Guiding students' STEM problem solving entails dynamic processes driven by changes in real-world contexts. To understand these processes, we aimed to identify the formation and influence of 'norms' as shared behaviour patterns desirable in STEM problem-solving. To this end, 10 sessions of STEM lessons for secondary students were carried out, and…

The current research implemented the Predict Observe and Explain (POE) instructional approach in mathematics and examined its efficacy in enhancing students' understanding of functions in terms of their ability to connect algebraic and graphical representations in optimization problems. Two grade 11 classes (40 students in total) and two grade 10…

Open-ended learning environments (OELEs) support constructivist approaches to STEM learning. This promotes student engagement and facilitates a deeper understanding of STEM topics. Despite their benefits, OELEs can present significant challenges for novice learners. Recent studies have revealed the complex relationship between students' affective…

Preparing the new generation to be data-literate citizens is a pressing challenge, and some explorations have been made to cultivate K-12 students' data science skills and attitudes. However, there is a lack of instructional models to guide the design of data science programs in K-12 due to its complex and interdisciplinary nature as well as the…

The advancement of technology has led to a growing interest in assessing scientific inquiry within digital platforms. This shift towards dynamic and interactive inquiry assessments enables researchers to investigate not only the accuracy of student responses ("product data") but also their steps and actions leading to those responses…

This paper investigated the effect of TRIZ ("Teoriya Resheniya Izobretatelskikh Zadatch"-Theory of Inventive Problem Solving)--STEM activities customized for nanotechnology education on middle school students' problem-solving, critical thinking, and research inquiry skills. Since STEM requires both multidisciplinary work and…

Collaborative problem-solving (CPS) is increasingly essential in both scientific practice and modern education, yet remains difficult to embed authentically in classrooms. This study addressed that gap by integrating CPS into a ninth-grade biology lesson using a smartphone-based asymmetric simulation. The innovative three-phase instructional…

Society is currently experiencing a wave of misinformation and disinformation spread through social media and other means. Widespread false information threatens our social relationships and our democracy. A shift toward inquiry learning in PreK-12 education can both improve student learning in general and teach students to assess the validity of…

Each student's individual experience in learning is very important. Lower secondary school students are engaged in activities that focus on inquiry rather than the acquisition of scientific knowledge in science classrooms. Therefore, the experiences and thoughts of lower secondary school students in the stage of scientific inquiry need to be…

This study investigates the interplay between student reasoning and instructional strategies in trigonometry education. A qualitative case study was conducted to examine how Grade 10 students employ various reasoning approaches -- deductive, inductive, abductive, analogical, and algorithmic -- when solving trigonometry problems. Each approach…

There is a great need for applied studies at the K-12 level on how creative problem solving skills can be developed in out-of-school environments and what kind of learning activities can be used. Therefore, in this study, the effects of inquiry-based STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) activities on students' STEM awareness and…

Transdisciplinary thinking is crucial for addressing global challenges, yet standardized assessment tools for high school students are lacking. This study addresses this gap by developing and validating a transdisciplinary thinking scale (TTS) tailored for this demographic. Following established methodologies, the TTS was crafted through expert…

Inquiry-based learning (IBL) in mathematics is a student-centered approach that encourages exploration, problem-solving, and critical thinking, allowing students to actively engage with mathematical concepts and discover relationships through hands-on activities and collaborative learning. Despite the growing interest in IBL within mathematics…

Balancing disciplinary knowledge and practical reasoning in problem solving is needed for meaningful learning. In STEM problem solving, science subject matter with associated practices often appears distant to learners due to its abstract nature. Consequently, learners experience difficulties making meaningful connections between science and their…

This paper introduces a model built upon the Method of Varying Inquiry, offering a didactical approach to problem posing and solving activities that stimulates inquiry-based learning in mathematics classrooms. The model combines the inquiry-based framework with the variation theory and with specific didactical and theoretical elements (the…