This qualitative phenomenological study aimed to explore middle school students' perceptions of using the school-based cooperative problem-based learning (SB-CPBL) approach in learning science. The study examined how SB-CPBL differs from the students' usual learning, how the new approach affects their learning process and the main challenges of…

The aim of this study is to show how the GeoGebra software-supported collaborative learning environment contributes to a group of students using multiple representations and reaching generalisations while solving problems collectively. Blending individual and collaborative learning activities were carried out with a learning method called ACODESA…

Middle school students often enter Computer Science (CS) classes without previous CS or Computational Thinking (CT) instruction. This study evaluated how Code.org's block-based programming curriculum affects middle school students' CT skills and attitudes toward CT and CS. Sixteen students participated in the study. This was a mixed methods action…

Being able to learn from failure is a fundamental skill for a scientist, as scientists often learn from failure in practical work by trialling and refining experimental designs, improving calibration techniques, and hypothesising and testing expected outcomes. This qualitative, practice-based study describes how junior secondary science teachers…

In this paper, we report on the cross-cultural comparative analysis that was undertaken as part of the Social Unit of Learning project investigating student collaborative problem solving in China and Australia. The video-based research examined the 'negotiative foci' of dyadic student interaction during collaborative problem solving within the…

This study aimed to examine the collective mathematical creativity of gifted middle school students within a group through model-eliciting activities. The current study employed the case study design. The participating four gifted students were selected through the purposive sampling technique. To examine the collective creativity of the students…

Every student has mathematical strengths beyond knowing basic facts, solving problems quickly, or showing work clearly. In this article, the author presents Smiles as an "on-ramp" task that supports students working together by unveiling and leveraging mathematical strengths. Nielsen describes on-ramp mathematics tasks as scaffolds that…

The purposes of the current study include: (1) to examine the effect of integrated problem-based learning and Think-Pair-Share technique on the development of grade 8 students' analytical thinking; and (2) to examine the effect of integrated problem-based learning and Think-Pair-Share technique on the development of grade 8 students' science…

Building sets, video games, and scatterplots may seem unrelated, but when they are combined into a problem-based learning (PBL) lesson, these elements join to create a unique learning experience. PBL lessons drive instruction by focusing learning and activities around a central challenge or question while providing a relevant, captivating, and…

Efficient collaborative learning relies on productive interaction among learners. Previous studies have suggested that group gender composition might affect the group dynamics. While previous studies have generally focused on the learning performance of different gender groups, relatively little effort has been devoted to scrutinising the learning…

This article presents a study of 8th grade students working in groups to solve a task about generalizing patterns. The study aimed to openly explore how progress in mathematical thinking might relate to the discourse. To do this, we first studied both separately. The progress in mathematical thinking was studied by inspecting how the groups…

The Zen concept of beginner's mind describes how one's level of awareness can open one's mind to growth and possibilities, an attitude that would be beneficial for many mathematics students. In this naturalistic case study, two small groups of middle years students engage in the same mathematical task, one group demonstrating the characteristics…

The individual problem-solving (IPS) and collaborative problem-solving (CPS) have received a lot of attention, yet little research has been conducted to investigate whether CPS and IPS are equally effective in improving students' understanding of physics concepts, problem-solving abilities, and minimizing achievement gaps. Therefore, the present…

This study examined the effect of the SB-CPBL on Jordanian 8th-grade students' attitude towards science. A quantitative quasi-experimental design with a non-equivalent control group was employed in this study. 120 8th-graders, divided into two groups, were involved in this study. Two groups (60 students, 30 males, and 30 females) were designated…

This study explored how approximating the practice of mathematicians by communally negotiating the standards for proof mediates middle grade students' abilities to collaboratively construct mathematical arguments. Forty-seven eighth-grade students engaged in an instructional sequence wherein they, along with the instructors, negotiated communal…