Background: We tested the effects of an intervention on the learning of introductory thermodynamics principles. This intervention, OEM-Thermo, is designed to prompt the cognitive operations of meaningful learning: organization, elaboration, and monitoring. We also sought evidence to show that execution of these operations was associated with…

The purpose of this article is to study and analyse how a teacher implements an outdoor realistic problem situation for children aged 4-5 in a Swedish preschool. By an "outdoor realistic problem situation", I mean a situation initiated by a teacher in which children come into contact with mathematical concepts and in which the outside…

This paper explores the nature of students' quantitative reasoning and conceptions of functions supporting their ability to symbolize quadratic function rules, and the meanings students make of these rules. We analyzed middle school students' problem solving activity during a small group teaching experiment (n = 6) emphasizing quadratic growth…

When learning a new math concept, should learners be first taught the concept and its associated procedures and then solve problems, or solve problems first even if it leads to failure and then be taught the concept and the procedures? Two randomized-controlled studies found that both methods lead to high levels of procedural knowledge. However,…

This study investigated the impact of the problem-solving model on students' concept mastery and motivation in learning heat based on gender. The method which was used in this research was quasi-experiment with pretest-posttest design in girls and boys class. Data are collected from girl class (N=16) and boys class (N=16) of a 7th grade in one of…

This research aims to analyze ways of understanding of students with mathematics learning disabilities when learning fraction. The research was conducted in an Inclusive Junior High School in the West Java Province, Indonesia. This study is qualitative, with the single-case (holistic) designs. The case will focus on three students who suspected of…

In this paper, we explore the relationship between scaffolding, dialogue, and conceptual breakthroughs, using data from a design-based research study that focuses on the development of understanding of probability in 10-12 year old students. The aim of the study is to gain insight into how the combination of scaffolding for content using…

Supporting students to develop an understanding of the meaning of fractions is an important goal of elementary school mathematics. This involves developing partitioning strategies, creating representations, naming fractional quantities, and using symbolic notation. This article describes how teachers can use a formative assessment problem to…

Optimization problems in first semester calculus have historically been a challenge for students. Focusing on the classic optimization problem of finding the minimum amount of fencing required to enclose a fixed area, we examine students' activity through the lens of Tall and Vinner's concept image and Carlson and Bloom's multidimensional…

This paper presents assessment study results addressing the question: Do students treat elapsed time problems differently if phrased as "half an hour" versus "thirty minutes"? A paper-and-pencil assessment was given to second (n = 292) and fourth (n = 205) grade students in six New England elementary schools. I compare…

As part of curriculum changes in South Africa, an introductory programming language, Scratch, must first be taught before switching to the well-established teaching of Delphi. The nature of programming in Scratch is considerably different from that in Delphi. It was assumed that the teaching of Scratch as introductory programming language could…

Interesting and engaging mathematics problems can come from anywhere. Sometimes great problems arise from interesting contexts. At other times, interesting problems arise from asking "what if" questions while appreciating the structure and beauty of mathematics. The intriguing problem described in this article resulted from the second…

Studies related to school mathematics have shown that students who scored well on standardized tests often are unable to successfully use memorized facts and formulae in real-life application outside the classroom. The outcome of TIMSS and PISA studies further emphasizes the importance of mathematics teaching and learning in the Malaysian…

We explore the power of allowing students to construct their own conceptual understanding as they "read an object" in a series of guided inquiry steps, developing their own questions about the object. Their ownership of questions increases the learner's engagement and results in more efficacious learning and meets the standards of…

Researchers are currently investigating how calculus students understand the basic concepts of first-year calculus, including the integral. However, much is still unknown regarding the "cognitive resources" (i.e., stable cognitive units that can be accessed by an individual) that students hold and draw on when thinking about the integral. This…