The purpose of the present study was to understand the nature of the link between science teachers' epistemologies and their socioscientific issue (SSI) teaching discourse. It is important to consider this link due to the limitations of science teachers in shifting from monologic to more dialogic orientations in their teaching, despite SSI-based…

This study compares direct instruction to two constructivist approaches, namely experimentation and problem-based learning, in fifth-grade science learning in Hong Kong. Constructivist instructional approaches, contrary to direct instruction, stress on students' active role in constructing knowledge in learning. Experimentation and problem-based…

This study investigated the predictive effect of in-service and pre-service science teachers' perceptions of the learning environment on their self-efficacy beliefs on science teaching. The same self-report questionnaires were used to collect data from in-service and pre-service science teachers. Of the participants, 142 in-service science…

Past research has often shown a lack of student output in English medium instruction (EMI) classes (e.g., An et al., 2021; Lo & Macaro, 2012) and this study seeks to identify possible reasons. Guided by literature on wait time (Rowe, 1986) and teacher higher-order thinking questions (Chin, 2007), this study explores whether these two…

The purpose of this research was to examine relationship between the eighth-grade gifted students' perceptions of science learning environment constructive learning environment perception (CLEP) and their motivations motivation to learn science (MLS) to learn science with their intellectual risk-taking (IRT) and science achievement (SA). For this…

There exists a disconnect between instruction about biological evolution and acceptance of evolution by students. This disconnect prevents students from applying the theory to their lives or to their understanding of the field of biology. We examine the literature for common barriers to the acceptance of evolution, correlates with acceptance of…

This study investigated 8th-grade science students (13-14 years old) in advanced and traditional ability classrooms perceptions of their vocabulary knowledge, learning, and content achievement. This research acknowledges the critical role that developing vocabulary knowledge from reading plays in gaining a deeper content understanding as well as…

The constructivist learning approach is suggested as a means for facilitating students' learning of science and increasing their participation in this learning. Several studies have shown the contribution of this approach to the different aspects of students' learning of science, though little research has examined the contribution of this…

The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of context-based learning approach (CBLA) on 5th grade students' misconceptions about 'the umbra, solar and lunar eclipses'. In this study, a quasi-experimental methodology pre-test and post-test design was utilized with control and experimental groups. The study was conducted with 48 5th grade…

Current education reform in both the United States and China promotes a reformed inquiry-based approach based on the constructivist learning theory. This study contributes to the research literature by exploring the relationship between reformed science teaching and students' creativity. Chinese education is often criticized for a lack of…

The present study investigated how science teachers' beliefs about intelligence and their beliefs about knowing and knowledge acquisition influence their teaching practices. A total of 285 science teachers participated in the present study. Our survey included three parts, namely: epistemological beliefs inventory, implicit theories of…

This study aims to examine the middle school students' perceptions of the classroom learning environment in the science course in Turkey in terms of school location and class size. In the study the Assessing of Constructivist Learning Environment (ACLE) questionnaire was utilized to map students' perceptions of the classroom learning environment.…

This study aims to examine the middle school students' perceptions of the classroom learning environment in the science course in Turkey in terms of school location and class size. In the study the Assessing of Constructivist Learning Environment (ACLE) questionnaire was utilized to map students' perceptions of the classroom learning environment.…

This study analysed 10 top-performing regions in PISA 2015 on their science performances and instructional practices. The regions include Singapore, Japan, Estonia, Taipei, Finland, Macao, Canada, Hong Kong, China and Korea. The science performances of the 10 regions and their teaching practices are described and compared. The construct of…

This collected papers dissertation explores students' academic interactions in an active learning, introductory physics settings as they relate to the development of physics self-efficacy and interest. The motivation for this work extends from the national call to increase participation of students in the pursuit of science, technology,…