This study aims to conduct a multidimensional analysis of the 2017 Science Curriculum taking the previous three curricula into account. The document analysis technique, which is a qualitative research method, was used. The Science curricula of 2000, 2005, 2013 and 2017 were analyzed in detail for this purpose. The 2017 Science Curriculum, which is…

It is difficult to explore and understand how student knowledge develops with regard to complex systems, such as ecosystems. This study proposes the use of a Knowledge in Pieces(KiP) framework to analyze student knowledge and development in the domain of life sciences. The aim was to utilize quantitative and qualitative analyses of student…

This chapter examines the integration of pedagogical content knowledge in graduate-level biology courses in a secondary teacher preparation program. Given the residency format of the program, expertise from college faculty in biological sciences and education, science educators from a science museum, and educators working with a high school…

This study aims to describe the history of interdisciplinary education and the current trends and to elucidate the conceptual framework and values that support interdisciplinary science teaching. Many science educators have perceived the necessity for a crucial paradigm shift towards interdisciplinary learning as shown in science standards.…

In this paper, we investigate the potential and conditions for using curriculum adaptation to support reform of science teaching and learning. With each wave of reform in science education, curriculum has played a central role and the contemporary wave focused on implementation of the principles and vision of the "Framework for K-12 Science…

The process of identifying threshold concepts invites experts to reflect on their discipline in a new way with the ultimate goal of improving learning and teaching. During a workshop to identify threshold concepts in biochemistry, we asked a group of natural scientists to explore "signification," a threshold concept from the humanities,…

When new concepts, models, or theories are introduced in a course, their presentation should be accurate, even if depth is not the goal. In a recent publication in this Journal, the Woodward-Hoffmann rules were invoked in the context of a new laboratory experiment, but the associated description was inaccurate. Here we aim to clarify the…

One of the most powerful strategies to support next generation science instruction is the use of instructional models. The Biological Sciences Curriculum Study 5E (Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate) instructional model is arguably the most widely used version of a learning cycle in today's classrooms. The use of the 5Es as an…

Teacher professional development (PD) is central to the realization of the current reform efforts in science education. In this qualitative study, we investigated how educative curriculum materials supported middle school science teachers' learning within the context of a comprehensive PD program focused on the enactment of a reform-based science…

Young people continually lose contact to their natural surroundings and agriculture. As school is one of young people's main source of knowledge it should bring students and nature back together, by using agricultural examples. This research examines German students' and adults' knowledge on plant biological basics and viticulture choosing…

This study investigates the nature of intended secondary chemistry curricula, as they are represented by chemistry textbooks, from seven Arabic countries: Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Palestine, Saudi Arabia and Syria. The curricula are evaluated through analysis of the officially approved 10th grade chemistry textbooks used nationwide in all…

"I Wonder...Gaining Wisdom and Growing Faith Through Scientific Exploration" is an intergenerational science curriculum designed to be used in congregations. The goal of this curriculum and the theoretical work underpinning it is to counter the perception that people of faith cannot also be people who possess a scientific understanding…

The aim of this research was to examine the effect of integration of STEM disciplines into Toulmin's argumentation model on students' academic achievement, reflective thinking, and psychomotor skills. To be able to get this aim, a quasi-experimental method was used. The participants were 40 sixth grade middle school students divided into two…

This nonexperimental study examined academic performance profiles and contributions of language-specific and metacognitive skills to science reading comprehension of Grade 7 students of varied English proficiency. The sample included 204 regular education students, most of whom were English learners (ELs; 35 non-ELs, 86 current ELs, and 83 former…

The vision for science proficiency presented in "A Framework for K-12 Science Education" calls for significant shifts in both teaching and assessment. In this paper, we describe an effort to develop and validate a set of "proximal transfer tasks" for high school biology classrooms where teachers were implementing a…