Laboratory courses are often designed using step-by-step protocols which encourage students to conduct experiments without thinking about what they are doing or why they are doing it. Such course design limits the growth of our students as scientists and can make it more difficult for a student to transition to the expectations of a research…

A critical component of scientific reasoning is the consideration of alternative explanations. Recognizing that decades of cognitive psychology research have demonstrated that relative cognitive accessibility, or "what comes to mind," strongly affects how people reason in a given context, we articulate a simple "cognitive…

In the context of introductory physics, we study student conceptual understanding of differentials, differential products, and integrals and possible pathways to understanding these quantities. We developed a multiple choice conceptual assessment employing a variety of physical contexts probing physical understanding of these three quantities and…

Used effectively, stereoscopic three-dimensional (3D) technologies can engage students with complex disciplinary content as they are presented with informative representations of abstract concepts. In addition, preliminary evidence suggests that stereoscopy may enhance learning and retention in some educational settings. Biological concepts…

With a national emphasis on integrated science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education in K-16 courses, incorporating technology in a meaningful way is critical. This research examines whether STEM and non-STEM teachers were able to incorporate technology in STEM courses successfully with sufficient professional development. The…

We apply a "tutorial design process", which has proven to be successful for a number of physics topics, to design curricular materials or "tutorials" aimed at improving student understanding of important concepts in a university-level introductory materials science and engineering course. The process involves the identification…

The focus of this research was to test the impact of an authentic science experience on preservice teachers' self-efficacy and their beliefs about their perceived outcomes with middle level students. Data show that there was a statistically significant decrease in the levels of self-efficacy towards teaching science and no significant change in…

Recent research conducted on adults in the United States indicates low ocean literacy (Ocean Project, 2009b, 1999), but there is a dearth of peer-reviewed research on K-12 students' ocean literacy. This paper presents two research studies that examined the ocean and environmental literacy of 464 K-12 students in five states. Like the majority of…

This paper summarizes the findings of a twenty year old pre-engineering program that is aimed at improving both the recruitment and retention of under-represented students pursuing careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). The Wright Science Technology and Engineering Preparatory Program (STEPP) was initiated in 1988 for…

There is virtually universal agreement on the need to strengthen science education at all levels in Ohio. Not only must the state be able to produce more and better scientists, but it is increasingly important for all citizens to become knowledgeable about scientific issues and analysis. This report presents the conclusions and recommendations…

Surveys about science projects and science fairs of (n=191) high school science department chairpersons found strong support for preservice training in structuring independent science research projects, belief that doing science research projects taught lessons that could not be duplicated by classroom instruction, and a slight majority agreement…

This self-appraisal checklist was designed by the Ohio State Board of Education to help Ohio teachers and administrators improve elementary science programs. The checklist is organized into seven major categories which represent essential aspects of an elementary science program, including: (1) philosophy; (2) organization and administration; (3)…

This self-appraisal checklist was designed by the Ohio State Board of Education to help Ohio teachers and administrators improve secondary science proqrams. The checklist is organized into seven major categories which represent essential aspects of a secondary science program, including: (1) philosophy; (2) organization and administration; (3)…

During the 2009-10 academic year, 1,444 8th grade students in the Canton City, Plain and Marlington Local School Districts (hereafter called Stark students) took the EXPLORE Test as part of a pilot project, "Ready to Go: Increasing Eighth Grade Readiness," sponsored by the Stark Education Partnership with funding from the Ohio College…

To determine whether present alternatives in library education in Ohio are adequate to the educational demand, a study of potential enrollment for graduate programs in library science during the coming decade was conducted as part of the Graduate Education for Librarianship in Ohio Project. Library associates (professional staff members without…