In recent years, there has been increased interest and research on identifying the various ways that students can deviate from expected or desired patterns while using educational software. This includes research on gaming the system, player transformation, haphazard inquiry, and failure to use key features of the learning system. Detection of these sorts of behaviors has helped researchers to better understand these behaviors, thus allowing software designers to develop interventions that can remediate them and/or reduce their negative impacts on student learning. This work addresses two types of student disengagement: carelessness and a behavior we term WTF (“Without Thinking Fastidiously�) behavior. Carelessness is defined as not demonstrating a skill despite knowing it; we measured carelessness using a machine learned model. In WTF behavior, the student is interacting with the software, but their actions appear to have no relationship to the intended learning task. We discuss the detector development process, validate the detectors with human labels of the behavior, and discuss implications for understanding how and why students conduct inquiry without thinking fastidiously while learning in science inquiry microworlds. Following this work we explore the relationship between student learner characteristics and the aforementioned disengaged behaviors carelessness and WTF. Our goal was to develop a deeper understanding of which learner characteristics correlate to carelessness or WTF behavior. Our work examines three alternative methods for predicting carelessness and WTF behaviors from learner characteristics: simple correlations, k-means clustering, and decision tree rule learners.

In recent years, there has been increased interest and research on identifying the various ways that students can deviate from expected or desired patterns while using educational software. This includes research on gaming the system, player transformation, haphazard inquiry, and failure to use key features of the learning system. Detection of these sorts of behaviors has helped researchers to better understand these behaviors, thus allowing software designers to develop interventions that can remediate them and/or reduce their negative impacts on student learning. This work addresses two types of student disengagement: carelessness and a behavior we term WTF (“Without Thinking Fastidiously”) behavior. Carelessness is defined as not demonstrating a skill despite knowing it; we measured carelessness using a machine learned model. In WTF behavior, the student is interacting with the software, but their actions appear to have no relationship to the intended learning task. We discuss the detector development process, validate the detectors with human labels of the behavior, and discuss implications for understanding how and why students conduct inquiry without thinking fastidiously while learning in science inquiry microworlds. Following this work we explore the relationship between student learner characteristics and the aforementioned disengaged behaviors carelessness and WTF. Our goal was to develop a deeper understanding of which learner characteristics correlate to carelessness or WTF behavior. Our work examines three alternative methods for predicting carelessness and WTF behaviors from learner characteristics: simple correlations, k-means clustering, and decision tree rule learners.

The mission statements of Utah State University and the Department of Biology, as well as the requirements of funding agencies like the National Science Foundation encourage an integration of teaching and research. I have attempted to achieve that in my dissertation work by using tools I originally created to support and inform my biological research projects to teach science content and inquiry to middle school and undergraduate students. Chapter 2 of this dissertation reports the results of surveys for Hymenophyllum wrightii, a fern with independent gametophyte populations in the Pacific Northwest, which improved our understanding of the range, distribution, and habitat requirements of this species that was previously thought to be rare. The result of these surveys led to the removal of the species from the Forest Service's Alaska Region Sensitive Species List and provided a first report of the species in the contiguous United States. A preliminary genetic data analyses of gametophyte populations found during the surveys sets the stage for future work to determine the relationships between the independent gametophyte populations and sporophytes growing in Haidi Gwaii, British Columbia and East Asia, which is important for understanding their evolutionary and conservation potential. Chapter 3 describes an attempt to explore the population genetics of another fern with independent gametophyte populations, Crepidomanes intricatum in the Appalachian mountains of Eastern North America. This species apparently exists only as gametophytes, which raises interesting questions about how and when it was established, and its conservation and evolutionary potential. This population genetics analysis was not able to be completed, but led to an analysis of potential sources of error in genotyping-by-sequencing datasets and to the development of a set of software tools for evaluating the quality of these datasets. To help better visualize the evolutionary processes at work in populations of ferns with independent gametophytes, I developed an interactive software tool to simulate populations of ferns in a virtual 3-dimensional space. Chapter 4 describes that tool, an educational activity using it to teach population genetics and science inquiry to undergraduates, and the results of a study demonstrating its effects on student content learning and confidence in their ability to perform inquiry. This tool and the activity built around it have been used in undergraduate genetic laboratories at Utah State University since 2011. The apparent benefits of this simulation tool led to a collaboration with educators and the development of another 3-dimensional simulation tool to teach eight grade students about the effects of the environment and human impacts on living organisms. Chapter 4 presents an educational activity using this tool that has been used as part of a larger National Science Foundation funded project to train teachers to use technology in the classroom. The simulations are publicly available and have been used by hundreds of students in two Utah school districts. Together, these projects demonstrate on way that research to expand knowledge can lead to tools to impart knowledge to students.

It has long been accepted by science education research that science inquiry in the classroom is essential to the development of a deep understanding of the nature of science and the world around us. In an effort to understand the relationship between science inquiry, science process skills, the nature of science and science and engineering fairs, this mixed methods study qualitatively explores teaching strategies of exemplary science and engineering teachers (N=6) who mentored several International Science and Engineering Fair finalists within a 10 year period (2004-2014). The quantitative portion of this research explored the relationship between science fair participation and academic achievement. Using the theoretical framework of modern expectancy-value theory, 5 themes emerged. All believed: 1) there is intrinsic value in science inquiry and science fair; 2) all included strategic engagement opportunities for students; 3) intrinsic value and motivation potentially lead to increased academic aptitude; 4) the benefits of science inquiry and science fair outweigh costs; and 5) there is a link between intrinsic value in science and engineering fair and utility value. Of the schools (N=31) identified for the quantitative study, demographic analysis (gender, ethnicity, socio-economic statics, and size of school) narrowed to 8 treatment schools with one control school indicated no statistical relationship between academic performance on a standardized state science examination and science fair participation. An ad hoc study indicated the standardized testing instrument was not an adequate measurement of the level of inquiry included in a science and engineering fair project. In conclusion, a list comprised of exemplary science and engineering fair suggestions was formulated to include descriptions of similar teaching strategies or issues among the exemplary science and engineering fair teachers with intentions of increasing science inquiry or the nature of science in the classroom through the science and engineering fair framework.

Sound research and effective teaching are both essential to the progress of science. This thesis encompasses two studies to address the two needs: a multi-scale soil study designed to validate a novel soil biological characterization method; and a pilot pedagogical study designed to test the efficacy of authentic science inquiry into gas chromatography. The soil study relies on a comparison of six soils taken from the Bahamas and Michigan. The novel method, using soil-derived VOCs analyzed via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), proved effective for resolving soils, as hypothesized, and may prove useful for analyzing soil biology rapidly and non-destructively in future studies. The pilot pedagogical study compares traditional recipe-style instruction with authentic science inquiry in an undergraduate chemistry laboratory class. Pre- and post-assessments of students’ conceptual understanding, retention of terms, and attitude revealed the hypothesized superior efficacy of authentic science inquiry over traditional recipe-style instruction.

Research has shown that there is a positive correlation with student performance when there are members of the family, primarily a parent, who are actively involved with the student and their education. The following action research plan was designed to determine how increasing parental involvement affected student performance in a scientific inquiry program. This was done by offering "parenting a middle school student" workshops, encouraging family run practices at home, and inviting parents to attend a class with their student. This research was conducted in a large middle school in a central Florida school district with two 7th grade classrooms. One classroom served as the control group, while the second served as the experimental group. The teacher researcher was responsible for increasing communication with the parents in regards to student behavior and/or performance. Implementation of increased communications are associated with keeping parents informed, however they only work to increase student performance if the parent uses the increased communication and applies the information to use at home. Analysis of the data indicated that there was no difference between the two classes. The majority of the invited parents in the experimental group did not participate in the parent workshops. Students in the experimental groups showed little or no difference in grades on the post unit exam or in their overall grades. Additional research with smaller sampling sizes would be a recommendation of this researcher. When working with an average of one hundred and twenty students on a regular basis, working with twenty five sets of parents to increase communication was a daunting task. The researcher would recommend having an experimental group of no more than ten for future ii i studies. Although a small sample may be sufficient for a descriptive study, it's recognized that a small sample will likely not have sufficient power to detect statistically significant differences if they exist.

O presente trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar a contribuição de um clube de química para formação do espírito científico de alunos do Ensino Médio. O espírito científico, discutido por Bachelard (1996) em seu livro \"A formação do espírito científico\", propõe uma mudança no ser. Ao ocorrer a evolução do espírito, o homem se torna mais crítico e independente com seus conhecimentos, torna-se um ser que valoriza o pensar, que questiona o universo e que não se contenta com representações rudimentares e busca explicações arquitetadas. Partiu-se do pressuposto de que para ocorrer a evolução do espírito, três fatores devem ser levados em conta: ter conhecimento sobre a natureza das ciências, possuir domínio de conceitos científicos que forem necessários para a resolução dos problemas trabalhados e disposição para imersão em problemas científicos. Para isso foi planejado um Clube de Química, que foi desenvolvido no Museu da Ciência professor Mario Tolentino, onde foram aplicadas atividades investigativas a alunos do ensino médio. Com a criação do Clube foi possível realizar um estudo piloto que permitiu o teste e a validação dos instrumentos de coleta de dados, a criação das atividades investigativas teórico-práticas e a melhora do planejamento das atividades e do cronograma do Clube. Para coleta de dados foram utilizados questionários aplicados no início do Clube para levantar o espírito científico dos participantes, roteiro de observação e entrevista com o professor, além das respostas das atividades investigativas. Para análise foi realizada a triangulação dos dados. A análise foi baseada nas características de cada estado do espírito científico discutidas na teoria do desenvolvimento do espírito científico. Com os instrumentos de coleta foi possível levantar indícios de transformações no espírito dos participantes e indicadores de que alguns dos alunos podem estar superando algumas características do estado concreto, como a experiência imediata, o exaltar a natureza e as primeiras imagens observadas dos fenômenos. Os alunos também aparentaram estar mais envolvidos com temas científicos e passaram a questionar mais segundo as observações e entrevista com a professora. Foi possível observar que o desenvolvimento do espírito científico é fruto de um trabalho contínuo e extenso. Em relação às atividades, concluiu-se que a utilização dos dois tipos de método investigativo (teórico e prático) é mais adequada, no sentido de que é garantido ao aluno um espaço para refletir sobre a teoria, organizar seus conhecimentos e discutir com a turma e o mediador. Enquanto a parte prática, além desse espaço, proporciona um momento onde ele irá colocar em prática tudo aquilo que foi pensado e discutido. Pesquisas futuras longitudinais podem ser realizadas para estudar a contribuição da participação no Clube de para o desenvolvimento do espírito científico de seus participantes. / The present work had the objective of evaluating the contribution of a chemistry club to the formation of the scientific spirit of high school students. The scientific spirit, discussed by Bachelard (1996) in his book \"The formation of the scientific spirit\", proposes a change in the self. When the evolution of the spirit occurs, the person becomes more critical and independent with his knowledge, he becomes someone who values thinking, who questions the universe and who is not satisfied with rudimentary representations and seeks architectural explanations. It was assumed that for the evolution of the spirit to occur, three factors must be taken into account: to have knowledge about the nature of the sciences, to know the scientific concepts that are necessary for the resolution of the problems worked and a willingness to be immersed in scientific problems. To this end, a Chemistry Club was planned, which was developed at the Museum of Science Professor Mario Tolentino, where investigative activities were applied to high school students. With the creation of the Club, it was possible to conduct a pilot study that allowed the testing and validation of data collection instruments, the creation of theoretical-practical inquiry activities and the improvement of the planning of the Club\'s activities and schedule. To collect data were used questionnaires applied at the beginning of the Club to raise the scientific spirit of the participants, observation script and interview with the teacher, in addition to the responses of research activities. For the analysis, the data were triangulated. The analysis was based on the characteristics of each state of the scientific spirit discussed in the theory. With the data collection instruments it was possible to raise indications of transformations in the participants\' minds and indicators that some of the students may be overcoming some characteristics of the concrete state, such as immediate experience, the exalting nature and the first observed images of the phenomena. The students also appeared to be more involved with scientific topics and began to question more according to the observations and interview with the teacher. It was possible to observe that the development of the scientific spirit is the result of continuous and extensive work. In relation to the activities, it was concluded that the use of the two types of inquiry activities (theoretical and practical) is more adequate, in the sense that to the student is guaranteed a space to reflect on theory, organize their knowledge and discuss with the class and the mediator. While the practical part, beyond this space, provides a moment where it will put into practice everything that was thought and discussed. Future longitudinal research may be undertaken to study the contribution of participation in the Club to the development of the scientific spirit of its participants.

O presente trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar a contribuição de um clube de química para formação do espírito científico de alunos do Ensino Médio. O espírito científico, discutido por Bachelard (1996) em seu livro \"A formação do espírito científico\", propõe uma mudança no ser. Ao ocorrer a evolução do espírito, o homem se torna mais crítico e independente com seus conhecimentos, torna-se um ser que valoriza o pensar, que questiona o universo e que não se contenta com representações rudimentares e busca explicações arquitetadas. Partiu-se do pressuposto de que para ocorrer a evolução do espírito, três fatores devem ser levados em conta: ter conhecimento sobre a natureza das ciências, possuir domínio de conceitos científicos que forem necessários para a resolução dos problemas trabalhados e disposição para imersão em problemas científicos. Para isso foi planejado um Clube de Química, que foi desenvolvido no Museu da Ciência professor Mario Tolentino, onde foram aplicadas atividades investigativas a alunos do ensino médio. Com a criação do Clube foi possível realizar um estudo piloto que permitiu o teste e a validação dos instrumentos de coleta de dados, a criação das atividades investigativas teórico-práticas e a melhora do planejamento das atividades e do cronograma do Clube. Para coleta de dados foram utilizados questionários aplicados no início do Clube para levantar o espírito científico dos participantes, roteiro de observação e entrevista com o professor, além das respostas das atividades investigativas. Para análise foi realizada a triangulação dos dados. A análise foi baseada nas características de cada estado do espírito científico discutidas na teoria do desenvolvimento do espírito científico. Com os instrumentos de coleta foi possível levantar indícios de transformações no espírito dos participantes e indicadores de que alguns dos alunos podem estar superando algumas características do estado concreto, como a experiência imediata, o exaltar a natureza e as primeiras imagens observadas dos fenômenos. Os alunos também aparentaram estar mais envolvidos com temas científicos e passaram a questionar mais segundo as observações e entrevista com a professora. Foi possível observar que o desenvolvimento do espírito científico é fruto de um trabalho contínuo e extenso. Em relação às atividades, concluiu-se que a utilização dos dois tipos de método investigativo (teórico e prático) é mais adequada, no sentido de que é garantido ao aluno um espaço para refletir sobre a teoria, organizar seus conhecimentos e discutir com a turma e o mediador. Enquanto a parte prática, além desse espaço, proporciona um momento onde ele irá colocar em prática tudo aquilo que foi pensado e discutido. Pesquisas futuras longitudinais podem ser realizadas para estudar a contribuição da participação no Clube de para o desenvolvimento do espírito científico de seus participantes. / The present work had the objective of evaluating the contribution of a chemistry club to the formation of the scientific spirit of high school students. The scientific spirit, discussed by Bachelard (1996) in his book \"The formation of the scientific spirit\", proposes a change in the self. When the evolution of the spirit occurs, the person becomes more critical and independent with his knowledge, he becomes someone who values thinking, who questions the universe and who is not satisfied with rudimentary representations and seeks architectural explanations. It was assumed that for the evolution of the spirit to occur, three factors must be taken into account: to have knowledge about the nature of the sciences, to know the scientific concepts that are necessary for the resolution of the problems worked and a willingness to be immersed in scientific problems. To this end, a Chemistry Club was planned, which was developed at the Museum of Science Professor Mario Tolentino, where investigative activities were applied to high school students. With the creation of the Club, it was possible to conduct a pilot study that allowed the testing and validation of data collection instruments, the creation of theoretical-practical inquiry activities and the improvement of the planning of the Club\'s activities and schedule. To collect data were used questionnaires applied at the beginning of the Club to raise the scientific spirit of the participants, observation script and interview with the teacher, in addition to the responses of research activities. For the analysis, the data were triangulated. The analysis was based on the characteristics of each state of the scientific spirit discussed in the theory. With the data collection instruments it was possible to raise indications of transformations in the participants\' minds and indicators that some of the students may be overcoming some characteristics of the concrete state, such as immediate experience, the exalting nature and the first observed images of the phenomena. The students also appeared to be more involved with scientific topics and began to question more according to the observations and interview with the teacher. It was possible to observe that the development of the scientific spirit is the result of continuous and extensive work. In relation to the activities, it was concluded that the use of the two types of inquiry activities (theoretical and practical) is more adequate, in the sense that to the student is guaranteed a space to reflect on theory, organize their knowledge and discuss with the class and the mediator. While the practical part, beyond this space, provides a moment where it will put into practice everything that was thought and discussed. Future longitudinal research may be undertaken to study the contribution of participation in the Club to the development of the scientific spirit of its participants.

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abstract: ABSTRACT Early career science teachers are often assigned to classrooms with high numbers of English language learners (ELL students). As these teachers learn to become effective practitioners, the circumstances surrounding them merit a thorough examination. This study examines the longitudinal changes in Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK) and practices of six early career science teachers who taught in urban schools. The teachers participated in the Alternative Support for Induction Science Teachers (ASIST) program during their initial two years of teaching. Our research team followed the participants over a five-year period. This study focuses on data from Years 1, 3, and 5. The data collected included classroom observations and interviews. In addition, classroom artifacts were collected periodically for the purpose of triangulation. The analysis of the data revealed that with the support of the ASIST program, the teachers implemented inquiry lessons and utilized instructional materials that promoted academic language skills and science competencies among their ELL students. Conversely, standardized testing, teaching assignment, and school culture played a role in constraining the implementation of inquiry-based practices. The results of this study call for collaborative efforts among university science educators and school administrators to provide professional development opportunities and support for the implementation of inquiry and language practices among early career science teachers of ELL students. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Curriculum and Instruction 2011