The scope of this preliminary study revolves around investigating the effectiveness of experiential learning in upper-year science laboratory courses in a post-pandemic era. In this study we have explored two key questions: 1. Can experiential learning facilitate independent inquiry in an upper-year undergraduate laboratory in a post-pandemic era?…

As a model study for improving undergraduate organic chemistry laboratories with contemporary research concepts and practices, we evaluated a project module aiming at the synthesis of two porphyrin compounds. The module was implemented in a format that differed in several ways from that of a traditional course. It was designed for small student…

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to study the popular educational broadcasting of Julius Sumner Miller and its intersections with contemporary science policy and education. Design/methodology/approach: The paper draws on archival research including resources so far unused by historians of science or of broadcasting and audio-visual resources…

The chemical experiment in this study is specifically created for undergraduate students studying energy and the environment. The target of the experiment is for students to comprehend the deactivation mechanism of the Ce/TiO[subscript 2] catalyst by oxides of phosphorus through practical experiments and enhance their knowledge of environmental…

We describe a three-day advanced organic laboratory experience that includes the solid-phase synthesis of an unknown three amino acid polypeptide for junior/senior undergraduate chemistry majors. Students conduct a series of 1D and 2D NMR experiments (HSQC, HMBC, TOCSY) and analyze the data to identify the side chain residues of the peptide and…

Teaching in rural schools is frequently marked by challenges ranging from restricted technological infrastructure and geographical remoteness to sparse professional development. Guided by the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), this paper reports findings from a sequential explanatory mixed-methods study that investigated…

This study employed a mixed-methods design to investigate the impact of activities developed by the Ministry of National Education (MoNE) on the scientific creativity and scientist perceptions of gifted 5th-grade students. The research used a one-group pretest-posttest design with a sample of 22 students from a Science and Art Education Centre in…

This study thoroughly explores the relationships between the challenges faced by students and the alternative problem-solving strategies employed. By analyzing these connections, the research aims to offer a comprehensive understanding of how students address difficulties in science learning and the adaptive strategies they apply. Through this…

Within the scope of this investigation, educational instruments grounded on materialist ontology were employed to undertake a semantic analysis of the concepts of cell and the mechanisms of living organisms as they appear in biology and natural science textbooks. Drawing upon the ontological categories applied to distinct biological system levels,…

This research analyzed the state of metacognition in South African Physical Science classrooms, the extent to which South African Physical Science teachers possess metacognitive awareness, and how effective the teachers are in fostering metacognition. Assessment of the current state of metacognition in a sample of Physical Science classes at two…

Plant extracts and their components have been reported to have antimicrobial properties against phytopathogens. Although such properties could be harnessed for the development of new pathogen control strategies, there are no standardised methods for their assessment in different extracts. The laboratory exercise presented here involves the use of…

The urea cycle disorder drug glycerol phenylbutyrate (Ravicti) is presently one of the most expensive medications in the United States, with annual costs estimated at $800,000 as of 2023. An expedient synthesis of this orphan drug was successfully adapted for the undergraduate organic chemistry laboratory. Activation of 4-phenylbutyric acid with…

As the 21st century progresses, we are increasingly reminded of the importance of and need for green chemistry, which also leads to the corresponding need for green chemistry education. The UC Berkeley Department of Chemistry developed a green chemistry laboratory curriculum-the "General Chemistry Green Curriculum" ("GC[superscript…

Einstein's derivation of special relativity theory (SRT), based on hypothetical reasoning and thought experiments, is regarded as a prime example of physics theory development. In secondary education, the introduction of SRT could provide a great opportunity for students to engage in physics theorizing, but this opportunity is largely being missed…

Concepts and practices surrounding measurement uncertainty are vital knowledge for physicists and are often emphasized in undergraduate physics laboratory courses. We have previously developed a research-based assessment instrument--the Survey of Physics Reasoning on Uncertainty Concepts in Experiments (SPRUCE)--to examine student proficiency with…