In this article we illustrate how one teacher used PhET cannonball simulation as an instructional tool to improve students' algebraic reasoning in a fifth grade classroom. Three instructional phases effective to implementation of simulation included: Free play, Structured inquiry and, Synthesizing ideas.

Similarity is a topic in Geometry which investigates similar elements of a plane. This topic has a high complexity that generates cognitive load in working memory. A deep understanding of the concept is needed to solve similarity problems. Based on cognitive load theory, learning by goal-free problems is suggested since it can minimize cognitive…

This case study focused on the robotics learning process of Mark (a pseudonym), a Latino-American second grader diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Drawing on Polanyi's (Personal knowledge: towards a post-critical philosophy [Kindle version], 1958/2015) notion of "tacit knowing" and "dwelling in tools," we attempted to…

Computer programming skills are important to many current careers; teaching robot coding to elementary students can start a positive foundation for technological careers, develop problem-solving skills, and growth mindsets. This study, through a repeated measures design involving students in two classrooms at two widely-separated grade levels…

Learning science through the process of inquiry is advocated in curriculum documents across many jurisdictions. However, a number of studies suggest that teachers struggle to help students engage in inquiry practices. This is not surprising as many teachers of science have not engaged in scientific inquiry and possibly hold naïve ideas about what…

Teachers have a key role in promoting Critical Thinking (CT). However, research on appropriate teaching methods for developing CT is scarce in primary education. This study investigated how CT can be fostered among pupils based on teachers' perceptions of the characteristics that promote CT and create obstacles in primary schools. We interviewed…

Purpose: Chinese kindergarten teachers commonly held "loving and caring for young children" as a core professional ethic, but many reported fatigue and burnout because of this ethical practice. This study presents a unique account of how children's free play has helped transform teachers' professional ethics and increased their…

Student investment in learning is often stronger when learning incorporates student choice, "real-world" authenticity, and creativity. This action research study investigated the impact of a particular tool for emphasizing these elements in learning: a free-choice, or "Genius Time," project in which middle school students in an…

This article reports on a narrative inquiry (NI) of two Norwegian polyamorous families regarding their encounters with their children's kindergartens. NI as a theory and method is employed, along with discourse theory, to understand the experiences of these polyfamilies in Norway. Norway has declared its institutions to be discrimination-free but…

The purpose of this narrative study was to examine the experiences of elementary general music educators in high-poverty schools (schools where more than 75% of students are eligible for Free or Reduced-Priced Lunch). This inquiry was guided by three research questions: (1) How do participants describe their experiences teaching in a high-poverty…

This action research study aimed to find ways to adjust my practice by incorporating inquiry-based, science activities and virtual simulations to improve student conceptual understanding of physical and chemical changes. A multi-lesson, curricular intervention combining inquiry-based activities and virtual simulations was developed using…

This work focuses on facilitating upper elementary students' media literacy skills development. Students engage in authentic techniques to recognize and verify media content and sources. Relevant background topics follow this structure: (a) introduction including literature review and purpose, (b) brief history of fake news, (c) impacts of…

In this study, the authors examined the survivability, or persistence over time, of overall science instruction for English learners (ELs) in treatment and control classrooms within a field-based, quasi-experimental grant-funded project in the United States. The project's goal was to increase ELs' science and language achievement through…

Teachers in K-12 settings often teach out of textbooks in order to provide differentiated instruction. Open educational resources (OER) might be an effective alternative to traditional textbooks for K-12 teachers because of a free access to a rich collection of open-licensed educational materials. Understanding how to encourage teachers to accept…

Teachers in K-12 schools have shown an increasing desire for open educational resources (OER) to ensure all students can learn effectively. OER provide teachers with free access to open-licensed educational resources that they can retain, reuse, revise, remix, and redistribute for personalized instruction. Open educational practices (OEP) have…