We articulate a framework for delineating student thinking in active, STEM-rich learning environments. Researchers have identified ways of reasoning that relate to specific content areas and practices within each of the STEM disciplines. However, attempts at characterizing student thinking in transdisciplinary STEM environments remains in its…

The purpose of the article is to identify conditions for the effective use of visual modeling tools that can help reduce the difficulty level of solving problems during the teaching high school students programming. Visual modeling tools are a type of software that allows you to create visual abstractions that reproduce concepts and objects of the…

To understand how learner metacognition and goal orientation affect learner problem-solving in a Serious Game (SG) environment, this study examined 12 undergraduate students' metacognition, goal orientations, and problem-solving performances and processes while playing a SG that adopts problem-based learning pedagogy to teach space science.…

In this paper we examine how facilitators' prior experiences as mathematics teachers frame their work when facilitating a practice-based professional development (PD) for the first time. We focus on the experiences of a novice facilitator of StoryCircles, a professional learning process in which teachers collectively script and visualize a…

The current study compared the rate at which problem-based practice increased the use of retrieval-based strategies for students identified as displaying accurate min-counting with students identified as displaying almost proficient performance. The findings supported the prediction that the rate at which problem-based practice promoted retrieval…

In this study, we examined students' mathematical understanding and retention in a problem-based learning (PBL) classroom. The participants were 48 Grade 10 students, and the data were collected in December of 2016. After the end of the PBL lessons, the Mathematical Understanding of Function Test (MUFT) and the Retention Test (RT) were…

This study describes how a secondary school teacher in Trinidad and Tobago implemented opportunities for reasoning and proof in Geometry. Data were collected via teaching observations, teacher interviews, audio, and video recording. The analysis of the data suggested that the teacher used open-ended questioning, revoicing, group work, and…

Usually, distribution electricians are called upon to solve technical problems found in electrical substations. In this project, we apply problem-based learning to a training program for electricians, with the help of a virtual reality environment that simulates a real substation. Using this virtual substation, users may safely practice maneuvers…

Our study investigates preservice teachers' perceptions of real-world problems; their beliefs about teaching real-world contexts, especially ones sociopolitical in nature; and their ability to pose meaningful real-world problems. In this paper we present cases of three preservice teachers who participated in interviews that probed their thinking…

In an educational environment, instructors would always think of ways to provide students with motivational learning materials and efficient learning strategies. Hence, many researchers have proposed that students' problem-solving ability enhances their learning. Problem-solving ability plays an important role for users in dealing with problems…

In the project MultiMa (Multiple solutions for mathematics teaching oriented toward students' self-regulation), we investigated the effects of prompting students to use multiple solution methods while solving real-world problems on their learning. In this quasi-experimental study, we compared three treatment conditions. In one condition, students…

This paper reports the findings of research into an educational intervention featuring open-ended mathematical problems situated in "real life" contexts and associated pedagogies. "Money and financial mathematics" is the topic in focus, with tasks termed "financial dilemmas" being trialled by 35 teachers in 16…

This study examined the longitudinal effects of a middle school reform mathematics curriculum on students' open-ended problem solving in high school. Using assessment data from a large, longitudinal project, we compared the open-ended problem-solving performance and strategy use of high school students who had used the Connected Mathematics…

Introduction: The success of human safety requires the ability of police officers in problem solving within continuing professional development to be considered. Aim of the study: To analyze problem based teaching and learning in tertiary education within continuing professional development. Materials and methods: The search for problem based…

The ability to understand and frame problems encountered in practice is a critical skill for school leaders. This paper reports on a study that inquired about the teaching and learning of problem-framing skills in the Prospective Principals Program at Stanford University, a preparation program for school administrators that relies on problem-based…