Throughout the years, there has been a reduction of graduates entering and pursuing careers within the Science Technology Engineering Mathematics (STEM) fields. Thus, the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), now called the New Jersey Student Learning Standards for Science (NJSLS-S) developed a rigorous program of standards for students to…

The M.S. Chemistry -- Chemical Education Specialization program at South Dakota State University provides in-depth general chemistry coursework to in-service high school science teachers in a virtual format. The goal of the program is for the teachers enrolled to become more effective teachers while gaining content knowledge in chemistry; in…

School districts choose programs based on limited data, word of mouth, or cost-effectiveness. STEM-based schools often choose project-based learning (PBL) programs to deliver curricula through limited research and word of mouth effectiveness. This study evaluated one PBL program implementation in the context of a suburban Texas middle school by…

It is critical to provide inservice elementary teachers the opportunity to advance their science instruction, which in turn can positively impact not only their practice but also their perceptions towards science teaching and learning. Too often, science-specific professional development (PD) programs are scarcely provided as a result of an…

This study advances the understanding of providing effective professional development for elementary teachers in the field as the Pennsylvania STEELS standards require inquiry-based learning as a component of the science classroom. I sought out elementary teacher perceptions surrounding professional development as it pertained to their ability to…

Systemic structures designed to make pursuing a career in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) exclusive to dominant culture, typically employ practices of exclusion or isolation of Black people. As such, the demand for more Black people, particularly Black teachers, in STEM has increased the demand for teacher preparation programs…

Environmentally conscious science education is of great importance due to dramatic anthropogenic effects on the environment. The World Health Organization reports 25% of children deaths, ages five and under, are the direct result of pollution (Osseiran & Chirscaden, 2017). Anthropogenic climate change has resulted in the higher severity and…

Science teacher leaders are classroom teachers who take on leadership responsibilities within their schools, districts, and broader science communities. They have a significant impact beyond the science classroom by promoting instructional leadership, implementing science-related reforms, enhancing teacher professionalism, maximizing teacher…

Technology has become an integral part of the teaching and learning process in the current educational landscape, revolutionizing students' learning experiences in alternative and traditional educational settings. However, despite having access to various tech tools that support student learning, an achievement gap still exists, and many students…

This study thoroughly explores the relationships between the challenges faced by students and the alternative problem-solving strategies employed. By analyzing these connections, the research aims to offer a comprehensive understanding of how students address difficulties in science learning and the adaptive strategies they apply. Through this…

The design and implementation of secondary teacher professional development (PD) has been a focus of researchers for decades. Often viewed as the way to increase the quality of teaching and to improve student achievement, billions of dollars are invested in PD within the United Stated every year. As such, researchers continue to seek new avenues…

Novice teachers benefit from individualized and cohort mentoring to help them successfully navigate student teaching and the first years of independent teaching. However, schools are experiencing a rise in attrition rates post-pandemic, especially in math and science. Mentoring, goal setting, and community-building are deemed important for…

Teacher shortage in the United States (U.S.) is persistent and severe and manifests more acutely in low-income school districts and mathematics and science subject areas. Strategies to recruit locally trained teachers from within the U.S. have failed to satisfy the increasing demand, and recruitment drives have extended beyond national borders to…

As researchers strive to work toward equity in education, attention to how teachers and teacher educators develop asset-based perspectives and what role power plays in this process has become a focus in teacher education (Carter Andrews et al., 2019; Philip, 2019; Souto-Manning & Martell, 2019). Within science teacher education, researchers…

Research has shown that teachers and students have difficulties in connecting climate change evidence with climate change claims. Such difficulties may come from the lack of knowledge about how scientific models and modeling work in climate science. Climate change as a complex system with a large time and land scale requires sophisticated…