Middle School Science Teachers Research Articles

Digital K–12 STEM Education through Human–Robot Interaction: Investigation on Prerequisites

This article aims to explore, investigate, and determine the prerequisites that learners (students) should possess for participating in and being adequately benefitted from digital (robotics-enabled) K–12 STEM education offered through intuitive human–robot interaction. We selected 23 middle school mathematics and science teachers who received training on how to design, develop, and implement robotics-enabled lessons. The teachers then implemented robotics-enabled lessons in actual classroom settings, and separately responded to a survey based on their training, classroom experiences and observations, and self-brainstorming. We derived a set of prerequisite knowledge, skills, and abilities, including their relative importance for the students by analyzing the survey responses. The results showed that the students should not only possess prerequisite knowledge in the subject matter, but also possess behavioral, social, scientific, cognitive, and intellectual skills and abilities to participate in and receive benefits from robotics-enabled human–robot interactive digital STEM education. Out of the many prerequisites, the computational thinking ability of students was identified as one of the most required prerequisites to participate in robotics-enabled digital STEM education. To validate the derived prerequisites, teachers separately assessed the fulfillment of prerequisites by 38 participating students, and the results showed user acceptance, effectiveness, and suitability of the derived prerequisites set. We also identified a set of limitations of the studies and proposed action plans to enable students to meet the prerequisites. The results presented herein can help determine required instructional efforts and scaffolds before implementing robotics-enabled digital STEM lessons, and thus foster incorporating technology-enhanced (robotics-enabled) digital STEM education into K–12 curricula.

Extending science instruction beyond the CER: Use of critical questions in the argumentation of middle school science students

AbstractCritiquing arguments is important for K‐12 science students to learn but not emphasized by the predominant claim‐evidence‐reasoning (CER) argumentation model. Drawing on the work of Yu and Zenker (2020), and Dove and Nussbaum (2018), we developed a tool for supplementing CER with critical questions (CQs) from philosophy that cover most, if not all, the logical dimensions of argument critique. Six middle school science teachers designed lessons involving argumentation, including the use of CQs. We assessed the effects on student self‐efficacy for engaging in argument critique, teacher self‐efficacy for using argument pedagogy, and teachers’ perceptions of the value of CQs. Qualitative data included teacher interviews, lesson transcripts, and student work samples. Quantitative data included surveys of student self‐efficacy administered at the beginning and end of the school year. There was evidence suggesting an increase over time in students’ confidence for engaging in argument critique and teachers’ confidence with argument pedagogy. However, only four of the six teachers were confident and skilled enough to include CQs in their lessons. Those who did use CQs tended to perceive them as providing a helpful structure for critique, prompts for deeper thinking, and a tool for fostering critical classroom norms. Discussion of CQs may have benefitted students’ writing by promoting peer critique and encouragement to elaborate. Overall, CQs afford students with a framework for judging argument strength. Scientific argumentation involving CQs provides a more contemporary philosophical basis for scientific argumentation than CER or the Toulmin model as it emphasizes the critical and dialogic nature of science.

Enhancing teacher AI literacy and integration through different types of cases in teacher professional development

Integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into teaching practices is increasingly vital for preparing students for a technology-centric future. This study examined the influence of a case-based AI professional development (PD) program on AI integration strategies and AI literacy among seven middle school science teachers. Employing three distinct case problems, from well-structured to ill-structured, the AI PD program aimed to stimulate teachers’ reflection on AI literacy development and encourage the construction of problem-solving and AI integration strategies within various pedagogical contexts. Analysis of video-recorded case discussions revealed that teachers primarily drew on personal experiences for collaborative problem-solving across the three cases. However, the complexity of the case problems influenced their approach to knowledge co-construction, and dealing with ill-structured problems promoted the application of new knowledge. Through analyzing the survey data, we found a marked increase in teachers’ AI literacy, particularly in the domain of knowing and understanding AI, suggesting a pivotal role for direct instruction that supports AI literacy growth. However, their application of this AI knowledge was limited during the case discussions, while other domains of teacher AI literacy were more frequently employed. The findings highlight the importance of combining direct instruction with case-based discussions in AI-related PD programs to bolster teacher AI literacy effectively. The research has implications for using a case-based learning approach during short-term PD initiatives and advocates the ongoing need for comprehensive AI literacy development to facilitate teachers’ AI integration in subject-specific teaching.

Effects of a Follow-up PD with Distance-based Peer Instructional Coaching on Secondary Science Teachers’ Inquiry-based Teaching Practices in Rural Schools

ABSTRACT Research has highlighted the significant decline in teachers’ implementation of newly acquired teaching practices following professional development (PD), primarily attributed to the absence of follow-up support. Even science teachers who have participated in intensive PD programs often encounter challenges in integrating new teaching practices into their classrooms. This study investigated the impact of a follow-up PD (PD 2) on 16 rural middle and high school science teachers and their students’ outcomes after their participation in an intensive PD the previous year (PD1). The findings showed that the teachers’ inquiry knowledge and confidence levels in teaching science remained stable or slightly improved up until the end of year 2, comparable to the levels measured at the end of year 1. Moreover, teachers who initially showed lower levels of knowledge and confidence were more likely to revert to their initial status after reaching a certain level during PD1. Regarding student outcomes, the posttest effect sizes for middle school students were substantial and statistically significant in both year 1 and year 2, compared to their pretest scores. While the effect sizes for high school students in year 1 were small, they became larger and significant in year 2. The findings suggest the practical advantages of implementing follow-up PD to provide continued support for teachers’ implementation in subsequent years. Additionally, this study presents a sustainable and cost-effective approach to deliver follow-up support to teachers, namely through a short-term PD accompanied by distance-based peer instructional coaching.

The Science Student Electronic Exit Ticket (SEET) System

This study examined the ways in which an equity analytics tool — the SEET system — supported middle school science teachers’ reflections on the experiences of diverse students in their classrooms. The tool provides teachers with “equity visualizations” — disaggregated classroom data by gender and race — designed to support teachers to notice and reflect on inequitable patterns in student participation in classroom knowledge-building activities, as well as “whole class visualizations” that enable teachers to look at participation patterns. The visualizations were based on survey data collected from students reflecting on the day’s lessons, responding to questions aligned with three theoretical constructs indicative of equitable participation in science classrooms: coherence, relevance, and contribution. The study involved 42 teachers, divided into two cohorts, participating in a two-month professional learning series. Diary studies and semi-structured interviews were used to probe teachers’ perceptions of the visualizations’ usability, usefulness, and utility for supporting their reflections on student experiences and instructional practices. A key result is that only the “equity visualizations” prompted teacher reflections on diverse student experiences. However, despite the support equity visualizations provided for this core task, the teachers consistently ranked the whole class visualizations as more usable and useful.

The Science Student Electronic Exit Ticket (SEET) System

This study examined the ways in which an equity analytics tool — the SEET system — supported middle school science teachers’ reflections on the experiences of diverse students in their classrooms. The tool provides teachers with “equity visualizations” — disaggregated classroom data by gender and race — designed to support teachers to notice and reflect on inequitable patterns in student participation in classroom knowledge-building activities, as well as “whole class visualizations” that enable teachers to look at participation patterns. The visualizations were based on survey data collected from students reflecting on the day’s lessons, responding to questions aligned with three theoretical constructs indicative of equitable participation in science classrooms: coherence, relevance, and contribution. The study involved 42 teachers, divided into two cohorts, participating in a two-month professional learning series. Diary studies and semi-structured interviews were used to probe teachers’ perceptions of the visualizations’ usability, usefulness, and utility for supporting their reflections on student experiences and instructional practices. A key result is that only the “equity visualizations” prompted teacher reflections on diverse student experiences. However, despite the support equity visualizations provided for this core task, the teachers consistently ranked the whole class visualizations as more usable and useful.

Challenges for Middle School Science Teachers in Assessing Scientific Inquiry Skills: A Thematic Analysis

Science learning assessment has always been challenging for science middle school teachers, especially when assessing students' scientific inquiry skills, which are essential to the science learning process. The study aims to highlight the challenges teachers confront when assessing high school pupils' capacity for scientific inquiry. It is a qualitative phenomenological study using thematic analysis techniques. Five middle school science teachers from junior high schools in Central Java participated in this study. Utilizing interviewing approaches, data was gathered. Using Clark Braun's thematic analysis methodologies, data analysis is carried out in four steps: (1) identifying the data, (2) performing coding, (3) creating themes, and (4) reviewing and defining the themes. This study shows that both internal and external factors might affect teachers' ability to undertake scientific inquiry research. The issue of obstacles teachers confront from the perspectives of students and learning systems is summarized by external variables. The researchers advised science teachers to engage in active, ongoing competence development to help them overcome challenges in evaluating scientific inquiries.

Science, Literacy, and Students with Disabilities: What Middle School Science Teachers Need to Support Students with Disabilities in Their Classrooms

Students with disabilities (SWDs) are being educated in the general education classroom more than ever before. As the nation moves toward increasing science education, more must be understood about how science teachers are supporting SWDs in their classrooms. The present study analyzed the responses of five middle school science teachers on how they embed literacy practices into their instruction, as well as the support they received to support SWDs in their classroom. Teachers reported a lack of professional development and support in this area, as well as difficulties explicitly naming literacy practices. Practical implications are offered for effective instruction and professional development.

A Teacher Training Program for Learning and Teaching about Scientific Reasoning Skills

This study aims to improve science teachers' scientific reasoning skills (SRS) in using and teaching these skills through a professional development program, Scientific Reasoning Skills Teacher Training Program (SRSTP). Forty-five middle school science teachers participated in the study, which was on convergent parallel design. "Scientific Reasoning Skills Assessment Form (SRSAF)" and "Scientific Reasoning Skills Test for In-service and Pre-service Science Teachers (SRSTIPST)" were used to determine the improvement in teachers' use of scientific reasoning skills. Besides, "Self-efficacy Perceptions towards Teaching Scientific Reasoning Skills Assessment Form (SEPSRSAF)" and "Self-efficacy Perceptions towards Teaching Scientific Reasoning Skills Scale (SEPSRS)" were used to determine teachers' self-efficacy perceptions towards teaching them. Findings from SRSAF and SRSTIPST pointed out that teachers' scores in using specific scientific reasoning skills and their ways of making claims, presenting evidence, and reasoning differed significantly after SRSTP. Findings from SEPSRS showed that teachers got significantly higher scores in creating SRS based learning environment, academic proficiency, using SRS in the classroom, assessment of SRS, and instructional ways for teaching SRS after the professional development program. SEPSRSAF supported these findings by revealing that SRSTP allowed teachers to change their efficacy sources from indirect experience to active experiences and improve personal characteristics such as showing empathy. It was also found that teachers' perceptions of teaching SRS shifted towards teacher-related factors after SRSTP. These findings were discussed, and the contribution of the results was explained.

PELATIHAN PEMBUATAN BAHAN AJAR KURIKULUM MERDEKA BERBASIS KEARIFAN LOKAL UNTUK MGMP IPA TINGKAT MTs KABUPATEN PADANG LAWAS

This activity is a training and mentoring program for the creation of teaching materials based on local wisdom for Middle School Science Teachers (MTs) in Padang Lawas Regency. This is based on the following facts: (1) teachers have a low understanding of creating teaching materials for the Merdeka Curriculum based on local wisdom, (2) there hasn't been any training for creating teaching materials for science subjects in the Merdeka Curriculum based on local wisdom in Padang Lawas District, (3) teachers are not using relevant, creative, and student-appropriate teaching materials. The target of this activity is the members of the Middle School Science Teacher Working Group (MGMP IPA) in Padang Lawas Regency, totaling 15 people. The implementation of the activity begins with a preparation phase, followed by the implementation phase using the in-on-in training pattern, and completed by the evaluation phase. This activity results in 15 teaching materials for the Merdeka Curriculum based on local wisdom created by the training participants. Survey results show that 93% of participants strongly agree that this training improves their understanding of creating teaching materials for the Merdeka Curriculum based on local wisdom. Post-test results show that 80% of participants scored highly in the range of 70-100. The average score of participants in the pre-test was 61, while the post-test results increased to 90. This indicates that the training is effective in enhancing teachers' understanding and ability to create teaching materials for the Merdeka Curriculum based on local wisdom.

The student hat in professional development: Building epistemic empathy to support teacher learning

AbstractProfessional development (PD) can support science teachers to learn about instructional reforms, but more work needs to be done on broadening our understanding of how specific PD activities support teacher learning. One understudied PD activity is the student hat: when teachers engage in student learning activities while considering ideas, language, and feelings students might have to build their empathy for how student experience reform instruction. Little is known about if and how student hat activities support teacher learning. I conducted a single embedded case study of a 2.5‐day PD for middle school science teachers using the OpenSciEd curriculum. I interviewed 12 participants to understand how they perceived the student hat activities and analyzed 36 hours of PD video, focusing specifically on moments in which participants struggled to act in student hat, to gain insights on how it helped them to learn. Teachers found student hat difficult, but it helped them better understand science ideas, their students, and the instructional approach. These learning outcomes likely occurred because of two mechanisms: creating a safe environment to be wrong and building epistemic empathy with students. By allowing teachers to feel safe expressing confusion with content ideas, the student hat helped teachers to build their science understanding. Developing teachers' epistemic empathy for students helped them to understand how students might think and feel while engaging in reform instruction.

Evaluating the Effectiveness of an Online Professional Development for Rural Middle-School Science Teachers

ABSTRACT In rural, geographically dispersed school districts, access to high-quality face-to-face professional development (PD) is challenging. Our study developed and compared the effectiveness of an online PD for middle-school science teachers working in remote, rural areas of Kansas with an evidence-based traditional face-to-face PD with the goal of supporting change in teachers’ conceptual understanding and self-efficacy in utilizing Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), change in instructional practices, and overall student content learning. Fifteen rural middle-school science teacher participants were randomly selected to participate in the online or traditional PD, then taught the Toward High School Biology curriculum to their 504 middle-school students. Findings aligned with our hypothesis that online PD is as effective as traditional in improving student content knowledge related to the curriculum. Teachers’ instructional practices in using Next Generation Science Standards improved, as did their use of student-centered instruction and making science relevant to the lives of their students. Our study supports the importance of designing PD that effectively and economically brings teachers in isolated and diverse rural communities together.

중학교 과학 수업에서 학생 행위주체성 발현을 위한 문제중심학습 활용 프로그램 개발 및 적용

Objectives The purpose of this study is to develop a program using problem-based learning to express student agency in middle school science classes and to verify the effectiveness of the program by applying it to science classes in the third grade of middle school.
 Methods Among the existing models of problem-based learning, the program was developed using the model of IMSA, and the validity of the program was reviewed by six incumbent science teachers with more than five years of educational experience. The developed program was applied to 180 third grade students at S Middle School in I City in December 2022, a pre-post test using tools to measure student agency for middle and high school students and class satisfaction survey were conducted on 135 students who agreed to participate in this study and participated in both the pre- and post-test in questionnaires. In order to analyze the results of the survey using the tools to measure student agency, a paired t-test was conducted using SPSS 12.0. In addition, the course was recorded to understand the meaning of the survey results in detail, and various data such as small group activity papers, student output, course-based evaluation data, and researchers' observation journals were used as auxiliary data. In addition, a class satisfaction survey was conducted to confirm the perception of the classes of students who participated in the program, In order to understand students' perceptions of the class in depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted after class, and the transcribed data were analyzed by recording them.
 Results A total of six classes were developed and applied to students, and their effectiveness was verified. As a result of paired t-test for survey using the tools to measure student agency, there was statistically significant differnece between the pre- test and the post-test in both total student agency and their 3 sub-domains. In addition, it was confirmed that the components of student agency, such as a sense of purpose, reflective behavior, investment of time and effort, and responsibility, appeared in the course of the class. In addition, the average of the class satisfaction survey was high at 4.13. And it was confirmed that the perception of the class was positive through semi-structured interviews conducted after class.
 Conclusions The program using problem-based learning for the expression of student agency developed in this study is effective in expressing student agency, and students' perception of the class is positive. Therefore, this study is expected to help middle school science teachers in the field who are considering designing the class support the expression of student agency, and to provide students who experience this program an opportunity to learn whole middle school science concepts.

Integrating historical cases in middle school science curriculum: Copernican revolution and the solar system

Research shows that middle school science teachers in the United States rarely integrate history of science or historical cases in their lessons (Hottecke & Allchin, 2020). History of science plays a great role in building robust foundational knowledge in science disciplines, especially in the hearts of middle school students. This article describes a step-by-step teaching technique on how to integrate historical cases in middle school science lessons. In this paper, the author used a historical case of Copernican revolution and the solar system as an illustration to demonstrate how middle school science teachers could effectively explain scientific concepts to their students through historical perspectives.

Middle School Science and Mathematics Teachers' Views on Science-Mathematics Integration

This study was conducted to determine the opinions of middle school science and mathematics teachers about science-mathematics integration. A total of 38 teachers (19 science teachers, 19 math teachers) participated in this qualitative research. Data were collected using a semi-structured interview form. The data were evaluated with descriptive and content analysis in qualitative analysis. While all of the science teachers included in the study thought that integration was necessary, mathematics teachers expressed different opinions. While the teachers had different definitions of integration, it was determined that they generally exchanged ideas with the other branch teachers. It was determined that the most course needed integration for mathematics teachers was the Turkish and the mathematics for science teachers. According to teachers, the most important advantage of integration is that it increases student course success. As a result; although science and mathematics teachers have heard about the integration of science and mathematics, they do not have sufficient knowledge and application. For this reason, it is recommended that teachers of both branches should be informed about science-mathematics integration and integrate them into their lessons.

Incorporating investigations of environmental racism into middle school science

AbstractTo promote a justice‐oriented approach to science education, we formed a research‐practice partnership between middle school science teachers, their students, curriculum designers, learning scientists, and experts in social justice to co‐design and test an environmental justice unit for middle school instruction. We examine teacher perspectives on the challenges and possibilities of integrating social justice into their standards‐aligned science teaching as they participate in co‐design and teach the unit. The unit supports students to investigate racially disparate rates of asthma in their community by examining pollution maps and historical redlining maps. We analyze interviews and co‐design artifacts from two teachers who participated in the co‐design and taught the unit in their classrooms. Our findings point to the benefits of a shared pedagogical framework and an initial unit featuring local historical content to structure co‐design. Findings also reveal that teachers can share similar goals for empowering students to use science knowledge for civic action while framing the local socio‐political factors contributing to the injustice differently, due in part to different institutional supports and constraints. Student interviews and a pre/postassessment illustrate how the unit facilitated students' progress in connecting socio‐political and science ideas to explain the impacts of particulate matter pollution and who is impacted most. Analyses illuminate how teachers' pedagogical choices may influence whether and how students discuss the impact of systemic racism in their explanations. The findings inform refinement of the unit and suggest supports needed for co‐design partnerships focused on integrating social justice and science.

Future of the Lebanese Middle School Science Teaching Methods: The Importance of Teacher’s Shifting from Passive Learning to More Active Learning in Science Classes

This study evaluated the importance of integrating active learning techniques in to Lebanese middle school science classes. It examined the effect of this modification on students' academic performance and social development .The researcher collected data by using mixed method approach referred to as sequential explanatory design where the research collected both quantitative and qualitative data. The quantitative data was collected by distributing questionnaire developed based on 5 point Likert- scale to a non-probability convenience sample (N=50) of science teachers and the qualitative data was collected by performing an online interview with four middle school science teachers. The researcher used Statistical Package for the social sciences program (SPSS) to analyze quantitative data and to answer the studied hypothesis and problematic by using three tests (a) one sample T-test, (b) one way Manova test, and (c) correlation test. The interview data was analyzed qualitatively .The findings of this study showed that (a) there is a significant importance for teachers’ shifting from passive learning to more active learning in Lebanese middle school science classes, (b) Lebanese middle school science teachers are modifying their teaching methods in their classes to improve students' academic performance and social development, and (c) there is a significant effect of the teaching methods modification on students' academic performance and social development based on the Lebanese middle school teachers' perspective.

Analysis of Middle School Science Teachers' Process of Designing and Implementing Process-based Assessments

Analysis of Middle School Science Teachers' Process of Designing and Implementing Process-based Assessments

Modeling preservice middle school science teachers’ reflective practice

Modeling preservice middle school science teachers’ reflective practice

Scaffolding with Peer Tutoring in the Teacher's Perspective: Could Its Implementation in Learning Programs Improve Scientific Communication Skills and HOTS

This essay's purpose is to provide a summary the perceptions of science teachers towards scaffolding learning programs with peer tutoring in improving scientific communication skills and HOTS. This research was conducted in the province of Lampung, Indonesia, involving 74 middle school science teacher respondents. A mixed method with a sequential explanatory design was used for the study. Data were collected through interviews and surveys, and descriptive analysis was used to analyse the results. The survey findings indicate that science instructors have a favourable opinion of using scaffolding in conjunction with peer tutoring. The analysis's findings indicate that most instructors have not used peer tutoring and scaffolding in the classroom to help students advance from their current competencies to potential competencies. In addition, teachers also have not implemented scaffolding learning programs with peer tutoring.