations such as farming are scarcely considered in dominant narratives around science aspirations and career pathways. Adopting a critical…

Student disengagement is influenced by the degree of success that is experienced in the mathematics classroom. In turn, success is often determined by the depth of understanding that students gain during predetermined time frames. This paper reports on the Five Question Approach to teaching mathematics which provides teachers with greater…

Building on work that brings literacy instruction and student science learner identity together, this study addresses a gap in research related to student experiences as readers in middle school science classrooms. To understand student perceptions of pedagogical approaches to reading in science, we asked 45 middle school students to reflect on…

A safe, supportive school climate is critical for school effectiveness. Unfortunately, the research linking a positive school climate to critical student outcomes includes few systematic reviews of the school climate literature and no reviews focused on the effects of interventions to improve school climate. This review examined the methodological…

The purpose of this review study was to conduct a thematic exploration of prior studies related to the transition between primary and secondary school. The aim of the paper was to discover (1) the extent of earlier research, (2) how earlier research thematises social and emotional issues, and (3) suggestions of those studies concerning how to…

Children are shaped by what they see and hear around them at home and at school. This can include race-related discourse that posits some members of society above others. The 12-14 year old children in two Australian Grade 8 classes were not exempt. Although previously they had very minimal interaction with Aboriginal Australians, all 47 students…

Prospective middle school pre-service teachers' knowledge and affect in Australia has had little empirical research. In this study, 108 graduate entry pre-service teachers were surveyed for their knowledge of middle years' mathematics, confidence, and self efficacy at the commencement of a mathematics curriculum course. It was found that their…

This paper provides insight into middle school students' perceptions and reactions to their participation in the Australian "National Assessment Program--Literacy and Numeracy" (NAPLAN). A case study was conducted over 10 months at two Queensland schools with different approaches to NAPLAN implementation. Student voice was elicited via…