Epistemic beliefs are one's assumptions about knowledge and knowing. Given the research in educational psychology that established epistemic beliefs as reliable predictors of student success, we devised a pedagogical intervention to improve students' epistemic beliefs. In this study, we examined the effectiveness of the reflective writing task as…

The aim of the current research is to know the effect of teaching mathematics using the PDEODE teaching strategy supported by the e-learning environment in developing the conceptual understanding and problem-solving skills among the fourth grade of the primary stage. To achieve the research objectives, the experimental approach was in its…

We investigated to what extent secondary school students have insight in the apparent motion of the Sun and stars (AMoSS). We used the AMoSS test instrument, which focuses on distinctions between different aspects of the apparent motion of the Sun and stars. It consists of 12 multiple-choice questions accompanied by explanations. We administered…

The flight of a quadcopter drone, readily available as a toy, is analyzed using simple physics concepts. A smartphone with built-in accelerometer and gyroscope was attached to the drone to register the accelerations and angular velocities along the three spatial axis while the drone is taking off, landing or rotating. The vertical speed, the…

The paper introduces an electronic device named 'Blinker', which is suitable for laboratory work on topics related to electric current and resistance, as it allows the visualization of electric current. The Blinker is well suited for all levels of education if the activities are carefully selected. However, despite other devices used for measuring…

Spatial understanding of complex anatomical concepts is often a challenge for learners, as well as for educators. It is even more challenging for students with low mental spatial abilities. There are many options to teach spatial relationships, ranging from simple models to high-end three-dimensional (3D) virtual reality tools. Using a randomized…

A quality physical education program includes a positive emphasis on student development of physical literacy, national standards and grade level outcomes, promoting physical activity and supporting comprehensive school physical activity programming, and the following four essential components: (1) policy and environment; (2) curriculum; (3)…

Analogies can be powerful teaching tools because they can make new material intelligible to students by comparing it to material that is already familiar. In assisting students to understand chemistry concepts, teachers occasionally use analogies. These analogies are believed to help the students to structure the new knowledge and they are…

We outline the basic theory behind white light interferometry and the workings of a typical light interferometer microscope. We study WLI images obtained for rough and smooth chrome steel spheres to illustrate the principle that curved rough surfaces can be imaged with such a device as long as the surface roughness is kept within certain limits.

In this study, we compared students' learning from two conditions in a unit on inclined planes: Virtual-then-Physical (V-t-P) (n = 50), where students conducted a virtual lab followed by a physical lab, or vice versa in the Physical-then-Virtual condition (P-t-V) (n = 60). We analyzed students' written explanations after each lab focusing on…

Learning science outdoors can enhance the understanding of theoretical scientific content taught in the classroom. However, learners are rarely afforded the opportunity to go outdoors to learn chemistry. This study investigates how problem-based learning outdoors can facilitate the understanding of basic chemistry in teacher education. A teaching…

A challenge for prospective teachers (PTs) is to determine what students know about a topic through asking appropriate questions and being thoughtful about the wording of these questions so as to capture and reframe students' spontaneous mathematical thinking and eventually unriddle the fuzzy boundary of students' complex thinking. This study…

The purpose of this dissertation is to study preservice elementary teachers' (PSTs') procedural and conceptual understanding of fraction multiplication, and to study how math drawings might be used to reveal this knowledge and encourage learning. This dissertation is in response to the call for more rigorous qualitative studies that look at PSTs'…

In this article, we demonstrate the use of a simple pendulum to explore the concepts of kinematics and dynamics. A simple homemade pendulum and a phone-based accelerometer are used to determine, at various points in time, the acceleration of a moving train. The dynamical and kinematics data from the homemade pendulum and the accelerator can then…

This article aims to propose a digital version of Darwazeh's learning taxonomy. The DLT consists of 10 cognitive processes sequenced hierarchical from simple to complex either vertically from one mental process to another, or horizontally in each mental process. These cognitive processes are facts' remembrance, generalities' remembrance,…