This paper presents a framework for self-regulated learning (SRL) that is based on the conceptualisation of prominent constructs in the literature. To explore opportunities that promote SRL in educational contexts, it is necessary to frame conceptually the influences that empower individuals to think and feel as active participants in their…

Gamification has a strong track record of improving student engagement and learning in the chemical sciences. Meta-analyses of different approaches to gamification have highlighted that providing a game fiction, encouraging students to work in teams, and breaking games into smaller "quests" are particularly effective. Here, we aimed to…

In this paper, we describe the design, development, and implementation of a curriculum based on teaching computer science using an industry-standard game-design software: Unity 3D. We discuss the theoretical underpinnings of our instructional design process and steps we have taken to introduce complexity and maintain student motivation. We discuss…

Teachers struggle to reach all students and to lead them to mastery of the various disciplines they teach. However, only a few student display persistence and tenacity to accomplish academic assignments and goals set by teachers, schools, and districts. This paper explores the concept of persistence and how to develop persistence in students.…

Habits are critical for supporting (or hindering) long-term goal attainment, including outcomes related to student learning and well-being. Building good habits can make beneficial behaviors (studying, exercise, sleep, etc.) the default choice, bypassing the need for conscious deliberation or willpower and protecting against temptations. Yet…

In this article, research tracing the historical progression of agency within recent educational reforms and empirical research from a variety of classrooms (geographic regions and grade levels) is discussed to document the power of agency across contexts. This article aims to propose a collaborative way of thinking about student agency from…

When children of color enter their classrooms each year, many often encounter low expectations, disconnection, and other barriers to their success. In "The Innocent Classroom," Alexs Pate traces the roots of these disparities to pervasive negative stereotypes, which children are made aware of before they even walk through the school…

Self-determination theory postulates that student motivation can be enhanced by supporting physical education students' basic needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Physical education teachers are in a unique position to motivate and help their students to achieve the best possible outcomes in physical education. First, this article…

In this article, Merrilyn Goos looks at beliefs about the nature of mathematics and perceptions of mathematics teachers in examining "why teachers matter." It is difficult for researchers to specify exactly how different types of teaching and teacher qualities affect student achievement because this would require untangling the…

Students with anxiety are prone to giving up a difficult work assignment before they even start it. So how can teachers help these students develop skills to successfully start and finish assignments and succeed in school? Behavioral analyst Jessica Minahan offers some practical solutions that teachers can implement in the classroom to motivate…

Do your students occasionally seem bored? That's ok, says John Spencer. Doing tedious tasks or spending some time without stimulation can actually be great for creativity, freeing up your brain to make connections it might not otherwise have made. Spencer walks us through why our modern culture is so resistant to boredom and how we can cultivate…

The paper picks up from the widespread use by politicians and some educational theorists of maximising (including optimising) notions about those being educated such as 'reach their full potential' or 'make the best of themselves' or 'develop their talents to the full'. The paper discusses then puts some of these ideas on one side to focus on the…

This topic brief is one in a series on personalized learning prepared for Conversations with Innovators, 2018. Active student responding (ASR) strategies promote meaningful engagement by all students and have been shown to increase student participation and decrease classroom disruption while also providing real-time formative assessment…

Passive learners usually do not have the kind of instrumental motivation and determination for learning English. A sample dictionary definition of passive is "accepting or allowing what happens or what others do, without active response or resistance". Passive learners take in new information and knowledge quietly, but they typically do…

VR is not a space-age novelty for intense video gamers. It is a legitimate digital tool that can enhance the English language arts (ELA) curriculum and enrich--but not replace--traditional pedagogy. And it is surprisingly easy to implement, even for introductory-level technology users. In this article, the authors discuss the strategies and tools…