In a design-research project on problem-solving, theory-based and practice-oriented materials were developed with the goal of fostering systematical development of students' problem-solving competence in a targeted manner by learning heuristics. Special attention was given to working backward strategy, which has been shown difficult for students…

MathCheck is a relatively new online tool that gives students feedback on their solutions to elementary university mathematics and theoretical computer science exercises. MathCheck was designed with constructivism learning theory in mind and it differs from other online tools as it checks the solutions step by step and shows a counter-example if…

One major issue in mathematics teacher education regards the role of university-level mathematics in teacher knowledge. In the context of a design-based research project, an advanced mathematics teacher education course aimed at strengthening the connections between university-level mathematics and school mathematics was developed. In this paper,…

Educational design research provides opportunities for both the theoretical understanding and practical explanations of teaching. In educational design research, mathematics teachers' learning is essential. However, research shows that little consideration is given to teachers and the participation of teachers throughout the entire design process…

The aim of this case study is to demonstrate how a co-design approach could be used within design-based research (DBR) with diverse multi-stakeholders in the LUMA1 ecosystem to promote social creativity towards novel student-based solutions and pedagogical innovations. As a case, a national LUMA2020 development program (2019-2020), organized by…

Science competitions, such as the International Biology Olympiad, are non-formal education targeted to upper secondary school students with high abilities. However, there is little knowledge about what is the relevance of training for a science competition. In this study, Finnish Biology Olympiad training participants were researched in the…

This study focuses on a youth science camp for pupils in sixth to ninth grades that is organized annually by the University of Jyväskylä, Finland. The main idea of the science camp is to learn to do guided inquiry in nature. The study investigates the significance of science camp for encouraging young participants to learn science and how the camp…

The objective of this study is to understand how the perception of teachers might change after they participate in a training program on the use of non-formal educational places (NFEP). The design of the study is ethnographic and its methodology is qualitative. The study comprehends the analysis of three multiple cases according to the…

This case study focuses on teachers' actions during problem-solving lessons. The aim of this study was to find out how teachers guide students during mathematics problem-solving lessons: What kinds of questions do teachers ask? How do students arrive at solutions to problems? The dataset contained videotaped fourthgrade math lessons in which…

This paper presents a meta-analysis of the literature on parental engagement with children's formal and informal science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. Five recurrent themes have emerged from the literature review: The challenges of supporting parents with children's STEM education; STEM education as a bridge between…

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…

Based on Dewey's theory of art, aesthetics, and experiences and photographer Barnbaums' writing about expanded perception through photography, we conducted a one-day experimental mathematics education unit. Using photography in outdoor conditions had a positive impact on teacher students' perception of the use of photography for teaching…

Non-formal science education means goal-oriented learning outside of school. The use of out of school learning environments (e.g. science camps) has been found to increase motivation and interest in natural sciences. In this study, the relevance of non-formal science education in science camps has been analyzed from the perspectives of children…

In this case study, we describe an inquiry-based approach to enhancing tuition in chemistry by taking student teachers out of the lab and into nature. We used video observation and interviews to gain insight into student teachers' expectations and experiences of such fieldwork. Through thematic analysis, we found that the participants perceived…

This mixed-methods case study examines parental motivation for participation in a Canadian university-based STEM outreach event. Parents responded to a post-event questionnaire that was followed by individual interviews. The quantitative part revealed how and why parents engaged with their children's STEM education. Surprisingly, neither…