Fostering metacognitive awareness of misconceptions should enhance deep processing of scientifically correct explanations and thereby decrease misconceptions. To explore these potentially beneficial effects, we conducted a field study implemented in a regular educational psychology course in an Australian teacher education program. In a two-by-two…

Although a good rational number understanding is of crucial importance for learners' general maths achievement, many learners have misconceptions about fractions. An often described misconception is that a fraction's numerical magnitude increases when its denominator, numerator, or both increase. The present intervention study investigated how…

Despite many studies on students' understanding of the equal sign, little attention has been paid to whole-class discourse on their conceptions of equations with two equal signs. This study analyzed the classroom discourse of 30 fourth graders in Korea who participated in a 5-week classroom teaching experiment. A series of discussions on specific…

The aim of this research is to examine the effect of authentic investigation activities on the reasoning process of ratio concept which has been regarded as the milestone of mathematics and science teaching. In line with this purpose, the research has been carried out with eight 7th grade students attending a public school located in Central…

This article reports the development of a two-tier simple electric circuits test (2T-SEC Test). Simple electric circuits are introduced to students early in their school years and are an important part of the physics curriculum all the way to the university level. However, many students do not develop an adequate conceptual understanding of simple…

Student-centered learning has been shown to be more effective than traditional instructional methods, but deeper investigation is necessary to identify how specific classroom practices lead to improved conceptual learning and student attitudes. The purpose of this study was to identify classroom practices associated with gains in student…

Research in the past decades has repeatedly revealed that first year university students struggle to understand two-dimensional projectile motion concepts. In contrast to high school, projectile motion frequently makes use of components and it requires at least a basic understanding of trigonometry concepts. To follow the lessons and generate…

One of the complex units of chemistry education is acid-base equilibria, and learners have difficulty constructing cognitive structures on the subject. The aim of this study is to examine the conceptions of pre-service chemistry teachers with regard to weak acid-base equilibria using a diagnostic test. A qualitative research method was employed as…

Learning to use math in science is a non-trivial task. It involves many different skills (not usually taught in a math class) that help blend physical knowledge with mathematical symbology. One of these is the idea of quantification--that physical quantities can be assigned specific numbers (with a unit). A second is to develop an intuition for…

The inquiry-based learning model can facilitate students' understanding of scientific concepts. Scientific epistemological beliefs (SEBs) are related to students' beliefs about the nature of the process of knowledge in science education. However, whether the "prediction-observation-explanation" (POE) inquiry-based learning model can…

Inherent in the Common Core's Standard for Mathematical Practice to "look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning" (SMP 8) is the idea that students engage in this practice by generalizing (NGA Center and CCSSO 2010). In mathematics, generalizing involves "lifting" and communicating about ideas at a level where the…

The need to develop interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) skills in young pupils has driven many educational systems to include STEM as a subject in primary schools. In this work, a science kit aimed at children from 8 to 14 years old is presented as a support platform for an innovative and stimulating approach to…

Mathematics teaching and learning goes beyond computations and procedures; it rather includes complex problem-solving and critical thinking. Kilpatrick, Swafford, and Findell (2001) identify five mathematical competencies that are present in mathematics learning: conceptual understanding, procedural fluency, adaptive reasoning, strategic…

Purpose: Many mathematical models have been shared to communicate about the COVID-19 outbreak; however, they require advanced mathematical skills. The main purpose of this study is to investigate in which way computational thinking (CT) tools and concepts are helpful to better understand the outbreak, and how the context of disease could be used…

After students have taken years of science classes, they still believe science content is disconnected to the "real" world or to their lives. Teaching without attention to relevance results in decreased motivation for learning and negative attitudes toward science. An instructional method incorporating physical, sport-related activities…