Little is known about the motivational factors or design features that might lead female career and technical education (CTE) health sciences students to persist in self-regulated engagement to win state achievement in serious simulation games (SSGs). In this study, 12th grade female CTE health sciences students played a 3-Level hand hygiene SSG…

Over the past several decades it has become increasingly important to understand nature of science (NOS) for scientific literacy in science education. Science education researchers have suggested using socio-scientific issues to create a context for that purpose. The present fast-moving coronavirus or COVID-19 pandemic as a socio-scientific issue…

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) measures student science achievement nationally, state by state, and, most recently, across selected urban school districts. Periodically, the framework underlying the science assessment is revised or updated. This document, "Science Framework for the 2019 National Assessment of…

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the consistency of pictorial representations of the atomic structure drawn by students on the basis of particular quantum numbers' characteristics. Participants were 192 students of the 12th grade of secondary Greek schools. This study's instrument, a paper-and-pencil assessment tool, included four…

This case study aims to investigate the effectiveness of an online science enhancement program in retaining ethnic minority students in science by providing them with opportunities to interact with cultural role-models of scientists and engineers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study draws on foundational theories of identity formation and…

Interest is key to learning. Video is a promising tool for interest development in education, but professionals in education are in need of more theory-grounded guidance for production, selection, and use of videos. In previous studies, we developed and validated a model on film's interest raising mechanisms in educational contexts, called the…

All private and public schools in the UAE had to run online classes as they closed their face-to-face classes due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the spring of 2021. In this context, the purpose of this study was to investigate the indicators of high school students' performance in online chemistry classes in a private school in Al Ain, UAE. A…

This study investigates how Grade 12 secondary school students in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) perceive and respond to teaching and learning on evolution. A mixed-methodology approach including a questionnaire and semi-structured interviews was used. The study shows that Saudi students are aware of the great significance that has been…

The current study expands on previous research on gender differences and similarities in science test scores. Using three different approaches -- differential item functioning, differential distractor functioning, and decision tree analysis -- we examine a high school science assessment administered to 3,849 10th-12th graders, of whom 2,021 are…

The internet is prevalent in society today, and user-friendly web-based productivity tools are readily available for developing diagnostic instruments. This study sought to determine the affordances of a web-based diagnostic instrument on ionisation energy (wIEDI) based on the pen-and-paper version, the Ionisation Energy Diagnostic Instrument…

Astronomy is seen as a "gateway" science, inspiring students to pursue Science-Technology-Engineering-Mathematics (STEM) related careers. However, there is little evidence that students' attitudes towards astronomy remain stable over time. By integrating Self-Determination Theory (SDT) and Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), we identified…

This paper is part of a larger study that investigated the 'Effectiveness of collaboration on low and high achieving school students' comprehension of electrochemistry in South Africa'. The study occurred in the Ximhungwe circuit of the Bohlabela district in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa. The theoretical framework for this study was…

Research on science-education reform affirms the importance of taking into consideration teachers? pedagogical beliefs in relation of the constructivist perspective to ensure successful implementation of a reform-oriented curriculum. In addition, prominent studies pinpoint the need for teachers to have sufficient pedagogical content knowledge…

The main aim of this research was to measure 10th and 12th grade students' biological conceptual understanding and competences through their upper secondary school studies. Data collection started at the beginning of the upper secondary school biology studies in the 10th grade. The same students participated in this research when they were in the…

Integrated science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) approach has been implemented all around the world. STEM approach highlights the integration of different STEM disciplines, the use of daily-life problems, and engineering design process, which provides a context for students to learn knowledge of STEM disciplines and apply the…