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Journal Article

Eliciting initial ideas, building understandings, and coming to consensus: Using different teacher moves to support three distinct discussion types

Whole group discussions are a key aspect of the NGSS because these activities are where students collectively make sense of natural phenomena. However, curriculum can present all discussions as possessing the same instructional purpose and roles for ...

By Kevin Cherbow, Benjamin Lowell, Kris Grymonpre, Katherine McNeill, Renee Affolter

Middle School Inclusion Pedagogy Professional Learning Teacher Preparation Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

From Windy Day Stories to Wind Farms of the Future: Leveraging student resources to make sense of science phenomena with Data Puzzles

This article introduces the Data Puzzles instructional framework as a means to engage middle school students in the exploration of wind energy and its potential for future wind farm locations across the United States. By eliciting and leveraging stud...

By Jonathan Griffith, Melissa Braaten, Ann Dubick, Anne Gold

Environmental Science Learning Progression Phenomena Sensemaking Teaching Strategies Three-Dimensional Learning

Journal Article

Making Formative Use of Student Experience Data to Promote Equity in a Cycle of Collaborative Teacher Inquiry

This article describes a cycle of teacher collaborative inquiry called the Student Experience Improvement Cycle (SEIC). The SEIC is a novel form of assessment: it focuses on supporting teachers in using evidence of the quality of student experience f...

By William Penuel, Ali Raza, Yamileth Salinas Del Val, Rosa Salinas-Estevez, Emily Williamson, Jennifer Smith, Quincy Gill

Middle School Assessment Equity Inquiry Pedagogy Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

The Standard Answer: Considerations for Implementing Standards-based Grading in an NGSS-aligned Science Classroom

Standards-based grading (SBG) is an alternative approach to grading that uses standards, such as the NGSS, to communicate what students have learned. While SBG has increased in popularity in the last decade, questions still remain in regard to what c...

By Jesse Wilcox, Matt Townsley

Assessment NGSS Pedagogy Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Designing Performance-Based Assessments that Engage!

Rather than feel stressful for students, an assessment should feel like a celebration of learning. Performance-based assessments allow students to demonstrate their understanding of one or more standards by accomplishing tasks that are engaging and f...

By Katie Coppens

Middle School Assessment Pedagogy Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Socioscientific Modeling: Helping Students See Systems and Understand Messy Issues

In this article we present a strategy to help students unpack complex, socioscientific issues. We outline a 90-minute learning experience where students are asked to explore the complicated cause and effect relationships that shaped the course of the...

By Eric Kirk, Troy Sadler, Zhen Xu, Jamie Elsner, Li Ke, Laura Zangori, Rebecca Lesnefsky

Interdisciplinary Teaching Strategies Three-Dimensional Learning

Journal Article

Introducing Engineering Aims and Values through Rover Wheel Design

Engineering activities often emphasize the practices of engineers, but pay less attention to aspects of the nature of engineering. One important aspect of the nature of engineering is an understanding of the aims and values that underlie engineers’...

By Jerrid Kruse, Isaiah Kent-Schneider, Dan Chibnall, Sarah Voss, Emma Marie, Bridgid Miller, Jayme Scheck

Middle School Earth & Space Science Engineering STEM Technology

Journal Article

Sensing in Animals and Robots: Collaborative, Transdisciplinary Learning in an Undergraduate Science Course

Transdisciplinary learning—where students develop and apply knowledge from multiple disciplines to solve open-ended problems—is necessary to prepare students for the most pressing real-world problems. Because transdisciplinary education often req...

By Anna DeJarnette, Stephanie Rollmann, Dieter Vanderelst, John Layne, Anna Hutchinson

Postsecondary Biology Engineering Interdisciplinary Robotics STEM Technology

Journal Article

Implementing Universal Design for Learning in the Higher Education Science Classroom

There is a growing need for college science faculty to teach a diverse group of learners. The Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework can be used to create inclusive learning materials and activities in the higher education science classroom. A...

By Breanne Kirsch, Theodore Bryan, David Hoferer

Postsecondary Inclusion Leadership Pedagogy Professional Learning Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Scaling Up: Lessons for Persuading Science Faculty to Adopt an Evidence-Based Intervention

The science education community is deeply vested in growing the next generation of scientists. One way to do this is through evidence-based interventions that support the motivation and performance of students in introductory classes. The literature...

By Jessi Smith, Dustin Thoman

Biology Curriculum Pedagogy Professional Learning Teacher Preparation

Journal Article

Equitable instructor assessment changes amid COVID-19 pandemic

The coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak mandated a rapid transition to online classes with little warning. Previous literature studying the effect of this sudden shift demonstrated enormous impacts on instructors and students. However, the details concer...

By Todd Lamb, Emily Driessen, Abby Beatty, Rachel Youngblood, Abby Esco, Sehoya Cotner, Catherine Creech, Abby Drake, Sheritta Fagbodun, Kristen Hobbs, Kelly Lane, Erin Larson, Sophie McCoy, Seth Thompson, Cissy Ballen

Postsecondary Assessment Biology Equity Teacher Preparation Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Student Self-Assessment of Exam Preparation in 100 and 200-Level Chemistry Courses

Student self-assessment surveys were utilized to look at student study habits in several areas. Both self-reported study time and study methods were explored. Surveys were given to students after receiving their graded exams. When compared to the ...

By Andrew Karatjas

Postsecondary Assessment Chemistry Learning Progression Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

The Influence of Learning Assistants on Faculty Use of Student-Centered Instruction

The Learning Assistant (LA) Program is a near-peer teaching model with three key components: 1) reevaluation of curriculum and lesson design to incorporate undergraduate LAs as a central part of the course, 2) a seminar attended by first-time LAs whe...

By Cameron Hill, Kathryn Spilios, Anthony Barrasso

Postsecondary Curriculum Leadership Teacher Preparation Teaching Strategies

Journal Article

Student advice for success in high structure science and engineering courses

High structure courses ask students to be active participants in the learning process with pre-class content acquisition and assessment, in-class active learning exercises, and after-class review assignments. While faculty may suggest certain strateg...

By Arik Ringsby, Justin Shaffer

Assessment Curriculum Engineering Pedagogy Teacher Preparation Teaching Strategies