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Fungi mostly reproduce through spores that are adapted for airborne dispersal; hence, fungal spores (and fungi) are found virtually everywhere. Fungi can be "friends or foes." Our friends include fungi used in the food and biotech industries, fungi that contribute to the cycling of carbon and nutrients, and those involved in the decontamination of polluted soils and/or water, to mention just a few examples. Many species, however, are foes--they are detrimental to plants, animals, and/or humans. Annually, >1.5 million people die due to invasive fungal infections. With the aim of enhancing microbiology literacy and the understanding of microbial concepts, we set up a project for the collection of airborne spores (the principal agent through which human airways are exposed to fungi). Students from five high schools in the Oeiras municipality partnered with us as citizen scientists; they carried out sampling by collecting fungal spores on adhesive stickers. The fungal spores collected by the students were subsequently processed in the schools and our research laboratory. Results obtained by the students themselves revealed a large variety of fungal species capable of growing in a rich medium at 30°C. In the research laboratory, using selective isolation conditions, 40 thermotolerant fungi were isolated, 32 of which were taxonomically identified as aspergilla, mostly from within the Aspergillus fumigatus taxa, yet exhibiting high genetic heterogeneity. The protocols and results were presented to the students, who were made aware of the local dispersal of airborne fungal spores, including some from potentially pathogenic fungi. Through carrying out scientific activities, the students developed both the interest and the self-confidence needed to implement future environmental investigations.

Science misinformation represents a significant challenge for the scientific community. Hispanic communities are particularly vulnerable due to language barriers and the lack of accessible information in Spanish. We identified that a key step toward enhancing the accessibility of information for non-native English-speaking communities involves imparting science communication education and training to Hispanic youth. Our goal was to provide them with the skills to become science ambassadors who can effectively engage with their communities and bridge communication gaps. To address this, we developed the first science communication training program in Spanish for Hispanic high school and undergraduate students in Puerto Rico. The program called "+Ciencia" aims to provide training and education on science communication for Hispanic minorities through experiential and collaborative learning. In the short term, our multifaceted approach works to counter misinformation and promote science literacy within the broader community. Over the long term, our grassroots efforts with students will evolve into a generation of professionals equipped with strong engagement skills and comprehensive training in science communication with a specific focus on Hispanic audiences. Herein, we describe the components of this educational program and provide open access to educational materials and articles developed by three cohorts.

Quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) is a growing interdisciplinary field addressing exposures to microbial pathogens and infectious disease processes. Risk science is inherently interdisciplinary, but few of the contributing disciplinary programs offer courses and training specifically in QMRA. To develop multidisciplinary training in QMRA, an annual 10-day long intensive workshop was conducted from 2015 to 2019--the Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment Interdisciplinary Instructional Institute (QMRA III). National leaders in the fields of public health, engineering, microbiology, epidemiology, communications, public policy, and QMRA served as instructors and mentors over the course of the program. To provide cross-training, multidisciplinary teams of 5-6 trainees were created from the approximately 30 trainees each year. A formal assessment of the program was performed based on observations and surveys containing Likert-type scales and open-ended prompts. In addition, a longitudinal alumni survey was also disseminated to facilitate the future redevelopment of QMRA institutes and determine the impact of the program. Across all years, trainees experienced statistically significant increases (P < 0.05) in their perceptions of their QMRA abilities (e.g., use of specific computer programs) and knowledge of QMRA constructs (e.g., risk management). In addition, 12 publications, three conference presentations, and two research grants were derived from the QMRA III institute projects or tangential research. The success of QMRA III indicates that a short course format can effectively address many multidisciplinary training needs. Key features of QMRA III, including the inter-disciplinary training approach, hands-on exercises, real-world institute projects, and interaction through a mentoring process, were vital for training multidisciplinary teams housing multiple forms of expertise. Future QMRA institutes are being redeveloped to leverage hybrid learning formats that can further the multidisciplinary training and mentoring objectives.

Recently, several articles have reflected on the existence of microorganisms in supporting the life and health of living creatures as the beginning of the emergence of microbiology literacy. In the curriculum, understanding the activity of microorganisms has been studied from pre-school, elementary school, and middle school to college. The presence of microorganisms is often associated as a cause of disease. As a result, most students know the negative impact of microorganisms but have not discovered the fundamental role of microorganisms in their lives. Special attention needs to be given as a form of effort to strengthen microbiology literacy. Several studies state that students have an important role in disseminating the concept of sterilization, maintaining a safe distance, and using masks as generally applicable protocols during the pandemic. Therefore, with the aim that microorganisms have an important role, both directly and indirectly and to curb negative perceptions of microorganisms, we propose microbiology competencies among biology education students, who are future teaching candidates. This article identifies the complex challenges of 21st-century microbiology learning and the OECD framework. This approach includes the use of pedagogical interventions with the main objectives: (i) knowledge (to teach fundamental microbiology knowledge, (ii) skills (to increase awareness in recognizing and solving real-life problems), and (iii) attitudes and values (to explain the contribution of microbiology in supporting life).

In undergraduate life sciences education, open educational resources (OERs) increase accessibility and retention for students, reduce costs, and save instructors time and effort. Despite increasing awareness and utilization of these resources, OERs are not centrally located, and many undergraduate instructors describe challenges in locating relevant materials for use in their classes. To address this challenge, we have designed a resource collection (referred to as Open Resources for Biology Education, ORBE) with 89 unique resources that are primarily relevant to undergraduate life sciences education. To identify the resources in ORBE, we asked undergraduate life sciences instructors to list what OERs they use in their teaching and curated their responses. Here, we summarize the contents of the ORBE and describe how educators can use this resource as a tool to identify suitable materials to use in their classroom context. By highlighting the breadth of unique resources openly available for undergraduate biology education, we intend for the ORBE to increase instructors' awareness and use of OERs.

Winogradsky columns were invented by Sergei Winogradsky in the 1880s and have commonly been used as a microbiology classroom learning tool in K-12 and collegiate education. However, they can be challenging to examine with microscopy. We scaled down Winogradsky columns into nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) tubes and replaced the natural sediment with a transparent soil substitute toward the goal of observing the microbial growth under a bright-field microscope without column disassembly. Using this "Mini Winnie" approach, students can practice their microscopy skills while observing microbial growth inside the column after only days of incubation on the laboratory windowsill. Overall, we believe that the Mini Winnies provide a simple method for maximizing student engagement while giving them a greater understanding of how microorganisms interact in the environment.

Articulating clear and achievable expectations is fundamental to both education and organizational management. In this article, we provide a simple intervention for clarifying expectations--and establishing that these expectations have been understood--which proved beneficial both to community college interns and to their internship mentors in biotech-related undergraduate research experiences. Internship mentors were asked to utilize a simple Expectation Clarity Tool to outline the expectations, success metrics, baseline assessments, and training strategy and support that would be foundational to their intern's project. These included expectations around conceptual, technical, performance, and professional skills and behaviors. Concurrently, but independently, community college interns were asked to complete the same type of exercise as a way of identifying gaps in their knowledge and understanding of their mentor's expectations and their internship project. The mentor's completed Expectation Clarity Tool was then shared with their intern. As a result of completing this relatively simple intervention, the majority of mentors reported that it increased their confidence as a mentor, taught them a new mentoring skill, changed how they will mentor trainees moving forward, and positively impacted their relationship with their trainee. On the intern side, the majority of interns reported that engaging in this intervention, both as an independent exercise and in obtaining their mentor's completed Expectation Clarity Tool, increased their confidence as an intern and positively impacted the success of their internship.

Molecular biology, broadly defined as the investigation of complex biomolecules in the laboratory, is a rapidly advancing field and as such the technologies available to investigators are constantly evolving. This constant advancement has obvious advantages because it allows students and researchers to perform more complex experiments in shorter periods of time. One challenge with such a rapidly advancing field is that techniques that had been vital for students to learn how to perform are now not essential for a laboratory scientist. For example, while cloning a gene in the past could have led to a publication and form the bulk of a PhD thesis project, technology has now made this process only a step toward one of these larger goals and can, in many cases, be performed by a company or core facility. As teachers and mentors, it is imperative that we understand that the technologies we teach in the lab and classroom must also evolve to match these advancements. In this perspective, we discuss how the rapid advances in gene synthesis technologies are affecting curriculum and how our classrooms should evolve to ensure our lessons prepare students for the world in which they will do science.

Have you ever deeply considered the intersections between research and education, particularly for second-level students? Traditionally, the convergence of these two realms is most often noted when considering the integration of research findings into educational practices or the involvement of, typically a small number, of students in research activities. While these practices have demonstrated efficacy, the fields of scientific research and education are evolving rapidly, necessitating a reevaluation of how we can optimize their convergence. In our discourse, we delve into these evolving trends, uncover the potential for greater integration, and, ultimately, enhance outcomes using the citizen science initiative Kefir4All as an illustrative example.

Climate change education is both important and challenging. Prior research suggests that many secondary school science teachers in the United States were conveying "mixed messages" to students that legitimized scientifically unwarranted explanations of recent global warming. In this paper, we focus on US climate education at the middle school level and assess whether teacher attention to recent global warming, and whether the messages conveyed to students, changed between 2014 and 2019. Pooling data from two nationally representative probability surveys of middle school science teachers, we show significant advances on several key criteria, but the prevalence of mixed messages remained high. Exploratory analysis suggests that improvements were spurred partly by the adoption of the Next Generation Science Standards by many states and by partly by shifts in the personal views of science educators.

Studies document difficulties undergraduate pre-nursing and allied health students face when learning human anatomy and physiology (A&P) course content. A comprehensive synthesis exploring the teaching practices within the course and how those practices are evaluated is warranted. This scoping literature review identified 78 journal articles investigating teaching practices, and we charted their research methods, student outcomes, and institutional contexts. Content analysis found the teaching practices described most frequently in A&P education research literature involved multiple aligned changes across the curriculum, including student activities, course delivery, and assessments. Critical appraisal of study methodologies revealed that most studies in undergraduate A&P were longitudinal, included comparison groups, and used simple inferential statistics. In contrast, few studies listed limitations of their research, collected data from multiple institutions, or reported student demographic data. We believe these factors pose notable limitations to the interpretation of A&P education studies across institutional contexts. The results of this review identify future lines of inquiry to enrich existing evidence about pedagogical interventions in A&P courses.

This paper presents two low-cost hands-on activities designed to enhance student understanding and address the pedagogical challenges faced by microbiology professors in teaching concepts related to cell structure and gene regulation. In the first activity, we used Shrinky Dinks and Jeopardy-style game questions to explore the differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Students have to collect pieces and physically build their cell models. The second activity uses origami organelles sets from Edvotek to illustrate the regulation of gene expression in the "lac" and "trp" operons, incorporating mutation scenarios for analysis. The intended audience comprises undergraduate students in microbiology, including biology, pre-medical studies, and health profession majors. The activities were deployed in three microbiology lectures, and students were surveyed. Students' feedback highlights the efficacy of the hands-on approach and increased class participation, as two of the recurring words in the students' survey were "helpful" and "fun."

The COVID-19 global pandemic has prompted educators in universities to reconsider their teaching methods, mainly due to the social distancing measures imposed within the classroom settings. On the other hand, the growing importance of continuing education opportunities for adult learners after graduation has seen the need to transform traditional teaching modes that primarily depend on face-to-face interaction into virtual modes, which are deemed more time- and cost-efficient. These major shifts in social and economic developments have a significant impact on the evolution of curriculum planning in higher education. Education that has scientific inquiry components inevitably comes into question, as conventional beliefs that experiments should be hands-on and will not be as effective if conducted virtually cast doubts on the move to the online space. This paper discusses the background of an impending shift in a university's approach to more online-based laboratory classes in an immunology course, as well as the exploration of the potential of conducting online laboratory experiments based on student perceptions.

The complexity of modern biology poses challenges in fostering interdisciplinary understanding, particularly between practicing scientists and the public. Furthermore, scientists often lack formal training in science communication, despite various motivations to engage the public. The science literacy of the public in the biological sciences can also vary across socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. Leveraging popular culture and informal learning practices to promote active learning offers promising avenues to enhance public understanding of biological systems. Organized sports hold collective recognition across various communities and cultures, serving as a means to bring people together. Notably, the NCAA March Madness event holds widespread national and international popularity, presenting an opportunity to laterally apply this concept to promote science communication within STEM and biology education. An educational social media and web-based contest tool was developed integrating NCAA-inspired brackets with animal biological systems concepts. The tool featured tournament-style matchups based on animal biological systems, interesting animal facts, and a voting system, all housed within a user-friendly interface. To encourage regular user access to the tool, graphic designs were developed for all social media posts to aid in visual recruitment to the voting website. Based on online metrics, the use of social media garnered repeat users across both the public and educators. The latter noted the tool's simplicity and informative content. Application of this social media and web-based bracket contest tool, which leverages informal settings for active learning for use in biology education, can foster science communication to engage audiences, improve comprehension, and promote interdisciplinary biology education.

The challenge of creating reliable technology-based resources for science learning is a perennial challenge in Philippine education, with limited learning materials accessible to all learners. This study is about the development of a videocast embedded with physics education technology (PhET) simulation that served as supplementary learning material for grade 9 science in response to the scarcity of dependable visualization materials. The study employed the developmental research design with analysisdesign-development-implementation-evaluation (ADDIE) model as the developmental framework. The vodcast evaluation tool, achievement test questionnaire, and vodcast perception survey questionnaire for students and teachers were used in the data collection, while the Kendall's W statistic, mean, percentage, and gain score were used in the data interpretation. The teacher respondents (N=64) have moderate agreement on the ranking of topic difficulty, with Kendall's W of 0.45. The researcher-made vodcast attained an overall rating of 4.78 from experts, which implies that the vodcast can be very good material for classroom implementation. The developed achievement test has acceptable difficulty and discrimination indices. The implementation stage yielded a low normalized gain, which can be accounted for by unfocused attention during the pandemic. Nevertheless, the voicecasts were found very useful in learning projectile motion, as perceived by both students and teacher-observers.

This study aims to develop a valid and reliable scale for determining the self-efficacy of teachers toward context-based science education. This study employed a survey design. The sample has formed 433 science teachers working in Kayseri province in the 2020-2021 spring semester. Firstly, an item pool of 85 items was developed by reviewing the literature. Secondly, a five-point Likert-type draft scale consisting of 67 items was developed. Required arrangements have been performed according to expert opinions to provide content validity. Explanatory and confirmatory factor analyses have been run to provide construct validity. As a result of explanatory factor analysis, a structure with four factors as "Learning/Teaching Process", "Self-efficacy Resources", "Academic Self-efficacy" and "Planning Instruction" consisting of 47 items has been reached. Factors have been confirmed by confirmatory factor analysis. Cronbach Alpha internal consistency coefficient has been calculated as 0.98. To provide criterion validity, the Pearson correlation coefficient has been found as 0.86 between the draft and criteria scales. Based on the findings, researchers have determined that the scale was valid and reliable, and they recommended that this scale should be used to determine self-efficacy beliefs towards context-based learning of science teachers.

This research goal to develop a multiple-choice closed-ended test to assessing and evaluate students' digital literacy skills. The sample in this study were students at MTsN 1 Blitar City who were selected using a purposive sampling technique. The test was also validated by experts, namely 2 Doctors of Physics and Science from Yogyakarta State University. The test instrument was developed based on five aspects of digital literacy skills: information, communication, content creation, security and problem-solving. Data have been analyzed descriptively and inferentially using the Rasch version and the assist of Quest software. The results showed that eight multiple-choice closed-ended test instruments were declared valid based on expert validation with an Aiken V value of 1.00. The reliability result is 0.97 with a very high category, and the INFIT MNSQ standard deviation value is 0.86-1.16, so seven items are by the Rasch model. Thus, the seven items in the multiple-choice closed-ended test instrument can be used to assessing and evaluate students' digital literacy skills in learning science.

The aim of the study is to reveal the concurrent validity of the Central Examination of Secondary Education Institutions (OKMS). For this purpose, the relationship between the OKMS subtest raw scores of the students who took the exam and the 8th-grade year-end achievement scores of the courses within the scope of the exam was analyzed by canonical correlation analysis. Grade 8 achievement scores were taken as the independent (predictor) variable, and OKMS subtest scores were taken as the dependent (criterion) variable. The study was conducted on 3029 8th-grade students who took the OKMS. Only one canonical correlation was found to be significant between the two sets of variables. 8th-grade achievement scores were highly positively correlated with OKMS subtest scores. While 8th-grade foreign language and science achievement scores had a high predictive power for OKMS subtest raw scores, it was found that the predictive power of the achievement scores of the religious culture course in explaining the OKMS subtest raw scores was low. The set of 8th-grade scores explained 48.6% of the total variance in the variable set of OKMS subtest raw scores. The OKMS subtest variable set explains 60.1% of the total variance in the set of 8th-grade scores.

In this randomized control study, we evaluated science teachers' pedagogical practices via classroom observations following ongoing, intensive, and structured instructional support sessions. These sessions included virtual professional development (VPD) and virtual mentoring and coaching (VMC) that accompanied a literacy-infused science curriculum. Using a low-inference observational instrument, we explored the direct impact of VPD and VMC on fifth-grade science teachers' observed time allocation in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) validation study. The observations were collected three times during science instruction from 121 teachers in 68 schools from 35 public school districts in the U.S. state of Texas, during the 2017-2018 school year. Preliminary findings revealed pedagogical differences in time allocation among teachers between treatment and control classrooms. We identified improved instructional practices within treatment classrooms, which suggests the intervention had a positive effect by enhancing the quality of pedagogy as well as the content-area instruction in science.

Incorporating ethnoscience into lessons through the ethnoscience-students' worksheet (ESW) is one method to improve student interest in science learning while introducing them to the local culture. However, no research was reported the effects of ESW on students' responses and the factors that influence ESW implementation in science learning. In order to better understand how students learn through ESW, this study investigated the relationship between ethnoscience context, science learning, and the implementation of students' worksheets. Seventy-two students participated in the survey after they studied ethnoscience learning through ESW. Students' responses are more influenced by science learning. In addition, the ethnoscience-integrated students' worksheets (SW) variable indirectly affects students' responses. Additionally, ESW affects students' responses more significantly than science learning and ethnoscience. This research provides insightful implications for educators on planning, designing, and practicing ESW to enhance students' problem-solving motivation and academic achievement. Furthermore, to contribute significantly to future researchers, further research employed the structural equation model through covariance analysis, also known as confirmatory factor analysis (CFA).

This study aimed to i) analyse learning problems in science at boarding schools for junior high school students and ii) determine the effectiveness of science learning in the context of Islamic teachings using the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, -religion (STEM-R) approach to improve reflective and critical thinking skills. The research method applied in this study was a sequential exploratory mixed method. The research design consisted of five stages: i) qualitative data gathering, ii) qualitative data analysis, iii) quantitative data gathering, iv) quantitative data analysis, and v) data interpretation. The subjects of this study were 192 students from boarding schools and were divided into 6 groups. The research results obtained were the school, parents, science teachers and religion teachers' vision and mission causing students to like or dislike science. An excellent teacher is viewed by students as someone who can make learning enjoyable, exhibit creativity in presenting educational material, possess the ability to motivate, link science and religion, engage in investigative activities, infuse humour, establish connections between science and everyday life, and communicate concepts effectively. Moreover, distinctions in reflective thinking and critical thinking abilities were observed between the experimental group and the control group. Learning that connects science and Islamic religion and examines STEM-R aspects is able to develop students' thinking skills.

This analysis dissects a piece of information into its parts and determines how they interact in constructing a concept. This study focuses on enhancing the analytical thinking skills of grade 6 students in science and technology courses by implementing inquiry-based learning management. The aim is to meet the minimum requirement of 70 percent and assess student satisfaction with the approach. This work follows a classroom action research approach involving planning, action, observation, and reflection steps. The target group comprises 25 grade 6 students studying in the first semester of the 2022 academic year at an elementary school in Northeast Thailand, selected through purposive sampling. The research tools include six 5E inquiry-based learning plans, an analytical thinking skills test, and a satisfaction questionnaire. Data collection involves implementing the learning plan in two operational cycles, conducting analytical thinking tests, and administering satisfaction questionnaires. The collected data are analyzed to determine achievement levels and satisfaction ratings. The statistics used are mean, standard deviation, and percentage. The findings from the first operational cycle indicate that 76.0% of students did not meet the evaluation criteria. After the second operational cycle, the mean score improved, and all students met the assessment criteria of 70.0%. Overall, the inquiry based learning approach has the potential to enhance analytical thinking skills, and student satisfaction levels were generally positive. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating effective learning management strategies, such as analytical thinking, to improve students' higher-order thinking skills.

As a form of implementing Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in educational institutions, an appropriate learning model is needed, which also accommodates aspects of spirituality. Before developing a model, baseline data is needed, so a broad-scale or national needs analysis is needed. This research aims to determine the profile of spirituality-based action competence for sustainability (ACS) among prospective biology teacher students throughout Indonesia. This research is a cross-sectional survey. The target respondents are students of LPTK biology education study programs in Indonesia. The target population size is 650 people, so based on the Krejcie and Morgan table, the minimum sample size with a confidence level of 95% and a margin of error of 5% is 620 students. The data collection instrument used in this research is the action competence for sustainability instrument based on spirituality (ACSIS). Data on respondent characteristics were analyzed using frequencies and percentages. The mean and standard deviation of scores were calculated for each item. Comparisons of two groups of students were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U Test, while comparisons of more than two groups used the Kruskal-Wallis H Test. We discuss interesting findings in this research, including the aspects of spirituality in ACS among prospective biology teacher in Indonesia.

Learning must be able to develop knowledge, skills, and mindsets so that the graduates produced have attitudes, abilities and knowledge that are integrated and skilled in life. One way to achieve learning can be done through habits of mind because the success of learning is strongly influenced by habits of mind. The purpose of this study is to as certain how habits of mind and cognitive learning outcomes in biology are affected by learning process oriented guided inquiry learning with blended learning support. A pretest-postest design wih a non-equivalent control group was employed in this study. The trial ran from February to June 2022. Utilizing the habits of mind questionnaire, pupils' thought patterns were assessed. Essay tests are also used to evaluate the results of cognitive learning. In this study, google form, LMS, and google meet were used for data collection. Statistical Product and Service Solutions software version 23 is used for data analysis and the results of covariance analysis (ANCOVA) showed a p value < 0,005, meaning that POGIL-supported blended learning can empower habits of mind and cognitive learning outcomes in biology learning. There is a substantial difference between the outcomes of the least significant difference and increasing habits of mind and cognitive learning outcomes. As a result, POGIL with moodle support can be used to enhance students' habits of mind and cognitive learning results in biology classes.

Metacognition is one of the key learning skills in the 21st century, with a strong potential to help students succeed in science learning. Until now, this metacognitive awareness is less empowered by lecturers in learning. This study aimed to analyze the problem-based learning (PBL) reading-questioning-answering (PBLRQA) model's effect on metacognitive awareness in pre-service teachers. This research is a quasi-experiment with a pretest-posttest nonequivalent control group design. Determination of the research sample class was carried out by random sampling. Each learning model was represented by PBLRQA and PBL class. The number of classes used was 2, totaling 57 students. The instrument used was the metacognitive awareness inventory (MAI). This inventory comprised 52 statement items divided into planning, monitoring, evaluating, and revising skills. An important finding in this research is that students' metacognitive awareness in learning with PBL and PBLRQA is not significantly different. Thus, the PBLRQA and PBL models can still be used in students' science learning to encourage metacognitive awareness, so that academic success can be achieved.

This study compared two versions of the same elementary science professional development (PD) and curriculum program that were offered face-to-face and completely online, while keeping all content consistent between the two. Using quantitative analyses of pre- and posttests of content knowledge (CK), we evaluated the extent to which the online version of the PD compared to the face-to-face PD for increasing the earth science and art CK of upper elementary teachers required to teach an earth science and art integrated curriculum. Additionally, we explored how the impact of PD modality (online vs. face-to-face) on teachers' CK learning outcomes differed for novice and experienced teachers. Findings revealed significantly higher CK learning gains for teachers who participated in online PD compared with face-to-face PD, but with a small effect size. Subgroup analysis revealed that compared with experienced teachers, the novice teachers had significantly higher CK gains from participating in the online PD compared to the face-to-face version with a large effect size. We also discuss the implications for the design of large-scale online teacher PD.

The declining interest in science learning, along with students' perception that science is irrelevant to their daily lives, has been identified as a significant issue. This research aimed to help students connect abstract scientific concepts with their personal and everyday experiences. To achieve this, the research utilized the metaphysical principles implied by scientific concepts, a component of Kuhn's paradigm. To replace the abstract term 'metaphysical meanings', the term 'Meaning of Life implied by Scientific Concepts' (MLS) was introduced to make these metaphysical principles more accessible and comprehensible for students. Using MLS, activity sheets were developed and implemented with 57 lower-secondary students. The results showed that students could effectively identify real-life examples of the presented MLS, the number of students who successfully generated MLS increased with additional class sessions, and the content of the MLS expressed by the students was thoughtful and meaningful. Post-activity interviews indicated that students found this approach interesting and helpful for understanding concepts, and teachers were impressed by the quality of the students' work, expressing a desire to implement this approach in their classes. It is concluded that using MLS to connect abstract scientific concepts with students' everyday lives is both feasible and applicable in school science.

Despite the importance of physics practical work in higher education, its implementation is often hampered by various constraints and problems. Technology, such as learning management systems (LMS) and mobile learning, can offer solutions to some of these problems and enrich students' learning experiences. Therefore, this research proposes a model called Practical Works in Physics via Mobile Learning and LMS (PWP-MLMS) that exploits features of LMSs and mobile devices to overcome specific challenges encountered in physics practical works and improve students' performance in these works. The model was designed, validated, and evaluated within the teaching context of a Moroccan university. To assess the model's effectiveness, 128 students in the Bachelor of Education, Physics-Chemistry specialization were randomly divided into two groups of 64 students each: an experimental group using the model for practical work on the topic of rectification and filtering in the electronics module, and a control group following the conventional method for the same practical work. The results of the evaluation showed that the proposed model can significantly reduce the time required to complete the practical work, have a positive influence on the students' technical skills, and improve the quality of their laboratory reports.

Virtual laboratories are transformative tools in science education, yet comprehensive reviews of their prospects are limited. This study addresses this gap through a bibliometric analysis of 218 articles published between 2013 and 2023. Key findings included: (1) research has evolved from initial exploration to rapid expansion; (2) virtual labs have demonstrated adaptability across various scientific disciplines, including chemistry, physics, biology, engineering, and medicine; (3) five research trajectories focus on virtual labs, science education, and computer-based learning; and (4) eight research topics, such as comparisons with physical labs and student performance, have gained prominence. These findings had implications for educational practices, research methodologies, and policy considerations. For educational practices, virtual laboratories offer benefits by removing the need for physical resources, providing flexible delivery, enabling safe exploration, fostering engagement through hands-on experimentation, and enhancing understanding with immersive experiences. For research, virtual labs improve learning and analytical skills, generate detailed data on student behaviors and learning patterns, and lead to innovations in teaching methods and curriculum design. For policymakers, strategic planning is needed to create supportive policies for the effective adoption of virtual labs, including teacher training, infrastructure development, and curriculum integration, making science education more accessible and equitable for all students.

Primary Scientific Literature (PSL) significantly contributes to cultivating students' scientific literacy. However, students' visual strategies while reading PSL remain unclear. This study utilized eye-tracking technology to clarify students' visual attention allocation and fixation transactions during PSL reading, and explored their associations with students' self-reported reading strategy levels and reading outcomes. Thirty-eight undergraduate students majoring in biology (22 females and 16 males) participated in the study. They wore eye-tracking glasses while reading a PSL that included sections like abstract, introduction, methods, results, discussion, and reference. Participants also completed a Primary Scientific Literature Strategies Assessment and a post-reading exam. The study demonstrated that reading time and fixation count on the results page were positively correlated with self-reported PSL reading strategy scores and reading outcomes. The reading time and fixation count on the methods page are positively correlated with self-reported PSL reading strategy score. Moreover, the higher group showed significantly greater attention to results compared to the lower group. The higher group exhibited significant interaction between texts and figures in fixation transactions within the results, whereas this interaction was absent in the lower group. The research provided recommendations for educators to enhance students' PSL reading strategies and abilities.

The complexity of gear concepts, often misunderstood by young children, highlights the need for educational frameworks beyond simple play. To examine the effects of using the prediction, observation, and explanation (POE) model in building block activities, a true experimental design was implemented. A total of 49 preschoolers were randomly assigned to either an experimental group, which engaged with building blocks embedded with the POE model, or a control group, which followed a building instruction guide. Data were gathered through pretests, posttests, and two-week delayed tests administered to all participants. The theoretical framework for this study was based on the POE model, emphasizing the importance of prediction, observation, and explanation in the learning process. The results revealed that the POE model had positive impacts on fostering young children's acquisition of gear concepts. Specifically, gear speed and gear direction were identified as the most challenging concepts for preschoolers to grasp. The results highlight the critical role of children's reflection in learning these concepts. The participants' common naive conceptions about gear function, gear speed, and gear direction were identified. The implications of these results highlight the importance of incorporating reflective practices in early childhood education to enhance concept acquisition and address misconceptions.

In 2007, the Ministers of Education across Canada adopted the Canadian Degree Qualifications Framework, articulating learning outcomes for bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. Yet, by 2016, only 30% of Canadian institutions reported having learning outcomes for all programs (MacFarlane & Brumwell, 2016). One obstacle institutions face when developing program learning outcomes (PLOs) is faculty resistance. Unfortunately, faculty participation is critical to successfully implementing PLOs. This paper describes the process used to develop PLOs in the Faculty of Science at UBC Okanagan, which is deeply collaborative and consultative, to gain faculty buy-in and initiate a positive culture around learning outcomes and assessment. This was accomplished by educating faculty on the benefits and rationale for implementing PLOs, fostering faculty ownership of PLOs, supporting faculty through the process, and engaging with various stakeholders. This collaborative process led to community building, increased stakeholder commitment, laid the foundation for future collaborations, and fostered robust PLOs.

The ability to design effective technology-enhanced learning (TEL) experiences is a critical skill for university teachers. However, challenges endure on how best to develop university teachers in research-intensive universities to design TEL experiences that meet student, professional, and employer expectations. Having a greater insight of the varying ways students use educational technology in their learning benefits university teachers' TEL design skills. To develop this insight, a qualitative case study comprising differentiated interview strategy was conducted to explore students' use of educational technology for their university learning. This research drew on phenomenographic and sociocultural theoretical perspectives and analysis techniques to investigate university students' experiences of educational technology use. The analysis of the research data collected found a variance in the way students used educational technology for their university learning with three distinct dispositions identified. This study identified that students' varied dispositions influenced their educational technology use and were mediated by the task and social contexts of their learning. These findings aim to support university teachers further develop their TEL experience design skills.

The aim of this study is to increase pre-service science teachers' awareness of climate change through online argumentation activities. The study prepared pre-service training content based on online argumentation to increase climate change awareness. For the training, activities were prepared based on online argumentation for the sub-dimensions of climate change, which are content knowledge, awareness of the effects of climate change, awareness of personal initiatives, awareness of industrial initiatives, and tendencies towards preventing climate change. Expert opinions were taken about the activities and then they were finalized. Data was collected through an open-ended questionnaire applied as pre- and post-test. 32 pre-service science teachers from 22 different universities across Türkiye participated in the online training. The climate change awareness form was applied before and after the training. Data was analyzed using a content analysis approach. As a result of the study, it was observed that there was a significant difference in the pre-service teachers' content knowledge of climate change, and they provided more justifications in the sub-dimensions of climate change awareness after the training, and their awareness increased.

This study aims to conduct a bibliometric analysis of the use of virtual reality in science education over three decades (1993-2023). The method involved data from Google Scholar-indexed publications using Publish or Perish with keywords related to "virtual reality" and" education" over the past 3 decades. Nine hundred and eighty-six publications were obtained with a total of 131,130 citations with an average of 133 citations/paper and 4371 citations/year. The collected data were then screened to ensure its quality. Next, VOSviewer software was conducted to perform co-authorship and co-occurrence analysis. The results of the co-authorship analysis showed that there were 164 authors eligible to be visualized and divided into 88 clusters, indicating a high level of collaboration among authors in this field. Co-occurrence analysis shows that "virtual reality" has an occurrence of 696 in cluster 5 and "science education" is only16 in cluster 2 with word networks formed only on the words "virtual reality," "education," and "field." This study emphasizes the need for better VR in science education and more research on its impact on students' science literacy. It outlines VR usage trends in science education, informing future studies. The findings particularly highlight the importance of investigating VR's effectiveness in formal educational settings.

Science education is a key area of research, largely due to its inherent complexity and challenges. Various teaching methods have been developed to address these difficulties, which include the consensus classroom climate. However, no standardized tool has been created to evaluate the consensus within a classroom. This study aimed to develop and validate the Consensus Classroom Climate Inventory (CCCI), an instrument designed to measure the consensus climate of a classroom. The research was conducted in two phases: (1) initial item pool development based on an extensive literature review and (2) expert panel review for content validation. The resulting 29-item scale was pilot-tested with 120 freshmen students from a state university. Exploratory factor analysis using SMART-PLS yielded four distinct factors: Student Agency, Collaborative Learning Environment, Inclusive and Flexible Learning, and Student Autonomy. The final scale consisted of 23 items. Confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated strong factor loadings (>0.8) for all items, indicating good construct validity. Model fit indices suggested a generally good fit, though some indices indicated room for improvement. Reliability analysis revealed high internal consistency across all factors. The CCCI shows promise as a reliable and valid tool for assessing consensus classroom climate, though further refinement is recommended to enhance model fit. This instrument can assist educators in evaluating the consensus climate of Science classrooms and help educators enhance teaching to improve students' Science learning.

In order to effectively learn physics, students need to be actively involved in problem solving. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between students' metacognitive awareness and their problem solving strategies in physics. Conceptual framework was based on Polya's problem solving strategies and Shraw and Dennison's metacognitive awareness theory. Correlational design including both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods was carried out for this research. The participants of the research consisted of 30 high school students. Data were collected by using Metacognitive Awareness Inventory and Physics Problem Solving Assessment. The first conclusion drawn from this research is that high school students have high metacognitive awareness. Second, students are not very good at in physics problem solving strategies. Third, metacognitive awareness can have impact on problem solving strategies in physics. Fourth, looking back-reflection stage is the problem solving strategy that is affected by the dimensions of metacognitive awareness most. Finally, procedural knowledge and monitoring dimensions of metacognitive awareness have critical roles in physics problem solving strategies. Reflection of metacognitive awareness to problem solving strategies and especially using procedural knowledge and monitoring during problem solving are important strategies that need to be emphasized and encouraged in teaching and learning science.

This research paper explores the integration of ChatGPT as a tool for interactive learning of numerical methods in a differential equations (DEs) course. DE course is crucial for engineering students to model real-world phenomena. However, many DE courses focus only on analytical solutions and neglect important numerical solutions. To overcome this gap, an active learning approach was adopted, where students were asked to select a real-life phenomenon in their field of interest, find an appropriate model to describe it using DEs, and subsequently solve DE numerically using various numerical methods. The authors allowed students to use ChatGPT to generate codes and learn how to adapt them to their personalized learning needs. The findings derived from the students' survey responses demonstrated that ChatGPT significantly enhanced their interests and improved their coding skills. Students reported increased engagement and excitement in their learning journey with the integration of ChatGPT. By sharing this experience, we aim to inspire other educators to explore the potential of innovative technologies and instructional methods to enhance their own courses.

The South Carolina Master Naturalist Program provides nature-based education to citizen volunteers who will promote environmental stewardship and is offered at six host sites across the state. We conducted a mixed-methods evaluation (the integration of qualitative and quantitative data) of the South Carolina Master Naturalist Program. Overall, the South Carolina Master Naturalist Program is achieving its mission but there were some differences between host sites. We identified where there were differences and why those differences may exist. We make recommendations to help strengthen the program across all host sites in the areas of program fidelity, delivery, and administration.

The goals of the study were as follows: i) to design an active science learning activity on stoichiometry for grade 10 students, ii) to evaluate the academic achievement of grade 10 students after receiving an active science learning activity on stoichiometry, and iii) to investigate the perspectives of grade 10 students regarding an active science learning activity on stoichiometry. The research utilized a sample group consisting of 41 students who were enrolled in the tenth grade during the second semester of the academic year 2022. The research tools provided participants with active science learning lessons. A test of the kids' academic prowess as well as their thoughts on the use of hands-on scientific learning activities will be administered. The mean, the standard deviation, and a one-sample t-test were the types of statistics that were utilized in the investigation. The following is an outline of what the research found: i) the appropriateness of the active science learning activities was judged to be the highest level, ii) the academic achievement of grade 10 students after receiving the active science learning activities on stoichiometry had an average score that was higher than the criteria of 70% with a statistical significance at the .05 level; and iii) the opinions of students on the implementation of active science learning activities on stoichiometry were in the agree level.

Numerous studies have delved into the application of augmented reality (AR) in chemistry education, focusing on specific topics, equipment requirements, and advantages. However, there remains a notable dearth of research examining the evolutionary characteristics of AR in this context. This study, employing bibliometric analysis on 66 articles spanning from 2012 to 2022, reveals that research primarily revolves around pedagogical approaches and AR technology development, particularly in kindergarten to 12th grade (K-12) education. Despite the United States exhibiting the highest publication frequency, there is a significant absence of studies addressing emotions, cognition, and physiological changes. Shedding light on these research gaps, this study underscores the need for further exploration into the cognitive, emotional, and physiological aspects of AR integration in chemistry education. Ultimately, the insights gleaned from this study offer valuable guidance for researchers, educators, and practitioners alike, facilitating the advancement and effective application of augmented reality in chemistry education (ARCE).

This study aims to develop a science, environment, technology, and society (SETS)-based learning module to enhance critical thinking skills among elementary school students. Employing a research and development (R&D) approach adapting the Borg and Gall model, this module is designed to enrich the learning process of natural and social sciences (IPAS). The research sample involved elementary school students from selected schools, utilizing quantitative methods to measure the module's effectiveness. Validation results showed high scores in content, media, language, and pedagogy, indicating a highly valid module. Practicality tests revealed high practicality from both learners' and educators' perspectives, with average scores above 90. The findings indicate a significant increase in students' critical thinking abilities post-module learning, as measured by pre-test and post-test instruments. Implications of these findings suggest that integrating SETS concepts into IPAS learning can be an effective strategy in enhancing elementary students' critical thinking skills. These findings also offer insights for educational practitioners in designing more interactive and environmentally relevant learning materials.

Mastering creative thinking skills (CTS) is crucial for enhancing students' science conceptual understanding. However, conventional teaching prioritizes linear thinking over the three sub-CTS essential to science learning: associative, visual, and divergent thinking. Weaknesses in these three sub-CTS cause students to have misconceptions, difficulty in creating mental images, and an inability to generate ideas on abstract scientific concepts. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the Digital Storytelling Science Creative (DSSC) module in enhancing these three sub-CTS, based on the topic of acids and bases. The ASSURE instructional design model guided the DSSC module design and development process. This quasi-experimental design study involved 63 eighth-grade students. Analysis of two-way MANCOVA using the data collected through the administered Creative Thinking Skills Test revealed that the DSSC module group performed significantly better than the control group in divergent thinking. However, the DSSC module did not significantly affect students' associative and visual thinking or gender.

The use of metacognitive and self-regulated strategies is a potential predictor of problem-solving skills and self-efficacy. However, this potential needs to be seen at the level of knowledge and experience of various attributes and forms of activity. This research aims to see the interaction effect of using metacognitive and self-regulated strategies on problem-solving skills and self-efficacy in primary school students. This research is quantitative in the form of a factorial design with a 2x2 design. A total of 100 primary school students were the subjects of data mining through tests and questionnaires. The results of this study show that both metacognitive and self-regulated strategies separately positively influence problem-solving skills and self-efficacy. However, when combined with the analysis, it shows that there is no interaction pattern of metacognitive and self-regulated strategies in each of the problem-solving and self-efficacy variables. The use of metacognitive strategies and also self-regulation has a different impact on problem-solving which shows that students tend to be resistant to these attributes in learning. This is thought to be caused by the knowledge style and experience attributes possessed by primary school students. Apart from that, learning styles and science materials, which are mostly in the form of concepts, also have allusions, so the combination of the two needs to be analyzed more deeply. Future teachers and researchers can use this research as a basis for testing the potential interaction of many attributes and skills at certain cognitive levels.

Social media is one of the platforms that is popular and familiar to various circles. This technology has penetrated multiple fields, especially education. Many studies have shown the use of social media in the learning process. This study aims to explore the use of social media in science learning environments and their impacts. The method used is a Systematic Literature Review with several stages: Identification, Screening, and Inclusion. This systematic literature review used several databases, including Springer, Wiley, and ERIC. The study was limited to the last eight years, from 2016 to 2023. After screening using the PRISMA method, 30 articles were obtained and used as literature material. The study results show that social media can be one of the media used in learning science. Social media, which are often used in learning, include Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and WhatsApp. Science learning that requires visualization is suitable if learned using social media. The use of social media in this learning also needs to be adjusted to the characteristics and features owned. The findings in the article report that social media positively affects collaboration skills, knowledge, motivation, and student-centered learning. However, there are negative impacts of using social media that disrupt privacy. In addition, there is a need for training at each institution so that the use of social media is more optimal.

This study aimed to develop a valid and reliable measurement tool to determine the anxiety levels of parents with gifted children. The participants were selected using a convenient sampling method. The sample of this study consisted of 550 parents of gifted middle school students attending 12 Science and Art Centers throughout Turkey in the 2022-2023 academic year. This study utilized the "Anxiety Scale for Parents of Gifted Children," developed by the researchers in this study, which consisted of 30 items, to obtain quantitative data. A Personal Information Form was used for demographic information. The scale's validity was assessed through face, content, and construct validity, and its reliability was examined using Cronbach's alpha coefficient, item discrimination, and test-retest analyses. Expert opinion and a pilot study were conducted for face and content validity, whereas EFA and CFA were performed for construct validity. The data of 300 randomly selected participants (229 females and 71 males) were used for EFA, while the data of the remaining 250 participants (189 females and 61 males) were used for CFA. As a result of the EFA, eleven items were excluded, and CFA was conducted. The analysis yielded the following fit indices for the scale: RMSEA= 0.054, GFI= 0.912, CFI= 0.937, and IFI= 0.939. The Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient was .890. Based on the analyses, a valid and reliable scale comprising 19 items and five factors was developed to assess the anxiety levels of parents with gifted children.

An important educational goal is enabling students to learn scientific concepts. The scientific concepts learned in class are developed within students' cognitive structures. Despite the successful application of Semantic Network Analysis (SNA) to study these cognitive structures, there has been limited examination of students' concept networks based on their individual characteristics. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the differences in students' characteristics based on their cognitive levels, which influence their thinking and behavior. To analyze these differences, this study compares concept and connected concept networks, focusing on photosynthesis, a challenging life sciences topic. The study's results indicate that students could not clearly distinguish concepts by subtopic, but there were changes in the concept network after class. Although the types and number of concepts students knew were similar depending on their cognitive level, the concept network structure differed. Additionally, some students could not distinguish between similar concepts. Thus, teachers are advised to differentiate between similar concepts during instruction and address personal variables such as students' cognitive levels.

A central objective of science education is to foster a profound comprehension of fundamental scientific principles among students. Research has shown that a highly integrated knowledge structure is a key factor in achieving a deep understanding. This research has developed a friction force conceptual framework to model students' different understandings of friction force from a knowledge integration perspective. Utilizing the established conceptual framework, this study devised and implemented an evaluation of friction force among a cohort of 598 grade-10 students in China. The assessment outcomes were then analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. The results show that the conceptual framework model effectively represents the knowledge structures of students at different levels of knowledge integration, and the students' understanding of friction force can be divided into three levels: novice, intermediate, and expert. Furthermore, emphasizing the passivity of friction force can help students gain a deeper understanding of the concept of friction force, thereby forming a more comprehensive knowledge structure. This study provides an effective strategy for students to progress from novices to experts.