The purpose of this research was to investigate factors that influence academic achievement in high school. This study gathered data directly from high school students themselves. This research study utilized a mixed-methods design by blending quantitative analysis from survey data and qualitative analysis from in-depth interviews. The data…

Prior to the fall semester of 2017, the elementary preservice teachers who were enrolled in a science methods course engaged in a variety of field experiences across different settings, mostly informal. Beginning in the fall semester of 2017, students enrolled in this science methods course completed their field experience in formalized classroom…

In this article, art education researchers from four universities share a multisite research project dealing with teaching digital game design to preservice art educators. The research project was initially designed in response to recent trends to develop 21st-century skills in education, digital media, and art/design education, as advocated by…

Student satisfaction is used as one of the key elements to evaluate online courses, while perceived learning is considered as an indicator of learning. This study aimed to explore how online learning self-efficacy (OLSE), learner--content interaction (LCI), learner--instructor interaction (LII), and learner--learner interaction (LLI) can predict…

The purpose of this present action research study was to describe secondary students' feelings of self-efficacy in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Through a curriculum linked to a science fair project, the teacher-researcher focused on student-participants' perceptions of perseverance and task completion linked to STEM…

Limited research exists on rural student academic aspirations from a counseling perspective. Much of the existing research focuses on the high school years and their implications for college. This study explores the relationship between place attachment, academic self-efficacy, and academic aspirations in rural elementary students. The sample…

A multi-year study investigated the impact of incorporating student-directed discovery projects into introductory statistics courses. Pilot instructors at institutions across the United States taught statistics implementing student-directed projects with the help of a common set of instructional materials designed to facilitate such projects.…

What do children actually carry away from participating in planned activities in natural areas such as those in outdoor camps and schools? Prior research has seldom been rigorous in establishing participants' connection to, knowledge of, and orientation toward nature before intervention, followed by a clear specification of what range of…

Studies show that early engagement with mathematics leads to increased math achievement later in life. Yet, early childhood teachers do not regard mathematics as critical to young learners' development and lack confidence with helping children learn mathematics. Early childhood teacher comfort and engagement with mathematics is a critical element…

System Dynamics is a required course offered to junior Mechanical Engineering students at Penn State Erie, the Behrend College. It addresses the intercoupling dynamics of a wide range of dynamic systems: including mechanical, electrical, fluid, hydraulic, electromechanical, and biomedical systems. This course is challenging for students due to the…

Pre-service teachers, both Early Childhood Education majors and Secondary Education majors, were challenged through an assignment to plan and develop kits for learners with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to use in preparation for transitioning from school-age to work or independent or group home living. This Project-Based Learning (PBL) experience…

This qualitative case study conducted at a small private university in the U.S. found that preservice teacher self-efficacy increased over the course of four semesters when taught inquiry-based instruction from a Social Constructivist Theoretical framework. This study utilized "A Draw a Science Teacher Test Checklist (DASTT-C)" created…

This study focused on understanding female student persistence in a STEM community college program. The researcher conducted a mixed-methods study which utilized a student survey that asked both male and female students questions focused on encouragement received in school and perceived persistence level to complete their STEM program. Interviews…

This quasi-experimental study explores changes in preservice teachers' reported self-efficacy and knowledge of instructional strategies in supporting English language learners (ELLs) after participating in an electronic pen-pal project. Seventy-four preservice teachers (experimental = 35; control = 39) participated in this study. The intervention…

This article reports on original research into student perceptions of the implementation of an iPad-based English curriculum within a public secondary education setting. Building upon a theoretical foundation grounded in digital literacy and technology self-efficacy, this study captures the perceptions of male and female students who shed…