Although teachers' instruction has been extensively studied, there is a dearth of research investigating how teachers design lessons and integrate new information into their existing lessons. This study utilized a case study approach to examine how teachers engaged in a nanoscale science professional development experience integrated new science…

This study on the Estonian lower secondary (7-9th grade) science curricula, is seen as an important framework for educators preparing students as tomorrow's citizens able to reflect on sustainable energy development. As the curriculum is taken to be the major document allowing insights into Estonian educational standards, this study identifies…

Student perceptions toward homework assigned in general chemistry courses was investigated in this study. The study participants were required to complete homework assignments using two different online systems, ALEKS (adaptive-responsive system) and Sapling (traditional-responsive system). An online survey investigating their general perceptions…

In practical work focussing on conceptual development, students spend valuable in-class time on collecting data rather than making sense out of it. This provides a barrier to learning about the targeted concept. To address this problem, we developed an approach that we coin "collaborative data collection." Using a practical on the topic…

Critical thinking skills are one of the main competencies to be achieved in learning. Critical thinking skills can be taught through various methods, such as integrating through student worksheets (LKPD). Observations on the use of LKPD conducted at SMA Negeri 1 Parepare showed that the LKPD used did not support the development of students'…

One way of triggering students' interest in chemistry is making chemistry education more meaningful. Four characteristics of meaningful chemistry education (MCE) were identified in projects that involved a redesign of curriculum materials: daily life context, the need-to-know principle, students' input, and the macro--micro connection. Chemistry…

This study aimed to determine the utilization of research results of the selection of marine fungi for milkfish ("Chanos chanos") feed. The study was conducted in stages, starting with identifying the issues in the learning activities of biotechnology concepts, followed by experiments to identify research methods and products, selecting…

Chemicals are characteristic of chemistry education practices at all educational levels. The aim of this study is to explore teachers' didactic rationales when reasoning about the use of chemicals in their teaching practice. Experienced upper secondary chemistry teachers in Sweden were interviewed about their considerations regarding why, when,…

The concept of relative density is introduced in the middle school and high school curricula by an intuitive approach based on the phenomena of immersion and flotation. In high school, the same concept is taught as the ratio between the masses of two bodies of the same volume. This dichotomy of the concept of relative density between the two…

Herbivores are important to ecosystems because they transfer energy stored in plant matter to other organisms. However, when herbivores occur in high abundances, they can become pests and harm the plants that form the basis of food webs. Mangroves are saltwater tolerant trees found along most tropical and subtropical shorelines. Because mangroves…

We often say food and fuels "contain" energy. It is more accurate to say that energy is stored in the "fuel-oxygen system" generated during photosynthesis. It is definitely "not" stored in fuels or food (except for the very small amount of energy that can be obtained during anaerobic respiration). Aerobic respiration…

Deep science understanding is reflected in students' ability to use content and skills when making sense of the world. Assessing deep understanding requires measuring complex constructs that combine elements of content and skills. To develop valid measures of complex constructs, we need to understand how their theoretical dimensionality, reflected…

This manuscript is meant to support secondary school teachers in their constant effort to find novel ways to engage students. Adolescents seem particularly stimulated by time-travelling scenarios, like the famous "wormhole billiard ball paradox" proposed by J. Polchinski in 1990, which are usually solved through closed time-like curves…

When thinking about Olympic winter sports and watching events on television, people mostly focus on events where the chances of success are high for fellow-countrymen. For example, in the Netherlands speed skating is considered the main winter sports event. But with Kimberley Bos there is now also a Dutch medal candidate for the Winter Olympics…

In the context of the current COVID-19 pandemic, we deem of importance the identification of what content is privileged in secondary schools around health and disease. From our point of view, a relevant task is to accompany science teachers in their transit from teaching information to be evoked to teaching knowledge on that content that enables…