Despite the importance of computer science education and computational thinking, there have been limited examples of computer science education at K-12 classrooms that authentically represents the work of computer scientists, especially programming. One reason is the lack of a measurable definition of computational thinking and a programming…

This study examines the data of students from the United States (n = 2,592) who participated in the 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). The purpose of this study is to probe the relationship between students' use of information and communication technologies (ICT) and their academic performance in mathematics and science.…

Using transformative experience theory as a framework, we investigate the potential of utilizing mobile technology and social media to foster deep-level engagement in the form of connections between in-school and out-of-school experience. A ninth-grade Earth science teacher instructed students to take pictures with their mobile devices when they…

We explored how preservice teachers in a middle school science methods course learned and applied computational thinking (CT) concepts and activities during a month-long intervention. In the intervention, preservice teachers learned about CT concepts through an hour-long lecture in their methods class, practiced a computing-integration activity…

The purpose of this study was to explore the impact a specific socio-scientific inquiry (SSI) unit has on student achievement and attitudes over the course of two years with two different implementations of the unit. Specifically, this study addressed the following research question: What impact does participation in an SSI unit have on student…

A common problem in many schools is the lack of equipment and materials in their science laboratories due to both limited budget available to the school and high maintenance cost of the lab. The latest technological advancements provide great opportunities for schools to go over the budget and cost issues by using 3D virtual learning environments…

With the increasing advocacy for Computational Thinking (CT) integration in K-12 education, it is important to consider how teacher education programs could better prepare teacher candidates (TCs). At the Faculty of Education at Western University, CT has been included in the curriculum as part of the teacher education program through the course…

Online math videos for student learning are abundant; yet they are surprisingly uniform in their monologic, expository mode of presentation and their emphasis on procedural skill. In response, we created an alternative model of online math videos that feature the unscripted dialogue of secondary school students, who convey sources of confusion and…

Research on flipped instruction with K-12 English Language Learners (ELLs) is limited. The purpose of this study was to examine the academic performance of ELLs who received flipped instruction in an algebra course at a newcomer high school, and to investigate ELLs' perceptions of flipped learning. Results indicate flipped instruction engaged…

The use of surveys and GIS mapping allows one to more readily examine spatial relationships that may occur. Greater attention may be paid to understanding these clusters and develop better individualized interventions. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the bullying in a population of nearly 600,000 students who represent a population of…

STEM disposition surveys were completed by 364 11th and 12th grade students attending a two-year university-based residential science and mathematics academy during fall 2012. Surveys were completed by the same classes as a post test administration during spring 2013. Major findings were that first year students tended to show a decline in their…

The University of Puerto Rico in Mayaguez (UPRM) has found that there are disadvantages to a semester long remedial mathematics course that is administered during the freshmen year to students with mathematics deficiencies in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) programs. Correspondingly, the UPRM designed and implemented an…

No one is born with all of the answers, and therefore it is not unusual for students of all ages and ability levels to need assistance completing their homework assignments. Traditionally, resources for seeking help on homework included class notes, textbooks, teachers, friends, tutors, and parents. Now, however, the Internet has greatly extended…

This experiment investigates the effectiveness of Excel spreadsheets in a high school algebra class. Students in the experiment group convincingly outperformed the control group on a post lesson assessment. The student responses, teacher observations involving Excel spreadsheet revealed that it operated as a mindtool, which formed the users'…

From 2004-2007, the University of Memphis carried out the NSF-funded Tri-P-LETS (Three P Learning Environment for Teachers and Students) project to improve local high-school computer science curricula. The project reached a total of 58 classrooms in eleven high schools emphasizing problem solving skills, programming concepts as opposed to syntax,…