How heavy is your pet "Tyrannosaurus rex"? Accurately ascertaining the mass of a large carnivorous dinosaur is a challenging task for most students. Here, a simple method using model dinosaurs and some straightforward mathematics is provided. This is considerably more practical and safer than weighing the living dinosaur itself.

Open data has potential value as a material for use in learning activities. However, approaches to harnessing this are not well understood or in mainstream use in education. In this research, early adopters from a diverse range of educational projects and teaching settings were interviewed to explore their rationale for using open data in…

A flash purification system using prepacked cartridges containing different silica weights and particle sizes was employed to demonstrate the influence of column characteristics on chromatographic resolution. This chromatographic experiment was a helpful introduction to chromatographic courses where the influence of particle sizes was addressed…

The Alchian Maze uses active learning for teaching important economic concepts like spontaneous order and the power of profit and loss. While the game is an effective teaching tool, it is also cheap, low tech, and requires little advance preparation. The author of this article provides an overview on how to create and run an Alchian Maze. A number…

Many theories and models describe the various cognitive processes individuals engage in as they solve ill-structured problems. While diverse in perspectives, these theories and models uniformly agree that essential aspects of complex problem solving include iteration and inquiry. This paper further argues that an important yet overlooked component…

This dissertation aims to present an emerging theory of leadership for active learning organizations in higher education by clarifying factors leaders should integrate to facilitate adaptability. The emergent theory is grounded in multi-year mixed methods action research exploring the role of design, delivery, and leadership of a reflective action…

Teachers introduced to the Inquiry Design Model (IDM) are often relieved to learn that inquiry isn't a fuzzy ideal, but rather is a curricular approach with a defined vernacular--questions, tasks, and sources. The inquiry blueprint is a one-page visual representation of the questions, tasks, and sources that define an inquiry. In the blueprint,…

This article explores the outcomes of using community-engaged learning in a sustainability-focused social sciences research course titled Methods of Social Research. The integrated components of the course were designed to teach students about the research process while addressing sustainability issues at Utah State University. Throughout the…

With the advancement of informational and portable technologies, virtual manipulatives based on tablets are applied to support students' learning in science education. However, research on the impact of tablet-student ratios on individual knowledge acquisition and cognitive load in collaborative inquiry learning has not been addressed in detail…

The need for computer science (CS) education, especially computer network education, is increasing. However, the challenges of teaching students with diverse backgrounds and engaging them in hands-on activities to apply theories into practices exist in CS education. The study addressed the challenges by using project-based learning (PBL) and…

This research aimed to explore the impacts of project-based learning on promoting preservice teachers' communicative capabilities. A survey research design was employed to collect data, using an online questionnaire consisting of seven closed-ended and four open-ended questions. There were two target groups of preservice teachers who were…

The underdevelopment of a pedagogical culture for research methods education and the lack of a body of knowledge with the potential to influence practice have been highlighted by previous studies. This systematic review explores the pedagogic approaches and strategies evident in recent literature (2014-2020) on teaching social science research…

The study describes the reality of learning motivation among students of the Faculty of Educational Sciences at Irbid National University in light of Active Learning Strategies. The study used the descriptive-analytical approach. The study sample was chosen using a simple random sampling method. The results showed that the reality of Active…

Project-based learning (PBL) has been identified as an effective pedagogy for instructors to help students to learn interdisciplinary knowledge, problem-solving skills, modes of thinking, and collaborative practices through solving problems in a real-world context. However, previous studies reported that instructors from K-12 to tertiary learning…

Self-construal refers to the process by which individuals define the self in relation to others. It underpins cognition, motivation, and social behavior. While the importance of the self is well acknowledged in the field of second language (L2) learning motivation, how self-construal is associated with L2 learning motivation in project-based…