We examined the structure of domain-specific academic science vocabulary, general academic vocabulary, and conceptual science knowledge and their impact on each other across two measurement points in a sample of 388 German third graders. Results show that the three constructs can be empirically differentiated. The high latent correlation between…

Measurement in the social sciences involves assigning values to particular empirical cases and plays a vital role in the research process, but it can be tricky to teach. Unless an undergraduate social sciences research methods course includes the collection of original data, many of the issues of measurement can seem abstract and arcane to…

Online learning has risen in popularity among learners, educators, and university administrators over the last 3 decades. However, one of the biggest challenges for educators is adapting to best practices, pedagogies, tools, and technologies when delivering instruction in this environment. Because learners have choices when enrolling in a…

Undergraduate students enrolled in ecology courses read peer-reviewed, scientific literature to learn how hypotheses are tested and to understand conclusions from research. This technical material can be difficult to understand for many students, thus inhibiting learning processes and reducing interest in courses or associated content. Using…

In the last few years, Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) has become one of the most important data analysis methods in comparative research. According to the guidelines of this method, there are certain steps that a researcher needs to follow, before causally analyzing the data for necessary and sufficient conditions. One of these steps is…

Many theoretical models of action research depict its process as cycles that include several sequential phases. In Bhutan, teachers use Kemmis and McTaggart's spiral model which has four phases of: "plan," "act," "observe" and "reflect" to conduct action research for their professional learning. As a growing…

The proportion of women in the IT sector is decreasing. In schools, girls tend to stay away from IT or take on roles in softer activities such as digital safety, social media. Studying and working in IT requires technical skillset. At the same time, the sector would need people with people and organizational skills as well. Technical skills can be…

Interest in virtual reality (VR) for teaching and learning in higher education is growing, given its many potential applications. VR offers a socially interactive environment with novel ways to engage students with materials, objects, and activities and provide students with experiences such as "field trips" that would be otherwise very…

Data science is becoming a mainstay in research. Despite this, very few STEM graduates matriculate with basic formal training in programming. The current lesson plan was developed to introduce undergraduates studying chemistry or biology to chemoinformatics and data science in medicinal chemistry. The objective of this lesson plan is to introduce…

This investigation studied the effects of the Multiple Literacies in Project-Based Learning science intervention on third graders' academic, social, and emotional learning. This intervention includes four science units and materials, professional learning, and post-unit assessments; features of project-based learning; three-dimensional learning…

I situate computer programming as a cultural practice. I develop this perspective in two ways: exploring how programming practices can support intercultural learning, and examining how programming tools themselves embed cultural assumptions and values. For the former, I study how relationships across difference are formed over computing activities…

This study examines the relationship between two secondary End of Course (EOC) exams, the Biology EOC and the English I EOC exams, and their impact on Emergent Bilingual (EB) students in a small district in South Texas. This study is a mixed methods study which uses both quantitative and qualitative data to answer three research questions: (a)…

Purpose: In this study a survey with a questionnaire was used to track the learning situation and core competencies of students in electrical engineering and computer science at the University of Science and Technology. A determination of areas that need to be strengthened is used as a reference in the cultivation of core competency in higher…

Thirty years after the last APSA-sponsored recommendations on the structure of the undergraduate political science major, new efforts at curriculum reform are under way. As a prelude to how the profession might respond, this article examines how political science departments made undergraduate curriculum changes during the 2010s. Based on a survey…

Assessments that are open-ended and student-centered may be used to encourage formation of networks between prerequisite material and new course content thereby promoting meaningful learning. Creative Exercises (CEs) are assessments that allow multiple correct answers and do not penalize for incorrect statements thereby inspiring creativity. CEs…