Stars form from large clouds of gas and dust that contract under their own gravity. The birth of a star occurs when a fusion reaction of hydrogen into helium is ignited in its core. The key variable that determines the formation of a star is mass. If the mass of the contracting cloud is below a certain minimum value, instead of a star, a substelar…

In this research, the environmental identity of pre-service science teachers and their behaviors towards environmental problems were examined according to gender and grade. In the study, a path diagram is formed by evaluating the relationship between the variables. There were 215 pre-service science teachers of a university in Turkey participated…

This article is the result of a professional collaboration between two educationists (working originally in the fields of mathematics and science education), who share a passion for exploring collaborative approaches to the professional development of educators. It extends ideas explored in earlier work by focusing on the concept of professional…

Design and technology (D&T) emerged from a very different education context than it finds itself in today. D&T was to be included in the National Curriculum for England because it was perceived that what children learnt from design and technological activity could not be learnt in another way (DES/WO, 1988). Furthermore, it connected a…

Locating political education in a global time of pathos and apathy, this article explores some complexities that derive from various notions of human distance and affect potentialities of democracy as a way of life. It begins with a diagnosis of current, global realities and discusses the philosophical act of diagnosis as such. The operations of…

This study discusses the potential of the Jigsaw cooperative method in the teaching of organic chemistry. Such an approach was used in five classes with Brazilian secondary school students. Results indicate better learning regarding the development of knowledge about the nomenclature, application, and identification of functional groups at the…

In current educational research, there is an increasing acceptance among researchers to emphasize that students must be educated on scientific ways of thinking. Simultaneously, science education practice has focused on the development of scientific thinking skills which are associated with scientific inquiry rather than memorization skills. When…

This case study describes an alternative process-focused approach to a group project assignment in an undergraduate Systems Analysis and Design (SAD) course. This approach more closely reflects the incremental and iterative nature of Information Systems Development Projects (ISDP) through expanded scope, modified instructions, and reallocation of…

Understanding the concept of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) and its interaction with matter (absorption, reflection, and transmission) can be difficult for students in seventh and eighth grade physical science classes. This inquiry-based activity (IBA) is aimed at improving their understanding of these concepts by exploring the interaction of EMR…

This theoretical essay critically examines the impact of Coladarci's 2007 article, "Improving the Yield of Rural Education Research: An Editor's Swan Song," which he composed at the conclusion of his tenure as editor of the Journal of Research in Rural Education. Using boundary theory and "awayness" as a metaphor for…

Stereotype threat theory (STT) presents a potential explanation for differences in achievement in math and science for women. Specifically, STT postulates that the perceived risk of confirming a negative stereotype about an individual's identity group acts as a psychological burden that negatively impacts performance. This study is the third in a…

An essential skill for success in upper-division physics curricula is the ability to work with and apply mathematical and physical concepts through Cartesian and non-Cartesian coordinate systems. These skills are most notably necessary in electricity and magnetism, wherein students must build and solve integrals and perform vector derivatives in…

This study examines gross anatomy students' perception of lecture and the value of lecture based on student performance. Following a single lecture, students (n=85) completed a questionnaire asking about their perceptions of lecture using a 1(low) -- 10(high) rating scale and a five question, multiple-choice quiz. Students later answered these…

The use of video productions in chemistry courses, though pedagogically beneficial, is not sufficient in and of itself. Students must also be willing to engage with these productions, especially when the videos are meant to be viewed prior to a class. Accordingly, we describe herein the implementation of two simple but effective strategies to…

Elementary particle physics is gradually implemented into science curricula at the high school level. However, common presentations on educational, semi-technical or popular level contain or support severe misconceptions. We discuss in particular the notion of 'particle', the interaction between them and the use of Feynman diagrams. In many cases…