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The capacity for mathematical reasoning, pivotal in grasping core math concepts, directly shapes a student's success in their mathematical studies. This study aimed to detail and analyzed how the search, solve, create, and share (SSCS) instructional framework impacts mathematical reasoning skills within the context of linear equations. We adopted a quasi-experimental research approach using a non-matching control group design. To gather data on mathematical reasoning proficiency, a validated and reliable essay-type test was employed. Data collection on mathematical reasoning abilities used an essay test instrument that has been valid and is reliable. This research involved 102 eighth grade students whereby they were selected by using a purposive sampling. To measure and describe the effect size, we utilized a specific method, yielding a result of 0.97. The t-test was employed to assess the influence of the SSCS learning model, and the significance value obtained was less than 0.05. The effect size, as determined, stands at 0.97, suggesting a substantial impact. The t-test results underscore a significant relationship between the SSCS learning model and the enhancement of mathematical reasoning abilities. This research delineates a framework for employing the SSCS model to enhance students' mathematical reasoning capabilities. It is evident that such reasoning abilities play a pivotal.

The aim of this study is to examine how middle school mathematics teachers diagnose and attempt to eliminate students' misconceptions in algebra. The study employed a case study method and embedded single-case design. The research was conducted with three mathematics teachers working in different state schools and having different professional experiences, as well as ten students from the eighth-grade classes of the same schools. The data collection instruments used in the study included the Diagnostic Test developed by researchers to identify students with misconceptions, the Assessment Framework prepared for the evaluation of teacher performances in diagnosing and eliminating student misconceptions, and Semi-Structured Interviews conducted between students and teachers, which were recorded and made available in audio/video format. The study revealed that teachers generally resorted to conventional methods in the process of diagnosing and eliminating students' misconceptions. In most cases, teachers superficially addressed students' errors and did not fully focus on students' thinking. Regarding the processes aimed at eliminating student misconceptions, teachers preferred to directly inform students that their answers were incorrect, rather than facilitating students in recognizing their own mistakes. The findings highlight the need to increase teachers' awareness and student knowledge regarding misconceptions in algebra.

In this study, a valid and reliable scale was developed to measure parents' perceptions of their children's social development in physical education classes. In the first part of the research, the relevant literature reviewed and student-parent interviews were held. As a result of the data obtained from the interviews, a 30-item draft scale was created. The draft scale was applied to 30 parents of students, and as a result of the feedback received, 5 items were removed from the pool. The remaining draft scale items were submitted to expert opinion and the number of items was reduced to 22. The 22-item scale was applied to 240 volunteer parents for Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and to 216 different volunteer parents for Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). As a result of the analyses, the final scale consisting of 15 items and four sub-dimensions was obtained. The Cronbach's Alpha values of the sub-dimensions were found to be between 0.74-0.79. In the final part, the 15-item scale was applied to 540 volunteer parents. Accordingly, while it was observed that parents' PSDSPEL scores were higher in the sub-dimension of showing positive behavior, it was determined that male parents' perception levels were higher than female parents. As a result of the study, it was found that the validity, reliability and internal consistency coefficients of the scale were at acceptable levels.

Designed by the Harvard University Project Zero team, Artful Thinking is basically a program that aims to improve students' awareness of art and increase their critical thinking skills by interpreting works of art and discussing them. In this way, students will acquire twenty-first century skills such as critical thinking and aesthetic understanding. The primary objective of this research was to investigate the impact of the Artful Thinking program on the development of critical thinking skills and attitudes towards art in 6th grade students, by implementing it as action research. This study was conducted in a middle school in Gaziantep, Turkey. 23 students and a Turkish teacher participated in the study. A total of twenty-four works of art (paintings, graffiti and ancient mosaics) were shown to students over eight weeks. Students expressed their opinions about each picture for 10-15 minutes. In order to make the students think in higher-order about art, the teacher asked questions prepared by the researcher. Thus, students were enabled to develop critical and higher order thoughts about the paintings. The findings from the students, teacher, and researcher indicated that the Artful Thinking program had a favorable impact on the students' perceptions of art, and that the students' cognitive abilities and capacity for articulation were enhanced by this program.

In this paper, I propose a model of plurimethodological approach in ELT textbook design, in which one unit is based on the communicative PPP unit model, where the unit ends with a final communicative task, and the following unit is based on the action-oriented unit model, where the unit is a mini-project unit as a whole. Such a textbook model is based on the concept of plurimethodological pair-unit, where the communicative approach and the action-oriented approach are combined in coherence and synergy. In such a plurimethodological textbook design, the topics of the two successive units (one PPP unit and the other mini-project unit) are the same or closely related, so that the unit based on the PPP model will provide the students with much of the language and documentary resources needed to complete the mini-project in the following unit. The mini-project unit will provide the students with additional language and documentary resources for carrying out the miniproject, but as there will be less language and documentary work for students in this unit, students will be better able to concentrate on carrying out the miniproject. [Note: The page range (228-241) shown on the PDF is incorrect. The correct page range is 228-240.]

While much has been studied addressing the topic of academic resilience, few researchers have examined adolescent perceptions of the factors that contribute to school success. This qualitative interpretive study explored individual protective factors that can promote academic resilience in urban middle school students. One-on-one interviews (N=20) of students living in one urban setting were conducted. After analysis, the four individual protective factors of positive self-esteem, self-determination, perseverance, and optimism were identified. Implications are recommended, such as offering these adolescents the opportunity to voice their experiences to educational leaders, and further research avenues are suggested.

Although student covariation reasoning has been explored in depth to improve understanding of the correspondence between variables, research has focused on studying existing reasoning about variables in Cartesian representations. The working method had a qualitative approach, with a descriptive exploratory scope, the spontaneous representations that the participants evidenced under the level of covariational reasoning of the variables present in three contextualized situations were explored, posed to a population of third-grade middle school students. The students argued with concrete and abstract drawings the general behavior of the variables. At low levels of reasoning they used pictorial representations, at higher levels they used graphical diagrams and tables. The exploratory study shows a relationship between the type of spontaneous representations and the student's level of covariational reasoning, as well as the rigor of the description of the problem.

This study aimed to investigate grade-7 students' negotiation during the engineering design process regarding the students' status of argumentation training. The participants were 33 students studying at a public urban middle school in Turkey. They worked in small groups on four engineering design tasks about electricity and light. Data were collected through small group audio recordings, student worksheets, and the observation. The data were analyzed by using content analysis. The results indicated that negotiation patterns were similar across all groups. However, differences were found between the group that received argumentation training and the one that did not receive in terms of proposing ideas for material design, using justifications when in agreement with others, counter proposing and acquiring information for better planning and altering the design, and critiquing for design advantages and disadvantages.

The aim of this research is to investigate the influence of flipbook learning media, learning interest, and learning motivation on junior high school students' learning outcomes. The method used is the regression method with a quantitative approach. This research was conducted at Junior High School 1 Yogyakarta with a sample of 64 class VIII social studies students. Data collection consists of interviews, observations, and documentation. Prerequisite test analysis consists of tests for normality, multicollinearity, and heteroscedasticity. Hypothesis testing using simple regression, and multiple regression. The research results show that there is an influence: i) flipbook learning media on learning outcomes with a tcount of 73.33, a significance value of 0.000 < 0.005, ii) interest in learning on learning outcomes with a tcount of 33.678, a significance value of 0.000 < 0.005, iii) learning motivation on learning outcomes with a tcount of 30.678, a significance value of 0.000 < 0.005, and iv) flipbook learning media, learning interest, and learning motivation together on learning outcomes with Fcount 47.879 > Ftable 2.77 with a significance of 0.000 < 0.005. The conclusion is that the use of flipbook learning media, increasing interest in learning, and strengthening learning motivation can support each other to achieve optimal learning outcomes for students.

Formative assessment is an evaluative practice developed in the classroom for the improvement of learning using evidence on student progression. The objective of this research is to compare sample groups from multigrade and single-grade classrooms on the theme of formative assessment based on the students' opinion of the teacher's performance. The method used was a comparative quantitative method. The sample type is a probability sample of 683 students from 5th to 8th grade from urban and rural schools in the commune of Longaví, located in the Maule Region of Chile. A validated Likert scale questionnaire with a high level of reliability ([alpha] = 0.93) was used. The results of the research showed that, in the six dimensions, the best teacher performance concerning formative assessment is found in multi-grade schools and not in single-grade schools. This can be explained on the basis of several reasons, among them the level of adaptability that teachers have in this type of classroom, the heterogeneous characteristics of the classroom (different ages and learning goals) and the need for teachers to monitor the learning progression of students with different classroom characteristics.

Mathematical beliefs and metacognitive knowledge play significant roles in solving mathematical problems; thus, this study aims to investigate the influence of middle school students' beliefs on their metacognitive knowledge when solving geometry problems. This study utilizes both quantitative and qualitative research methods. A linear regression test was used to determine the effect of middle school students' beliefs on their metacognitive knowledge. The results of the quantitative research analysis were followed up with a qualitative research approach to describe the metacognitive knowledge of students who have high and low confidence in solving geometric problems. This research involved 352 middle school students in the Tarakan area. Based on the results of linear regression, it is known that the beliefs of middle school students have a positive effect on their metacognitive knowledge when solving geometric problems. In addition, it was found that students with different beliefs could solve a given geometry problem, but the approach to solving it varied among subjects. Middle school students have diverse beliefs, but these variations do not affect their capacity to apply their metacognitive knowledge at every stage of solving mathematical problems.

The purpose of this research was to identify the need for gender equality education. For this purpose, the views of mathematics, science, and information technology teachers on the current situation of gender equality in schools were determined. In addition, the awareness of sixth, seventh and eighth grade middle school students on gender equality was examined. This study was a descriptive research conducted in a qualitative context. In data collection, an interview form on teachers' views and a written view form on students' awareness about gender equality were used. Research data were collected in the spring semester of the 2017-2018 academic year. As a result of the research, it is thought that an interdisciplinary gender equality education will be beneficial to improve students' awareness.

Science literacy abilities and collaborative skills are part of the life skills demands of the 21st century. This research aims to analyze the effectiveness of the PjBL learning model in improving the Science literacy and collaborative skills of students at Muhammadiyah 2 Middle School, Batu City and Muhammadiyah 8 Middle School, Batu City. The research design uses Pretest-Posttest Control Group Design. The research sample consisted of 60 class VIII students taken by total sampling. Data was obtained through observation, questionnaires and tests. Data analysis uses covariance analysis (ANCOVA) to verify the data against the proposed hypothesis. The research results show that the average Science literacy and collaboration in PjBL learning is higher than conventional learning. The results of the analysis can be concluded that the implementation of PjBL effectively influences students' Science literacy and students' collaboration skills. Thus, the PjBL model is recommended to be implemented to support the implementation of the Independent Curriculum at the junior high school level as an effort to develop students' 21st century life skills.

Reading habit is one if emulated judiciously is bound to reap rich benefits in the future. From being the most effective way in utilizing leisure time to the development of better cognitive ability, reading has an inevitable role. In this study an attempt has been made to enumerate the prevalence of reading habits among the school (6-12) and the college students. Survey is conducted in a hybrid mode, employing direct data collection pertinent to the school students and online survey for college students. Random sampling technique is employed and the data collected is analysed and interpreted in various ways. The comparison of the results of the school and the college students along with the overall trend has been deciphered. The results paint a grim picture of the plummeting reading tendency among the students and the utmost priority with which it should be addressed. An attempt has also been made to address the suitable alternatives in the near future to foster and inculcate reading among the young minds of the nation.

Reading is regarded as one of the basic learning processes that provides multiple skills and abilities for daily life. The study reported on here arose from evidence of reading comprehension difficulties of middle school students in Colombia, and from reflection on the didactic strategies used for the promotion and teaching of reading. The purpose of this research was to strengthen students' reading comprehension by taking advantage of the benefits of Easy-to-Read in the context of a methodology applied in Universal Design for Learning. The methodology was centred on the critical social paradigm, and the type of research was mixed with a design based on action research. The instruments used included non-participant observation, online questionnaire, standardised testing and a survey. The pedagogical proposal "Easy Reading" was designed and implemented to show progress in the students' reading comprehension skills, meeting the objectives set.

The main objective of this study is to revise and validate the assessment of self-presentation skills of middle school students. The assessment is based on existing self-assessment scales and adaptively modified for a more accurate assessment of middle school students' self-presentation skills. Considering the characteristics of middle school students and teachers' assessment, we have reconstructed and adjusted the dimensions of the original assessment. This paper includes background research, scale design and innovation, scale testing, and scale reliability and multiple validity verification. In order to further verify the effectiveness and reliability of the tool, this study added the application of content validity and factor analysis on the basis of previous studies. The results of this study are intended to compensate for the limitations of current teacher assessment for middle school students' self-presentation. At the same time, this study also provides a basis for the development of middle school students' self-presentation skills integrated training programs.

In this research, the effects of using Model-Based and Argumentation-Supported Model-Based Inquiry methods on 6th-grade middle school students' knowledge, scientific process skills, and motivation regarding the subject of sound and its properties were examined according to the current curriculum. A total of 77 students attending a state school participated in the study that employed a mixed research design. In the semi-experimental study, two experimental groups and one control group were used. Lessons were taught according to the model-based inquiry method supported by argumentation in the first experimental group, according to the model-based inquiry method in the second experimental group, and according to the current curriculum in the control group. In the research, achievement tests, scientific process skills tests, and motivation scales were administered as pre-tests and post-tests for data collection. The obtained data were analyzed using One-Way Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). According to the obtained results, it has been determined that the Model-Based and Argumentation-Supported Model-Based Inquiry methods significantly differ from the current curriculum in terms of student achievement and motivation. Furthermore, it has been observed that the Argumentation-Supported Model-Based Inquiry method is more effective than the Model-Based Inquiry method in enhancing students' development of scientific process skills.

This study aimed to gather middle school students' opinions on the utilization of cryptologic methods in education. Using a case study approach, data were collected through a semi-structured interview form developed with expert input. The focus was on the effects of integrating cryptologic methods within the Information Technologies and Software course. The study involved approximately 105 middle school students. Data analysis revealed that students generally viewed cryptologic methods positively, highlighting benefits such as enhanced long-term and rapid learning, improved problem-solving skills, and increased interest and motivation through diverse teaching techniques. However, some students reported difficulties in learning cryptologic methods and a lack of interest. The findings suggest that engaging, sustainable, and rapid learning captures students' attention and enhances their focus. Integrating cryptologic methods into the curriculum holds significant potential for developing 21st-century skills, including critical thinking, research, and problem-solving abilities, enabling students to connect clues and formulate solutions. The further integration of cryptologic methods promises to foster enjoyable and enduring cognitive gains in students' learning activities.

The aim of this research is to adapt the scales "Homework Management, Homework Effort, Teacher Homework Involvement, Teacher Feedback and Parental Homework Support" into Turkish. The research data were collected from 1,698 secondary school students in grades 5 to 8. The sample was divided into four subgroups and explanatory factor analysis was conducted on two groups and confirmatory factor analysis was conducted on two groups. Concurrent validity analyses were carried out on all students. Data were collected from students studying in 24 classes of six different secondary schools in the Maltepe, Kartal and Pendik regions of Istanbul. 49.12% of this group of students are girls and 50.88% are boys, and the mean age of the participants is 11.84 years. In addition to the scales adapted to the Turkish language, homework behavior (homework completion, time spent on homework, going to school without homework) and academic achievement were measured for concurrent validity. The results of the EFA and CFA analyses were similar to the original scales for all scales. These findings regarding the number of sub-dimensions, the placement of scale items within these sub-dimensions, and the concurrent validity scores indicate that the Turkish versions of the five scales are valid and reliable for assessing mathematics homework at the secondary school level.

In this article, the authors focus on a one-week research project examining Frederick Douglass's civic actions to challenge racial discrimination African Americans faced before and after the U.S. Civil War. Our one-week research project was implemented at a free public charter school in amid-sized Southern city. Our project connects to the disciplinary literacy skills argued for in the indicators of the C3 Framework. The following research questions drove our study: (a) in what ways, if any, do students articulate the challenges African Americans faced in the slavery system?; (b) In what ways, if any, do students articulate the civic actions taken by Frederick Douglass to challenge racial discrimination in U.S. society? First, we define the concept of public issues and describe their importance in an abbreviated literature review. Next, our focus shifts to examining how disciplinary literacy skills advocated for in the C3 Framework helped to shape our project. Then, we briefly focus on the demographic information for the students that participated in our study along with giving the demographic information about the teacher that implemented this project. Next, methods utilized in our project will be given. Then, a description of the student data and analysis procedures is provided. Next, we talk about the findings from our study and give a discussion section to unpack our findings. Finally, we close the article with limitations from our study and recommendations for future research studies to build upon our project.

Purpose: This study investigates middle school students' learning experiences through digital storytelling, applying a multimodal analytical framework to uncover patterns in digital stories. This study explores how participants engage in pedagogical activities, reflect on their learning experiences, and articulate their voices through digital stories. Design/Approach/Methods: Employing qualitative case study methods, we purposefully selected three 12-year-old female students at an urban school in the northern US. Analyses of digital stories and other data sources (interviews, classroom observations, and reflective journals) show that the students were engaged in both teaching and reflection. Findings: The findings describe (1) participants and their learning experiences, (2) students' representational and interpersonal constructs as used in their digital stories, and (3) their participation as teachers as well as learners. Originality/Value: Our multimodal analytical framework illuminates how students express themselves through digital stories. Our discussion focuses on students' learning, their identity development, the effectiveness of the analytical framework, and pedagogical implications.

School leaders must make decisions and implement strategies to improve a school climate and student achievement, and it benefits them to understand which areas of school climate have the greatest impact on student achievement. The State of Georgia measures school climate and student achievement with its school accountability measure, the College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI). This study employed a quantitative research design using archival data that was publicly available from CCRPI data for a two year span to examine the relationship between school climate and student achievement statewide in the middle grade sector. Findings revealed that all four components of school climate (i.e., Survey Score, Discipline Score, Safe & Substance-Free Learning Environment Score, and Attendance Score) were significantly related to student achievement. Additionally, the Survey Score and Discipline Score were the most significant predictors of student achievement. These findings provide school leaders with essential information to strategically make decisions involving processes and procedures that impact these areas. Future research is needed to determine whether the relationship between school climate and student achievement is similar for elementary, middle, or high schools. In addition, separating the data into rural, suburban, and urban schools and running similar analyses may also help administrators improve school climate and student achievement.

This study examines the impact of teachers' professional development on Canadian allophone students' learning and reading performance levels. We used the data from the Pan-Canadian Assessment Program 2016 involving Grade 8/Secondary II Canadian allophone students (N = 2,244) and teachers in French and English Language Arts (N = 598). Our correlation results show that Canadian allophone students' reading achievement was positively associated with teachers' professional development activities such as academic pursuits (e.g., university courses) and marking or scoring sessions. The correlations also demonstrate that teachers' professional practice of curriculum development had a positive influence on the learning levels of Canadian allophone students who were born in Canada, while teachers' participation in professional learning communities had a positive effect on Canadian allophone students who were not born in Canada.

Students from underrepresented populations--females, working class, and youth from marginalized racial/ethnic groups--are less likely than their middle-class Asian and White male peers to study computer science (CS) in college. The dearth of CS undergraduates from these groups contributes to projected labor force shortages. Sources of the dilemma include weak or absent inspiration and CS preparation in middle schools and negative stereotypes suggesting certain groups do not belong in CS. This case study describes three years of a community collaboration between a local university and a nearby middle school attended by primarily low-income students of color. The University of North Carolina Charlotte/Wilson STEM Academy Partnership focused on undergraduates majoring in CS teaching monthly workshops designed to inspire and academically prepare the middle schoolers for college and CS majors by teaching them coding and computational thinking while also challenging stereotypes about who belongs in CS. Post-workshop assessments, reflective essays, interviews, and administrative data were thematically coded. Findings suggest the workshops sparked interest in college and CS, undermined toxic stereotypes, and nurtured the academic self-confidence of middle schoolers. The Partnership provided the undergraduates with opportunities to meet their own academic goals while "paying it forward." Results suggest that the Partnership can serve as a model starting point for disrupting the disproportionalities in female and underrepresented minority students in CS.

This report from the field shares information describing a pilot program that addressed the literacy needs of middle school culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) students. One of the authors played a key role in designing and implementing the Building Bonds family literacy program. This program was made to engage these students and their families in culturally relevant, literacy-based activities, bringing the students, their families, and their teachers together on a monthly basis. Steps for creating the program are discussed, including forming an action team, inviting participants and their families, and setting up successful meetings and interactions. Elements of a successful meeting included access to multilingual and culturally appropriate texts, thought-provoking discussion questions offered in the home language and in English, and total family involvement. To determine impact, feedback was gathered, including responses to surveys and comments in informal conversations. In addition, participants' requests for continued programming are shared.

The purpose of the current study is to reveal the reflections of the Köycegiz Wastewater Treatment Plant (WTP) field trip planned within the context of the unit "Domestic Waste and Recycling" and the activities carried out concerning this trip on middle school students in Turkey. This research was conducted based on the semi-mixed method using a single-group pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design. The quantified data were collected using open-ended questions about domestic waste and recycling, while the qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews. Twenty-seven middle school students (17 females, 10 males) participated in the study selected by convenience sampling method. According to the study's quantitative findings, the field trip to the wastewater treatment plant made the students realize the wastes produced at home, recyclable materials, the importance of recycling, and the contributions of wastewater treatment plants to the country's economy and nature. On the other hand, the quantitative findings indicate that this trip helped the students develop more eco-centric behaviors (Protection of biodiversity, Protection of nature, and Protection of resources, etc.). Moreover, the contributions made by the field trip structured within environmental education to the students could be gathered under the following headings: sustainability, personal, and cognitive.

This research aims to develop ECARsites, an online site designed to support data-related activities in science learning and to facilitate the implementation of data, computational thinking (CT), and self-directed learning (SRL) practices in a more contextualized and relevant way for students. The approach used design-based research (DBR) methods, focusing on developing high-quality learning products or systems that meet user needs. The study was conducted at MA X in Magetan, Indonesia, involving four middle school science teachers and eighteen middle school students. The research findings showed that DBR can be an effective method of professional development for science teachers, focusing on developing relevant and contextual innovations for students. Integrating data practices, CT, and SRL frameworks into the DBR process facilitated the development of students' scientific thinking skills, leading to a more immersive and appropriate science education for today's digital age. The study highlights the importance of using real data in teaching, involving students in data processing, and supporting teachers in designing and implementing data-driven learning. The study also emphasizes the importance of effective professional development in computational thinking and self-directed learning and the need for investment in long-term professional development programs to prepare teachers for an increasingly technology-dependent world of education.

The purpose of this study was to pilot the DREAMS (Desire, Readiness, Empowerment, Action, and Mastery for Success) program, a community-collaborative, after-school intervention program designed specifically to address the holistic developmental needs of students at school. The author originally developed and implemented the program in Kerala, India, and later redesigned it for American school students. Combining the theories of Vygotsky and Erikson, the DREAMS model emphasizes the impact of the community on the development of children. This study evaluates the effects of a summer camp, the primary intervention of a three-year program, on the self-worth, self-esteem, and self-concept of 20 middle school students in Northeast Louisiana. After students attended the week-long program, the most significant improvements were observed in self-esteem and self-worth. Further longitudinal or comparative experimental research on the complete design would provide stronger evidence to draw more substantive conclusions.

This study explored the integration of neural networks and artificial intelligence in image recognition for object identification. The aim was to enhance students' learning experiences through a "Learning by Teaching" approach, in which students act as instructors to train AI robots in recognizing objects. This research specifically focused on the cell division unit in the first grade of lower-secondary school. This study employed a quasiexperimental research design involving four seventh-grade classes in a rural lower-secondary school. The experimental group (41 students) were taught via an AI robot image recognition technology, whereas the control group (40 students) were taught via a more conventional textbook-centered approach. The research followed a pre-test design, with three classes lasting 45 min each, totaling 135 min of teaching time over two weeks. Evaluation tools include the "Cell Division Two Stage Diagnostic Test" and the "Science Learning Motivation Scale." The results indicate that learning through teaching AI robot image recognition technology is more effective than textbook learning in enhancing students' comprehension of the "cell division" concept and boosting motivation to learn science.

This study examined the impact on the motivation of students toward learning physics upon applying the Nikola Tesla Center (NTC) learning system. The research was conducted using a quasi-experiment with a pretest-posttest non-equivalent control group design. The participants considered were a large group of 1371 students, from various grades and mixed genres, selected from the same district in Serbia. The instrument of this research was the students' motivation toward science learning (SMTSL), which has been adapted to measure the motivation of students and their learning strategies for physics. Statistical analysis included calculations of Cronbach alpha, chi-square, Kolmogorov-Smirnov (KS) test, independent Samples t-test and ANCOVA, and Pearson correlation test. The study found that using the NTC learning system had a positive effect on students' motivation to learn physics. The experimental group had significantly higher scores on various subscales of motivation such as self-efficacy, active learning strategy, physics learning value, performance goal, and learning environmental stimulation compared to the control group. The research results determined that the NTC learning system is an effective method for promoting motivation of students toward learning physics and it can be recommended for implementation in schools.

This study aims to determine the effect of teaching the "Cell and Divisions" unit in the science course with concept maps on the academic achievement of 7th grade middle school students. In order to achieve the stated purpose, a mixed method approach using an explanatory sequential design was used. The study group of the research consisted of 30 middle school students studying in the 7th grade. Convenience sampling method was used in sample selection. In this five-week long implementation, the control group was taught by the teacher according to the current science curriculum in the textbook, while the experimental group was taught a lesson enriched with concept maps. Quantitative data were obtained with the Science Attitude Scale (SAS) and the Cell and Divisions Achievement Test (CCDAT). The "Semi-structured Interview Form" developed by the researchers was used as a qualitative data collection tool. Descriptive statistics, Mann Whitney U test and Wilcoxon Signed Rank test were used to analyze quantitative data. Qualitative data were analyzed descriptively by content analysis method. In the post-application analysis results, while there was no statistically significant difference between the pretest results of the control and experimental groups, statistically significant results were found in favor of the experimental group in the post-test academic achievement scores. Interviews with the students revealed that concept maps contributed significantly to their learning.

In order to identify the acquisitions foreseen for middle school children in the book "Iz Pesinde" (In Pursuit of the Trail) in Mavisel Yener's "Dolunay Dedektifleri" (Full Moon Detectives) series, this study was conducted. The study sample is composed of the author's book "Iz Pesinde". Sub problems, assumptions, the importance and purpose of the research were included in the study. The work examined in this study, in which qualitative research method was used, was analyzed using descriptive analysis method. Based on this analysis, the work was read, examined, labeled, classified, and then associated with the acquisitions determined for middle school students in the Turkish Language Course (Grades 1-8) Curriculum (2019). It was concluded that Mavisel Yener's "Iz Pesinde" includes examples that match the learning outcomes in the Turkish Language Course (Grades 1-8) Curriculum. Therefore, it is believed that this work written in the field of children's literature is appropriate for the curriculum and can be used as a material in Turkish Language courses.

This study investigated the effect of a paper folding activity prepared to develop the sixth-grade students' concept definitions and images of parallelism and perpendicularity concepts. The study also examined how the concept definition and images changed after the paper folding activity. A combination of quantitative and qualitative methods was used. A one-group pre-/posttest design revealed that the paper folding activity had a significant positive effect on students' concept definitions and images. In addition, the interviews after pre- and post-tests indicated that the students' personal concept definitions of parallelism and perpendicularity of two lines/line segments began to match the formal concept definitions of these concepts after the paper folding activity. Lastly, missing and mis-in concept image situations, encountered generally in the pre-test, were observed less after the paper folding activity.

The purpose of this study is to examine how the categorization skills of the 6th grade students in fractions are distributed and to determine the classification errors made by the students, along with the procedural errors of the students in fractions. The descriptive survey model, one of the quantitative research methods, was used in the study. In this study, 292 6th grade students from four middle schools in two districts of a province in Turkey participated. Developed by the researcher, the fraction operation skill test and classification skills identification test were used. The results showed that students had difficulty in distinguishing examples and characteristics of fractions and fraction types, and even though they partially succeeded in operations, they made procedural errors. The researchers recommend combining procedural knowledge with conceptual knowledge and explaining the basic characteristics of the concept by comparing examples with non-examples.

This study aims to analyze and to describe, in terms of information processing theory, the thinking processes of junior high school students as they solved problems involving direct and inverse proportions. This study design is qualitative and exploratory-descriptive in nature. 26 students in the seventh grade of SMP Negeri 1 Kota Ternate were assigned direct and inverse proportion assignments. Eventually, based on the students' thinking potential and verbal and written communication skills, 3 students who could describe the thinking process based on information processing theory components were selected. The instruments for data collection consisted of questions on direct and inverse proportions, supported by interview procedures. Based on the analysis and discussion of research results, three categories of student thinking processes can be identified: (1) multiple thinking categories in solving direct proportion problems, which occur in the perception component when S1 students write or express problem solving plans using multiple strategies to process accepted information; (2) the multiplication thinking category in solving inverse proportion problems, which occurs in the perception component; and (3) the generalization thinking category in solving inverse proportion problems, which occurs in the perception component.

The current study evaluates effects of teaching factors and extended day programs regarding both average achievement and socioeconomic achievement gaps. Analyses are based on data from the National Educational Panel Study in Germany. The sample comprises 1523 students in 120 classes in 71 secondary schools. The investigation period covers fifth grade to seventh grade. The dependent variable is mathematics achievement. Data are analyzed using intercept-and-slope-as-outcome models. Analyzes on teaching factors reveal that classroom management and cognitive activation increase average achievement. Forming heterogenous groups within the classroom reduces socioeconomic achievement gaps. Analyzes on extended day programs reveal that tutoring reduces socioeconomic achievement gaps. Homework supervision reduces average achievement and increases socioeconomic achievement gaps. Enrichment programs increase socioeconomic achievement gaps. Implications for research, policy and practice are drawn.