Physics teachers around the world are trying to create classroom environments that would allow life science students to be more intrinsically motivated in their work. These efforts include, among others, matching classroom activities to students' interests as well as structurally variable activities to match different student abilities. While…

The aim of present research was to develop a Likert type scale that determines the attitudes of 9th grade students towards physics courses so as to identify the physics students' attitudes towards this course. The research started with a draft scale of 30 items. The draft scale was applied to 177 ninth grade students as a pilot research. According…

The "Playground Physics" program combines informal, play-based, embodied learning experiences to support middle school students' engagement with and motivation to learn about complex and abstract physics concepts. This experimental design study examines the impact of "Playground Physics" on students' science motivation,…

Gender differences in students' physics identity in introductory physics courses can influence students' interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and their career decisions. Exploring the components that influence these identities is critical to developing a better understanding of the underrepresentation of women in physics…

The present study aims to analyse the effect of motivational variables and previous academic achievement on students' future choice of chemistry once this subject becomes optional in the educational system. Toward this goal, the translation and adaptation of the Science Motivation Questionnaire II (SMQII) has been undertaken in our investigation…

Attitude towards learning science is a well-researched domain for more than four decades. Globally, studies on attitude still stay relevant following the decline in enrollment in science-related studies across many levels. Particularly, emergent of new sciences in this century calls for a shift in the content included in school science, to be more…

A teacher of a secondary school explained to two groups of 14 and 15-year-old students the thermodynamic correspondent to the curriculum of physics and chemistry. This is an obligatory subject for all the students. They followed two different methods: one group followed the traditional methodology and other one the strategy of the cooperative…

The physics questions submitted to an "ask a scientist" website were classified with respect to field of interest in physics, type of requested information in the question (factual, explanatory, etc.), and motivation for asking the question (applicative or non-applicative). In addition, differences in the number of females' and males'…

Proposes the science show as a means to increase science awareness and interest among middle school students to increase future student enrollment and interest in high school science. Provides eight steps to help ensure a successful program. (MDH)

Presents strategies aimed at increasing physics enrollment by creating and advertising a physics program that appeals to the majority of students but sacrifices neither rigor nor content. Involves extensively publicizing the class at school and moving the course out of the classroom and into the home. (JRH)