After-school and summer programs provide important opportunities for youth to learn STEM practices and form STEM-related identities. However, there has been limited coordination across these programs to measure effectiveness toward learning outcomes. To better understand the constructs that are used to evaluate these programs, we searched key…

In research on the nature of science, there is a need to investigate the role and status of different scientific knowledge forms. Theories and models are two of the most important knowledge forms within biology and are the focus of this study. During interviews, preservice biology teachers (N = 10) were asked about their understanding of theories…

Research in the field of physics teaching has revealed high school students' difficulties in establishing relations between kinematic equations and real movements. Moreover, there are well-known and significant challenges in their comprehension of graphic language content. Thus, this article explores a didactic activity which utilized robotics in…

This study examines Chinese pre-service teachers' (N = 30) views on the nature of science (NOS) and how Chinese culture influences their views. Participants were from two teachers' universities in eastern China. As an exploratory and interpretive study, a scenario-based interview approach was adopted. The results indicated that the participants…

Cosmic expansion is an important concept in astronomy. For ease of understanding, astronomers generally draw an analogy between cosmic expansion and the expansion of a spherical surface in 3D space. This study theoretically and experimentally investigates the laws governing the motion of particles on the surface of a balloon during expansion.…

In this study we designed, implemented, and evaluated an outreach programme for high-school biology students rooted in the 'science as inquiry' approach. Accordingly, students learn about science from experts in the field, as well as through in-class exposure to the history and philosophy of science. Our sample consisted of 11th graders (n = 497),…

Achieving scientific literacy is an essential outcome of science education and is comprised of knowledge of scientific content, the process of scientific inquiry, and understanding the Nature of Science (NOS; National Research Council, 1996). NOS refers to the characteristics of scientific knowledge that are derived from the results of the process…

Background: Numerous studies have been conducted to identify students' perceptions of science and scientists since the 1950s. Those studies have revealed that students have stereotypical perceptions, on which teachers may have a significant effect. It is, therefore, essential to determine both teachers' and students' perceptions. Purpose: The aim…

This study aims at investigating students' awareness of green chemistry principles (GCPs) which are infused in two context-based projects that are related to socio-scientific issues, namely climate change and materials' recycling. At first, content analysis of the projects' activities showed the infusion of four GCPs. Subsequently, the students'…

The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) emphasize engaging students in science practices through which students can develop content, procedural, and epistemic knowledge of science. To accomplish this goal, science teachers must embed science content in authentic science practice. Successfully integrating content and practice will require…

We explored the COVID-19 pandemic as a context for learning about the role of science in a global health crisis. In spring 2020, at the beginning of the first pandemic-related lockdown, we worked with a high school teacher to design and implement a unit on human brain and behavior science. The unit guided her 17 students in creating studies that…

Understanding reflection and refraction are an integral part of school and college learning. In nature even birds and fish (Archer fish) very skillfully use refraction to strike down prey present above or below the water surface. Fermat's principle allows one to look beyond the reasons behind the laws governing the reflection and refraction. A…

Previous study on the nature of science indicated that the use of activities is essential and important in the teaching of the nature of science subjects. The aim of the research is to develop alternative activities for helping students in the seventh grade of middle school develop their views on the nature of science and for better teaching the…

Tests convey messages about what to teach and how to assess. Both of these dimensions may either broaden or become more uniform and narrow as a consequence of high-stakes testing. This study aimed to investigate how Swedish science teachers were influenced by national, high-stakes testing in science, specifically focusing on instances where…

The purpose of this study was to develop a modern experimental apparatus using an Arduino with LabVIEW instead of the classical experiment. The wavelength of the sound was determined using the resonance of an air column. The smartphone app was used to generate the desired frequencies. A sound intensity and ultrasonic sensor was used to read the…