Intermediate elementary students (grades 4 and 5) frequently struggle to become scientifically literate in their general education classrooms. Scientific literacy includes knowing how to access and use information found in science texts. Unfortunately, many students struggle to read and understand science texts (Michalsky, Mevarech, & Haibi, 2009, p. 363). Fortunately, elementary students have shown improvement in reading comprehension when explicitly instructed in cognitive and metacognitive strategies to comprehend expository text in settings that support collaboration and flexible application of comprehension strategies, and have meaningful opportunities for reading and writing (Mastropieri & Scruggs, 2004; Palincsar & Klenk, 1992). A method that includes these components is reciprocal teaching (RT; National Reading Panel, 2000). RT has been used during content area instruction to increase reading comprehension skills of intermediate elementary students without disabilities in general education classrooms (King & Johnson, 1999; Lederer, 2000; Lubliner, 2004). These reading comprehension gains have been maintained by students on follow-up tests after the RT intervention has been withdrawn (Palincsar & Brown, 1984; Westera & Moore, 1995). This study examined the effects of RT on the science literacy of intermediate elementary students (grades 4-5) participating in inclusive science classes. Students with learning disabilities (SWLD), students at-risk (AR), and students in general education (GE) participated in this study. General education teachers used RT with science texts to improve science literacy. Pre/post science quizzes were used to assess the effects of the RT intervention, and post/follow-up tests assessed potential maintenance of the RT. s / Analyses of the data showed that the RT intervention resulted in improved science comprehension overall, and for each student group. In addition, the results showed that the gains were maintained for the individual student grouping after the RT intervention was removed, although these gains were not found overall.The study demonstrated that the use of RT during science instruction in inclusive, intermediate elementary classes assisted students who are AR, SWLD, and students in GE to attain science knowledge using standard science texts and materials. These results extend the experimental literature on science literacy and reciprocal teaching, particularly among intermediate elementary students. / by Kim E. DiLorenzo. / Thesis (Ed.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2010. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2010. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

This qualitative case study examined how middle school science teachers conducted collaborative inquiry and reflection about students’ conceptual understanding, and how individual teachers in the middle school science group acted and made reflections in response to their collaborative inquiry. It also examined external influences that affected the teachers’ ability to engage in collaborative inquiry. Observational, written, and interview data were collected from observations of teachers’ face-to-face meetings and reflections, individual interviews, a focus group interview, and online reflections. The results of this study revealed that collaborative inquiry is a form of professional development that includes answering curricular questions through observation, communication, action, and reflection. This approach was developed and implemented by middle school science teachers. The premise of an inquiry is based on a need with students. Middle school science teachers came to consensus about actions to affect students’ conceptual understanding, took action as stated, and shared their reflections of the actions taken with consideration to current and upcoming school activities. Activities involved teachers brainstorming and sharing with one another, talking about how the variables were merged into their curriculum, and how they impacted students’ conceptual understanding. Teachers valued talking with one another about science content and pedagogy, but did find the inquiry portion of the approach to require more development. The greatest challenge to conducting collaborative inquiry and reflection was embedding teacher inquiry within a prescribed inquiry that was already being conducted by the Sundown School District. Collaborative inquiry should be structured so that it meets the needs of teachers in order to attend to the needs of students. A conducive atmosphere for collaborative inquiry and reflection is one in which administrators make the process mandatory and facilitate the process by removing an existing inquiry. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2013.

This mixed method study investigated K-6 teacher candidates' beliefs about informal science instruction prior to and after their experiences in a 15-week science methods course and in comparison to a non-intervention group. The study is predicated by the literature that supports the extent to which teachers' beliefs influence their instructional practices. The intervention integrated the six strands of learning science in informal science education (NRC, 2009) and exposed candidates to out-of-school-time environments (NRC, 2010). Participants included 17 candidates in the intervention and 75 in the comparison group. All were undergraduate K-6 teacher candidates at one university enrolled in different sections of a required science methods course. All the participants completed the Beliefs about Science Teaching (BAT) survey. Reflective journals, drawings, interviews, and microteaching protocols were collected from participants in the intervention. There was no statistically significant difference in pre or post BAT scores of the two groups; However, there was a statistically significant interaction effect for the intervention group over time. Analysis of the qualitative data revealed that the intervention candidates displayed awareness of each of the six strands of learning science in informal environments and commitment to out-of-school-time learning of science. This study supports current reform efforts favoring integration of informal science instructional strategies in science methods courses of elementary teacher education programs.

xi, 73 p. : ill. / Recent studies have demonstrated a clear gap between the skills that high school graduates obtain by the completion of high school and those that are necessary for success in college as well as the workforce. Demands for more rigorous preparation at the high school level have prompted some states to make changes to state standards and high school graduation requirements. This dissertation used a prediction study to examine the coursetaking patterns of high school students in science and their subsequent success in chemistry 1A at the college level. Analysis of obtained data using a two-way ANOVA was used to estimate the main effects of (a) number of semesters of science courses and (b) the type of science courses and (c) the interaction effect on college performance as indicated by the final course grade. The results of this study indicate that the main effect of type and the main effect of number of semesters are both significant statistically. Taking more semesters of science in high school is positively associated with the final grade in first-year college chemistry. Taking higher level science coursework in high school is also positively associated with final grade. The interaction of type by number of semesters is not significant, however. Taking more semesters of higher level science coursework does not increase the likelihood of doing well in college chemistry, as there is no observable significant influence on final grade in chemistry, beyond the main effects described previously. / Committee in charge: Paul Yovanoff, Chairperson; David Conley, Member; Kathleen Scalise, Member; Kenneth Doxsee, Outside Member

Submitted by Filipe dos Santos (fsantos@pucsp.br) on 2017-05-12T13:15:39Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Mariana Bianchini Malerba Coltri.pdf: 44585552 bytes, checksum: 28da7fc5db4f7d22c0537decd3588adf (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-12T13:15:39Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Mariana Bianchini Malerba Coltri.pdf: 44585552 bytes, checksum: 28da7fc5db4f7d22c0537decd3588adf (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-03-08 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / In this study, we analyze the relevance of the images in herbaria from the XVIth century, emphasizing mainly some aspects of the relation between image and text present in the books of this period. We also intend to highlight the use of images for the purpose of registration and circulation of knowledge. However, to develop this study in the field of History of Science, we chose as a case study the work A New Herball, published in 1568 by the british scholar William Turner (c.1510-1568). From this work, we present some discussions about the use of images and their relevance for the knowledge about nature at that time. We complement this work with a didactic sequence acting in the interface between the History of Science and Teaching, emphasizing science as human construction and the relevance of images in the process of communication of knowledge / Neste estudo, analisamos a relevância das imagens em herbários do século XVI, salientando principalmente alguns aspectos da relação imagem e texto presentes nos livros desse período. Buscamos também evidenciar o uso das imagens no registro e circulação de conhecimentos. Contudo, para desenvolver este trabalho no âmbito da História da Ciência, escolhemos como estudo de caso a obra A New Herball, publicada em 1568 pelo estudioso britânico William Turner (c.1510-1568). A partir dela, apresentamos algumas discussões sobre o uso das imagens e sua relevância para o conhecimento sobre a natureza daquela época. Complementamos este trabalho com uma sequência didática que atua na interface entre a História da Ciência e o Ensino, enfatizando a ciência como construção humana e a relevância das imagens no processo de comunicação do conhecimento

Submitted by Filipe dos Santos (fsantos@pucsp.br) on 2017-06-12T12:41:37Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Márcia Regina Takeuchi.pdf: 9341895 bytes, checksum: 7cbc503091f84b8b8f120f280c769f1e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-12T12:41:37Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Márcia Regina Takeuchi.pdf: 9341895 bytes, checksum: 7cbc503091f84b8b8f120f280c769f1e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-04-27 / This work examines textbooks that presented science contents and have been destinated to elementary public education between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The objective of the analysis is to verify the selections that have been made and the methodology predicted and well as made effective for teaching. The work is part of the History of School Disciplines area led by Andre Chervel and Bruno Belhoste, which considers school textbooks a privileged resource of contents that affects pedagogical practice and constitute the school culture. I develop the material analysis of the books by taking Roger Chartier as a theoretical reference, to identify editorial devices that reveal strategies and intentions of the reader's use of the work. The research highlighted devices by which textbooks have come to guide readings and uses, as well as the ways in which they have appropriated notions known as "object lessons / Este trabalho analisa exemplares de livros escolares que veicularam conteúdos de ciências destinados à instrução pública elementar entre os séculos XIX e XX. O objetivo da análise é verificar os conteúdos selecionados e a metodologia prevista e efetivada para o ensino. O trabalho se insere na área da História das Disciplinas Escolares, tributária de André Chervel e Bruno Belhoste, que considera os livros escolares fontes privilegiadas de conteúdos que se inserem na prática pedagógica, constituindo a cultura escolar. Com base em Roger Chartier, fazem-se análises materiais dos livros para identificar dispositivos editoriais reveladores de estratégias e intencionalidades de usos da obra pelos leitores. A pesquisa evidenciou dispositivos pelos quais os livros escolares passaram a orientar leituras e usos, bem como as maneiras pelas quais eles se apropriaram de noções disseminadas como “lições de coisas”

To improve students’ scientific literacy and their general perceptions of chemistry, I enacted critical chemistry education (CCE) in two “regular level” chemistry classes with a group of 25 students in a suburban, private high school as part of this study. CCE combined the efforts of critical science educators (Fusco & Calabrese Barton, 2001; Gilbert 2013) with the performance expectations of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) (NGSS Lead States, 2013a) to critically transform the traditional chemistry curriculum at this setting. Essentially, CCE engages students in the critical exploration of socially situated chemistry content knowledge and requires them to demonstrate this knowledge through the practices of science. The purpose of this study was to gauge these students development of chemistry content knowledge, chemistry interest, and critical scientific literacy (CSL) as they engaged in CCE. CSL was a construct developed for this study that necessarily combined the National Research Center’s (2012) definition of scientific literacy with a critical component. As such, CSL entailed demonstrating content knowledge through the practices of science as well as the ability to critically analyze the intersections between science content and socially relevant issues. A mixed methods, critical ethnographic approach framed the collection of data from open-ended questionnaires, focus group interviews, Likert surveys, pre- and post unit tests, and student artifacts. These data revealed three main findings: (1) students began to develop CSL in specific, significant ways working through the activities of CCE, (2) student participants of CCE developed a comparable level of chemistry content understanding to students who participated in a traditional chemistry curriculum, and (3) CCE developed a group of students’ perceptions of interest in chemistry. In addition to being able to teach students discipline specific content knowledge, the implications of this study are that CCE has the ability to affect students’ critical science thinking in positive ways. However, to develop longer lasting, deeper critical insights that students use to participate in science-related issues outside of class, critical science education must be enacted longitudinally and across disciplines. Furthermore, it must be enacted in ways that either prompt or help students to transfer classroom learning outside of the classroom as they engage in critical issues in the classroom.

Lee Yun-wing. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 87-92). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Background --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Motivation and Objectives --- p.3 / Chapter 1.3 --- Organization of Thesis --- p.4 / Chapter 2 --- Review of Related Work --- p.5 / Chapter 2.1 --- Traditional Education Theory --- p.6 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Integrative Learning Model --- p.6 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Problem-Based Learning --- p.7 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- Cognitive Apprenticeship --- p.8 / Chapter 2.1.4 --- Conversational Model --- p.9 / Chapter 2.1.5 --- Self-Regulated Learning --- p.10 / Chapter 2.1.6 --- Seven Principles for Good Practice for Education --- p.11 / Chapter 2.2 --- Online Learning Examples --- p.13 / Chapter 2.3 --- Web sites Comparison --- p.30 / Chapter 2.4 --- Chapter Summary --- p.38 / Chapter 3 --- An On-line learning model --- p.39 / Chapter 3.1 --- Conceptual Design --- p.39 / Chapter 3.2 --- Software architecture --- p.51 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Authentication --- p.53 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Courseware studying --- p.54 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Quiz retrieval --- p.55 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Performance Monitoring --- p.57 / Chapter 3.3 --- Chapter Summary --- p.58 / Chapter 4 --- Demonstration --- p.59 / Chapter 4.1 --- Account Management --- p.60 / Chapter 4.2 --- Courseware --- p.62 / Chapter 4.3 --- Quiz --- p.68 / Chapter 4.4 --- Email address list and newsgroup --- p.76 / Chapter 4.5 --- Instructor Area --- p.77 / Chapter 4.6 --- Chapter Summary --- p.80 / Chapter 5 --- Conclusion and Future Work --- p.82 / Chapter 5.1 --- Conclusion --- p.82 / Chapter 5.2 --- Future work --- p.85 / Bibliography --- p.87

This study analyzes the effect of three different high school scheduling options on the delivery of biology instruction, on student achievement, and on student perceptions of their instructional activities. Participants were biology students and teachers from twelve high schools in a north Texas urban school district of 76,000. Block classes had 11 to 18 percent less instructional time than traditional classes. Texas Biology I End-of-Course Examination achievement results for 3,195 students along with student and teacher surveys provided information on instructional activities, attitudes, and individualization. Using an analysis of variance at a j i< .01 the following results were found; student achievement was significantly different for each of the scheduled comparisons groups, test score means were not statistically significant between the scheduled comparison groups for different ethnic groups, economically disadvantaged students, and magnet students. No significant differences were found between the science learning activity index for each of the scheduled groups. Student response data when disaggregrated and reaggregrated into program groups found a statistically significant higher index of science activity at a p. < .01 for magnet students when compared to both the regular and honor students. Regular program students had a significantly higher index of individualization than honors program students. Accelerated and rotating block classes were found to hold a significantly more positive attitude about their science learning conditions than did the traditional students. These data suggest that during the first two years of block scheduling, the initial impact of block scheduling, where total time for science is reduced, results in lower student achievement scores when compared to traditionally scheduled classes. Yet, block scheduled student attitudes and perceptions about science learning are significantly more positive than the traditionally scheduled students.

Student's verbal participation in science classrooms is an essential element in building the skills necessary for proficiency in scientific literacy and discourse. The myriad of new, multisyllabic vocabulary terms introduced in one year of secondary school biology instruction can overwhelm students and further impede the self-efficacy needed for concise constructions of scientific explanations and arguments. Factors inhibiting students' inclination to answer questions, share ideas and respond to peers in biology classrooms include confidence and self-perceived competence in appropriately speaking the language of science. Providing students with explicit, engaging instruction in methods to develop vocabulary for use in expressing conclusions is critical for expanding comprehension of science concepts. This study fused the recommended strategies for engaging vocabulary instruction with linguistic practices for teaching pronunciation to examine the relationship between a student's ability to pronounce challenging bio-terminology and their propensity to speak in teacher-led, guided classroom discussions. Interviews, surveys, and measurements quantifying and qualifying students' participation in class discussions before and after explicit instruction in pronunciation were used to evaluate the potential of this strategy as an appropriate tool for increasing students' self-efficacy and willingness to engage in biology classroom conversations. The findings of this study showed a significant increase in student verbal participation in classroom discussions after explicit instruction in pronunciation combined with vocabulary literacy strategies. This research also showed an increase in the use of vocabulary words in student comments after the intervention.