[This paper is part of the Focused Collection on Qualitative Methods in PER: A Critical Examination.] Epistemic beliefs about physics are most often investigated using quantitative instruments that reflect binary conceptualizations of those beliefs. This study reports from a qualitative study which used continua to represent the epistemic beliefs…

The increasing availability of digital tools in science classrooms can provide students with more frequent and easier access to large amounts of data. Large data sets have considerable epistemological potential, as they enable, for instance, the observation of otherwise unobservable phenomena, but it must be assumed that handling them places…

One of the methods in blended learning is case-based learning, which focuses on problem-solving through analyzing real case studies. This research aims to generate creative scientific ideas through creative scientific assignments by implementing Case-Based Blended Learning supported by Digital Mind Mapping. This exploratory research examines how…

Science textbooks often include text and diagrams to aid learner understanding. Yet traditional written instructions in textbooks often separate them, which can increase cognitive load and hinder effective learning. This research proposes and tests a novel presentational format for written instruction that incorporates spatial contiguity, numbered…

The significance of the role of students' interpretation and creation of multiple forms of representation in science learning has long been established and advocated, but there is a paucity of research into the extent to which this emphasis in science education is reflected in high stakes final year high school science examinations. This study…

This study employed a case study methodology to investigate students' misconceptions about solid, liquid, and atmospheric pressure. The research included 36 8th-grade students from various middle schools in Giresun, comprising 19 girls and 17 boys. Data collection involved a test consisting of 14 concept cartoon questions, and the concept cartoons…

Visual representation in school textbooks plays an important role for physics teaching and learning. The integration of graphics with text has drawn attention of physics educators in recent years due to the close relationship between graphics and relevant text. The purpose of this study is to examine visual representation of optical content in…

With the effective use of technological tools and equipment in all areas of life, the effective use of technological applications that will support the solution of daily life problems has become inevitable in order for science literacy to occur. The main purpose of this research is to determine the effect of infographic applications on the…

The most important source of knowledge in primary school teaching is the textbook. This research aimed to determine the differences in graphic illustrations in the contents of natural sciences in a regular textbook and a textbook for children with special educational needs in the Republic of Serbia. As the number of subjects that deal with the…

Thermodynamic processes are often presented in so called P-V diagrams and the processes are often isobaric, isochoric, isothermal, and adiabatic. The purpose of the qualitative research reported here was to explore students' reasoning and interpretation of P-V diagrams that were presented by the help of GeoGebra. The research group had 15 students…

Estimating astronomical scales requires multiple complex mental processes, such as spatial thinking and interpreting large numbers. As such, it is a nontrivial question how these estimates can be most efficiently assessed. There is reason to believe that results from previous studies probing astronomical scale estimates are possibly susceptible to…

Eleven high school students participated in a one-week STEM summer camp focused on designing and building parachutes to deliver fragile objects safely. Using the Engineering Design Process (EDP) as a framework, students explored how canopy size affects performance. They applied physics concepts such as terminal velocity, forces, and acceleration,…

The Interactive Whiteboard as a teaching tool, has been in use across schools and institutions in many countries. Bhutanese schools started using them for educational purposes in 2019. However, there is lack of evidence on their actual use and effectiveness in teaching physics to enhance students' learning. This study aimed to investigate the…

Students ability to build correct knowledge relies on their understanding of concepts. Students must understand the concept well before applying it in real-life situations. With the advent of technology, teaching and learning quantum physics has been made easier and more effective in enhancing students' critical thinking and conceptual…

The subject of physics can sometimes seem esoteric and challenging to engineering students. It would be beneficial to create a more conducive learning environment for them by combining words, mathematical equations, graphs, and diagrams to increase their problem-solving abilities. It has been demonstrated in mechanics that employing multiple…