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Incorporating Developments in Neuroscience, Brain Science and Neurodiversity
Volume Editors: and
This volume, Advances in Mathematics and STEM Education: Incorporating Developments in Neuroscience, Brain Science and Neurodiversity seeks to widen understandings about mathematics and STEM education through a more holistic examination of the field. In some chapters this is achieved through the incorporation of advancements in Neuroscience, Brain Science and Neurodiversity, and in other chapters it is achieved through the sharing of research in schools with teachers or an exploration into individual experience, thinking processes and journey. This volume calls for engagement in research that synthesises research findings from different discipline areas to gain a more enriched and authentic understanding of Mathematics and STEM education, particularly regarding teaching and learning.

Contributors are: Nur Fatma Aktas, Tasos Barkatsas, Zahra Cooper, Yüksel Dede, Jason Dervish, Melanie Evangelista, Janine Forbes-Rolfe, Wendy Goff, Gürcan Kaya, Gillian Kidman, Yuk-Yuen Law, Timothy Lynch, Marta Martín-del-Pozo, Juanjo Mena, Rowan Nas, Antonio Patrocinio-Braz, Hazel Tan, and Bin Wu.

Abstract

This article presents findings from the document analysis of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) lesson plans written and enacted in Southeast Asian classrooms aimed at providing integrative learning experiences for students. The authors argue that the culture of STEM education is embodied in teacher-designed STEM lesson plans or cultural apparatuses. The authors applied Sewell’s theory of culture to unpack the cultural embodiments (physical and abstract elements) embedded in six STEM lesson plans comprising lesson schedules, worksheets, and handouts. The findings showed that certain categories of culture were more evident in specific components of a STEM lesson package. The article contributes to the relatively nascent literature that, to date, has not closely examined teacher-designed integrated STEM curricula using a cultural lens. The study also has implications for STEM teachers to consider making cultural embodiments and practices more visible during their lesson planning and framing of STEM curriculum.

In: Research in Integrated STEM Education

Abstract

Despite the increasing attention for STEM, a gap of knowledge still exists concerning: a) the views of teachers coming from S-T-E-M backgrounds on integrated STEM education, b) the ways teachers conceptualise STEM, and c) collaboration trends between S-T-E-M experts. In attempting to address this gap, the authors aimed to respond to these questions in the context of a STEM professional development programme in Europe, where 26 in-service teachers were divided into four learning communities and engaged in developing STEM teaching materials. Data were collected through individual interviews which were analysed through qualitative content analysis. Teachers’ views were explored using Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological model, whereas teachers’ justifications on integration models were analysed for the purpose of examining their conceptualisations on integration. Collaboration trends were derived from teachers’ collaboration preferences. Teachers considered that there are systemic factors impeding the implementation of STEM, while teachers emphasised the engineering design cycle, content integration and real-world relevance in their integration models. Collaboration trends highlighted technological expertise as well as having prior STEM experience. Drawn from these findings, the authors offer a set of recommendations about the development of cross-disciplinary collaboration groups in order to help overcome disciplinary barriers.

Open Access
In: Research in Integrated STEM Education

Abstract

To better understand integrated STEM education, this work explored scores on the STEM Observation Protocol (STEM-OP), a newly developed observation protocol for use in K-12 science and engineering classrooms. The goals of this work were to better understand how integrated STEM might look throughout an integrated STEM unit and identify limitations of the instrument when examining daily scores and full unit implementation scores. The work takes a mixed methods approach to first examine what scores may be typically seen with daily and unit implementations. After identifying an exemplar integrated curriculum unit with consistently high daily scores, the authors qualitatively explore the fluctuations in protocol scores over the course of a curriculum unit implementation. Our work reveals that some items on the protocol may vary throughout implementation, while also demonstrating that achieving the highest scores on all items during one lesson or even throughout a full curriculum unit is challenging.

In: Research in Integrated STEM Education

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to describe the development and validation process of a Scale of Competency of Digital Age Teaching (SCoDAT). The scale is intended to diagnose preservice teachers’ self-efficacy in integrating digital technologies in lesson planning, implementation, and reflection. Initial competency items were created based on literature review and prior qualitative inquiry, and were reviewed by a group of experts consisting of general and content- specific teacher education faculty members. After multiple rounds of expert reviews, a total of 21 items were developed, composed of 4 areas: lesson planning, lesson actions, student assessment, and lesson reflection. After Cronbach’s alpha and G6 values were examined for internal consistency, a second-order, four-factor Confirmatory Factor Analysis (cfa) model was fitted and evaluated with chi-square goodness-of-fit statistics and fit indices. Overall, the scale and its subscales demonstrate good internal consistency and construct validity. The SCoDAT could serve as both a formative and summative assessment for teacher educators and as a self-assessment for preservice teachers, enabling them to diagnose their professional competence in digitally equipped classrooms.

Open Access
In: Innovation and Education
In: Innovation and Education

Abstract

Science education is crucial for fostering knowledge across academic disciplines. Past efforts to enhance science achievement at the elementary level have explored various instructional strategies. Among these, the Understanding by Design (UbD) model has shown notable potential in improving science achievement outcomes compared to traditional methods. This quasi-experimental study investigates the impact of the UbD model on the science achievement of fifth-grade students in Pakistan. Using a pretest-posttest design, students were randomly assigned to either a control group or an experimental group. The academic achievement science test (AAST) was administered to measure outcomes. Data analysis, incorporating independent sample t-tests and mixed between-within subject ANOVA, indicated that the UbD model significantly improved science achievement over conventional teaching methods. These findings underscore the effectiveness of UbD in science education and highlight the importance of innovative pedagogical strategies for promoting academic success among elementary students. Implications and future research directions are suggested.

Open Access
In: Asia-Pacific Science Education
Series Editors: and
The Biotechnology Learning Series is aimed to bring about discussion around the introduction of biotechnology in schools and tertiary learning environments. Biotechnology is an expanding area of scientific and community interest, one that it is important students understand because of its potential to impact on them and their communities. The development of scientifically and technologically literate citizens has been almost universally welcomed as a desirable goal for education and the introduction of biotechnology in schools can contribute to this. This series will include publications on communicating biotechnology, linking schools, industry and research, case studies of classroom research in introducing biotechnology, bioethics, futures and critical thinking in biotechnology. Although the context for the series is specifically biotechnology the publications will be useful to science and technology educators internationally. The Biotechnology Learning Series arose from research and development work for The New Zealand Biotechnology Learning Hub. The Hub was developed to make modern biotechnology more accessible to school teachers and students. The issue for teachers and science and technology educators is how to provide learning experiences in this area. The Hub funded by the New Zealand Government consists primarily of an on-line portal (www.biotechlearn.org.nz) containing case studies and resources of biotechnology in action alongside teacher resources that demonstrate how biotechnology contexts can be transferred into a classroom setting to contribute to teacher and student scientific and technological literacy. The editors of the series encourage proposals from researchers in science and technology education.
Series Editor:
Learning today is no longer confined to schools and classrooms. Modern information and communication technologies make the learning possible anywhere, any time. The emerging and evolving technologies are creating a knowledge era, changing the educational landscape, and facilitating the learning innovations. In recent years educators find ways to cultivate curiosity, nurture creativity and engage the mind of the learners by using innovative approaches.
Contemporary Approaches to Research in Learning Innovations explores approaches to research in learning innovations from the learning sciences view. Learning sciences is an interdisciplinary field that draws on multiple theoretical perspectives and research with the goal of advancing knowledge about how people learn. The field includes cognitive science, educational psychology, anthropology, computer and information science and explore pedagogical, technological, sociological and psychological aspects of human learning. Research in this approaches examine the social, organizational and cultural dynamics of learning environments, construct scientific models of cognitive development, and conduct design-based experiments.
Contemporary Approaches to Research in Learning Innovations covers research in developed and developing countries and scalable projects which will benefit everyday learning and universal education. Recent research includes improving social presence and interaction in collaborative learning, using epistemic games to foster new learning, and pedagogy and praxis of ICT integration in school curricula.
Series Editors: and
Each volume in the 7-volume series The World of Science Education reviews research in a key region of the world. These regions include North-America, South and Latin America, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, Europe and Israel, North Africa and the Middle East, and Sub-Saharan Africa.