This research was conducted to facilitate the conceptual understanding of the solutions that contain abstract concepts and not to understand easily. The aim of this research is to determine the effect of applied methods on the achievement level of prospective science teachers and conceptual understanding level at the particulate nature of matter…

Project "TEAM" teaches transition-age youth with developmental disabilities (DD) to identify physical and social environmental barriers and supports, generate solutions to barriers, and request modifications to increase participation. Establishing the social validity of this environment focused intervention with youth and their parents…

The purpose of this study was to investigate eight preservice middle and high school mathematics teachers' solution strategies when solving single and multiple proportion problems. Real-world missing-value word problems were used in an interview setting to collect information about preservice teachers' (PSTs) reasoning about proportional…

The aim of this article is to discuss and problematise issues related to conceptual approaches to differences among children in the world of school education. The article is based on results from a Swedish study on categorisation of schoolchildren's "problems" from a historical perspective. Its central questions are: "What concepts…

There is a great deal of overlap between the set of practices collected under the term "computational thinking" and the mathematical habits of mind that are the focus of much mathematics instruction. Despite this overlap, the links between these two desirable educational outcomes are rarely made explicit, either in classrooms or in the…

In this study, we investigate sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students' achievement in nonlinear (quadratic or cubic) proportional problems regarding length, area, and volume of enlarged figures. In addition, we examine students' solution strategies for the problems and obstacles that prevent students from answering the problems correctly by…

This study investigated the pattern problems posed by middle school mathematics preservice teachers using multiple representations to determine both their pattern knowledge levels and their abilities to transfer this knowledge to students. The design of the study is the survey method, one of the quantitative research methods. The study group was…

In reviewing the six articles within this "Instructional Science" special issue, we are reminded of Schoenfeld's ("Educ Res" 45(2):105-111, 2016) review of American Educational Research Association president-authored papers for the centennial celebration of AERA. There, he succinctly unveiled the content focus of AERA research…

Many people consider problem solving as a complex process in which variables such as "x," "y" are used. Problems may not be solved by only using "variable." Problem solving can be rationalized and made easier using practical strategies. When especially the development of children at younger ages is considered, it is…

The purpose of this article is to report on a newly funded research project in which we will investigate how secondary students apply mathematical modelling to effectively address real world situations. Through this study, we will identify factors, mathematical, cognitive, social and environmental that "enable" year 10/11 students to…

With the inclusion of engineering disciplinary core ideas (DCIs), the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) position engineering as a new priority in K-12 science classrooms. This paper reports findings from the implementation of SLIDER, a problem-based learning 8th grade physical science curriculum that integrates engineering and physical…

This study explores the notion of deep learning as constructed in the discourses of practicing mathematics teachers. Analyses of data from written texts show that the teachers tend to conceptualise deep learning in terms of two broad categories: students' deep learning and the work of teaching for deep learning. In both categories, students'…

Ordinary Differential Equations I, is one of the core courses for science and engineering majors. Practical problem solving in science and engineering programs require proficiency in mathematics. Improving student performance and retention in mathematics classes requires inventive approaches. At the University of Central Florida (UCF) the…

The aim of this study is to find out whether there is a connection between teacher's request and guidance for written explanation and third-graders' achievements in solving a non-standard problem. Pupils' task was to solve a simplified arithmagon and to explain their solution. The lessons of seven teachers were recorded and their actions were…

Help seeking is regarded as an important learning strategy that reflects students' metacognitive and domainspecific skills and knowledge. This study developed a proactive online discussion forum that strengthens social networks in an online discussion forum to facilitate help seeking for problem solving. This forum allowed students to proactively…