This study describes the use of a pictorial-based approach to the exploration of minority preservice elementary teachers' (PSETs) professional conceptions about science teaching and learning. Pictorial representations instead of written reports on prior learning experiences with science were used as a data-gathering tool. In this study, we…

It is often challenging for physics instructors to dedicate time during a course to engage students in developing strategic approaches to learning in addition to problem-solving skills and content knowledge. In this work, we introduce a simple modification to our teaching practice with the purpose of fostering student development of self-regulated…

Researchers increasingly take advantage of the comparative case design to build theory, but the degree of case dependence is occasionally discussed and theorized. We suggest that the comparative case study design might be subject to an often underappreciated threat--dependence across cases--under certain conditions. Using research on innovation…

Issues regarding scientific explanation have been of interest to philosophers from Pre-Socratic times. The notion of scientific explanation is of interest not only to philosophers, but also to science educators as is clearly evident in the emphasis given to K-12 students' construction of explanations in current national science education reform…

In teaching, students' representations could constitute an obstacle to the construction of scientific knowledge and are often considered stable cognitive structures whose organization is sought to be inferred through questionnaires and interviews. This study aims at identifying and analyzing high school students' representations related to the…

At a time when all course instruction had been moved online, it seemed wishful thinking for a group of undergraduate students to begin authentic, independent research. With curious, creative, and motivated mindsets; however, we learned not only that such research was possible during a global pandemic, but that it could provide vital learning…

Active-learning pedagogies often require group work. We tested aspects of forming groups in a nonmajors Biology class. We asked whether large or small groups affected student learning outcomes and attitudes towards working in groups. We placed students in groups of three or six and students stayed in their groups for the term. We measured learning…

Public perception of agriculture represents a significant barrier in preparing people to enter the agricultural sector because careers in agriculture are outdated, low paying, or less desirable. However, emphasis on science has been shown to attract students to school-based agricultural education (SBAE) programs. Research has shown that offering…

In recent years there has been a movement towards offering interdisciplinary curricula within higher education. While there are numerous benefits associated with interdisciplinary learning, the disciplinarily focused structure and culture of higher education can constrain interdisciplinary activities, and the challenges associated with developing…

Women are underrepresented and denied equal opportunities in the scientific community as a result of a rigid research culture and a lack of genuine academic support. Higher Education should go beyond the superficial treatment of women's empowerment. This article reflects on the heightened gender-based inequality during pandemic and calls for the…

Self-efficacy is an important measure in science education as it is predictive of persistence and success in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) courses and is an influential factor in students' decisions to major in STEM fields. It is unclear what effect active teaching strategies have on students' self-efficacy, which is…

The study is an analysis of the reaction of students in a faculty of natural and agricultural sciences (NAS) to subtitles and also includes an investigation of their responses thereto. Reception of and responses to academic English (close to verbatim transcription), plain English, and keyword English subtitles were explored by showing participants…

Climate change presents a global human challenge, and many countries are paying increased attention to climate change issues. Chemistry plays a critical role in addressing climate change. The dual nature of pre-service chemistry teachers' identity determines the importance of their understanding of climate change. This study employed a…

Traditional academic communication practices tend to be jargon-heavy jargon and lack public relatability. Thus, it is paramount that scientists learn to develop effective communication skills. The Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition is one avenue to refine and build science communications skills. Using one static slide as a visual supplement,…

This article presents a pilot experiment on subjects from three Social Sciences degrees at two public Andalusian universities. The aim is to analyze the teaching guides and their presentation to students as a means of communicating with them, primarily through the video format instead of the conventional written format. To this end, attractive,…