Science Curriculum Research Articles

Leveraging Generative Artificial Intelligence to Broaden Participation in Computer Science

Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) was incorporated into a competitive programming event that targeted undergraduate students, including those with little programming experience. The competition incorporated a range of challenge design approaches that promoted meaningful interaction with generative AI system, even while keeping the challenge difficulty level to an appropriate level. An analysis of survey responses and competition data showed that this format lowered barriers to participation, successfully engaged students throughout the competition, and increased the likelihood that they would participate in a similar event. In an extension of this work, a professional development workshop for high school teachers is being developed, along with a contest for high school students. Participant surveys and logs of interaction with the contest and generative AI systems will be analyzed to measure the effect of generative AI on student self-efficacy and suggest ways to integrate generative AI instruction into computer science curriculum.

Relationship between young learners’ L2 proficiency and subject knowledge: evaluating a CLIL programme in China

While CLIL programmes have been extensively researched for their impact on L2 learning outcomes, the relationship between young learners’ L2 proficiency and subject knowledge has received less attention. This study aimed to address this research gap by examining the science content knowledge of two cohorts of Grade 5 students (n = 100) from two primary schools in China, with one school implementing a CLIL science programme and the other offering a conventional science programme. The study also investigated the correlation between science achievement and L2 proficiency, measured by assessing learners’ English speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills using the Cambridge Young Learners English Tests. Science knowledge was evaluated with a tailored test aligned with the National Science Curriculum. Results indicated no statistically significant differences in science achievement between CLIL and non-CLIL students, with the former achieving higher mean scores. We also found a significant positive correlation between science knowledge and overall L2 proficiency. Notably, receptive language skills significantly correlated with science scores, while productive language skills did not. These findings provide positive evidence for the potential effectiveness of CLIL programmes in the primary education setting in China.

The Billion Oyster Project and Curriculum and Community Enterprise for Restoration Science Curriculum: Summary of STEM+C and ITEST Program Impacts on NYC Teachers and Students

For over a decade, the Billion Oyster Project and Curriculum and Community Enterprise for the Restoration of New York Harbor (BOP-CCERS) Educational Program has supported New York City teachers and students through experiential learning in science education. The program has been supported by over $10 million dollars of award support from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and has involved multiple community stakeholder collaborations led by Pace University. Within the University, the initiative spanned three different schools and colleges with collaboration through many academic departments. Two grants in the project have been the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics plus Computing (STEM+C) and Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST) program. The purpose of this article is to summarize the major impacts this integrated program has had on New York City teachers and students designed to provide teachers with experiential education support and engage students to improve their STEM education and encourage further STEM studies and career pathways. Results from over a decade of programming, vast amounts of data collection and analysis, and multiple research studies have indicated considerable achievements for the program involving both support for teachers and engagement for students. The long-term outcome is improved student STEM achievement and recruitment and retention of diverse students in STEM college programs and careers.

Teaching Science Education in an Era of Artificial Intelligence

School science instruction builds the groundwork for a generation of scientifically literate people who are equipped to handle and navigate the complex issues of the twenty-first century. If artificial intelligence (AI) is included into science courses, it could have a profound impact on how science education is provided. Teachers may develop more dynamic and interesting lessons that are tailored to the needs of each individual student by utilising artificial intelligence (AI) solutions like intelligent tutoring systems, virtual reality simulations, and personalised learning platforms. The main goal of the study is to establish a framework for investigating the possibilities of science education in the age of artificial intelligence (AI). This paper aims to examine the history of artificial intelligence (AI) and its application in science education, curriculum development, and classroom instruction in the current day. Furthermore, it will expand on the current corpus of information and offer insights into the possible advantages of integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into science education to improve teaching methods and speed up student learning.

Nature of science and domain-specificity: investigating the coverage of nature of science in physics, chemistry and biology curricula across grade levels

ABSTRACT The paper investigates the coverage of nature of science (NOS) in different science subject curricula to understand how they emphasise various aspects of NOS across grade levels in secondary science education. Although various science curriculum analyses exist in the literature, there is a paucity of investigations that have combined the elements of domain-specificity and learning progression in relation to NOS curriculum content. Furthermore, a holistic and inclusive account of NOS is used to examine the cognitive, epistemic, social and institutional aspects of NOS. Physics, chemistry and biology high school curricula from Turkey are investigated. Each subject curriculum is analysed and compared using an analytical framework guided by the Family Resemblance Approach. Mixed methods approaches are used to summarise the quantitative and qualitative results. Findings suggest an overemphasis on the cognitive-epistemic aspects of NOS, considerable variation across science subject areas and non-uniform progression of NOS themes across grade levels. Analysis of curricula incorporating the domain-specific and learning progression elements of NOS is likely to enhance understanding of how to design robust curricula in different science subjects and to improve the teaching and learning of NOS. Implications for curriculum reform are discussed.

Enhancing pupils’ understanding via discussion based POE method

The Predict-Observe-Explain method (POE) stands out as an efficient method in order to overcome misconceptions in human understanding. This approach is characterized by its flexibility and variability. Researchers have created an altered version of the POE which is based on discussion and therefore called “discussion-based POE” (short POE-DE). The current research aims to examine the effect of this teaching method by reviewing students’ academic success and the remediation of misconceptions. A total of 63 eight-graders (aged 12-14 years) took part in the underlying study. 32 pupils were part of the experimental group participating in courses with POE-DE based activities. The remaining 31 represented the control group with teaching activities in line with the current science curriculum. The subject of the unit was Simple Machines. The Simple Machines Academic Achievement Test (AAT) was employed to measure the change in the students’ academic accomplishmen. The two-tier Simple Machines Conceptual Test (SMCT) was administered to determine the students’ misconceptions and observe whether they had been rectified. According to the statistical data, POE-DE based teaching activities had a substantial impact on both the academic success rate and SMCT scores of the students.

A Formative Study Towards the Inclusion of Indigenous Technologies and Knowledge Practices in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) Curriculum Settings

A Formative Study Towards the Inclusion of Indigenous Technologies and Knowledge Practices in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) Curriculum Settings

A Formative Study Towards the Inclusion of Indigenous Technologies and Knowledge Practices in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) Curriculum Settings

This work on STEAM and education for sustainable development was undertaken across a series of collaborative case studies as formative research on the inclusion of Indigenous technologies and knowledge practices in teacher education. We noted that, despite the current academic imperative to decolonise southern African education, one seldom finds the inclusion of Indigenous technologies and Indigenous heritage practices in the contemporary classroom. Teachers we worked with were highly interested in their Indigenous knowledge heritage. Yet, they reported that they, and the young teachers they work with, simply do not have the heritage knowledge capital to include Indigenous knowledge systems in their teaching. Other challenges they face are the time it takes to engage community knowledge holders, and to find knowledge relating to school subject disciplines. The teachers observed that students prioritise modernity over Indigenous heritage and technologies, often undervaluing the latter as a forgotten past. Three exploratory cases delved into teacher education's response to challenges through co-engaged work, and this paper synthesises the emerging evidence-aiming to refine pedagogical tools for integrating Indigenous knowledge into STEAM education. A cultural-historical approach was used to frame the study and to derive insights and inferences in co-engaged lesson design research with teachers.

The Impact of a Nanotechnology-Based Training Program on the Development of Digital Competencies among High School Biology Teachers

This study aimed to investigate the impact of a training program based on nanotechnology applications on the development of digital competencies among high school biology teachers. There is a gap between teachers' current digital competencies and the skills needed to effectively leverage nanotechnology in biology education. The study found statistically significant differences between pre-test and post-test scores on a digital competency assessment after teachers completed the nanotechnology training program. The program encompassed fundamental nanoscience knowledge, biology-specific applications, digital skills training, and hands-on activities. Results showed a large effect size, indicating the substantial impact of the intervention on enhancing teachers' digital competencies. Recommendations highlight integrating nanotechnology into science curricula and emphasize biology connections, problem-solving, content creation, and ethical considerations regarding advanced nanomaterials. Promoting teacher motivation and scientific inquiry is vital. The research addresses an urgent need to equip biology educators with digital skills aligned with rapidly evolving science and technology.

The Development and Implementation of a Competency-Focused Curriculum in Health and Exercise Sciences

Historically, undergraduate programs in Health and Exercise Sciences (i.e. Kinesiology) are rooted in common areas such as physiology, anatomy, biomechanics, motor control, psychology, nutrition, and rehabilitation. A typical four-year program offers a general education across these areas often delivering a breadth of knowledge in many areas, albeit often lacking in transferable technical skill that relates to industry. With many graduates now pursuing advanced training in professional programs there is a need to develop more competency-focused curricula to better prepare students for entry into professional fields. Further, overburdened healthcare systems worldwide combined with an ageing population find themselves with a gap in service delivery, given the growing body of evidence supporting the benefits of high-quality exercise training in the prevention, treatment and management of chronic conditions. In 2018, following feedback from provincial ministries, the University Senate, faculty, students, and community partners, the School of Health and Exercise Sciences at the University of British Columbia Okanagan underwent a strategic review. This review led to the development of a professionally focused, competency-based program, now known as the Bachelor of Health and Exercise Sciences. Within this program are three concentrations geared towards developing knowledge and skills in differing areas dependent on student interest and desired career path: Kinesiology and Allied Health, Health Behaviour Change, and Clinical Exercise Physiology. The development of the revised curriculum involved crucial components such as defining new program and concentration level learning outcomes, competency profiles, definitions, progressions, and practical assessment strategies. Additionally, each concentration integrates a community practicum designed to enhance mastery of competencies within a professional setting. Establishing these practicums necessitates ongoing collaborative efforts with both existing and new community partners, the formulation of standards, and the implementation of a process to ensure students possess a baseline skill level before engaging with the community. A substantial challenge in the revised curriculum is the instruction of technical skills in a lab environment, as well as effective practical skill assessment that meets industry standards, for upwards of 200 students. To this end a great deal of planning was required from a resources standpoint, onboarding of new faculty with industry experience, as well as alignment with pre-existing certifying bodies including the American College of Sports Medicine, Exercise & Sport Science Australia, and the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology. Looking to the future we anticipate both challenges and opportunities as we continue to redefine professional competencies and remap them throughout the curriculum to enhance skill progression and ensure our graduates are fit for purpose. Further, we are excited to continue to work alongside provincial entities and existing certifying bodies as we look toward the professionalization of the field. Lastly, but up utmost importance, is the dissemination of our process to other organizations and institutions in hopes to build momentum in the quickly evolving academic and professional landscape of Health and Exercise Sciences. None. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Assessing First-Year (M1) Medical Students’ Understanding of Blood Glucose Control Using a “Backward Design” Asynchronous Physiology Lecture

Introduction: Backward design, an instructional model outlined by Wiggins and McTighe, emphasizes identifying key learning outcomes (LOs) that students must be able to perform after learning about a topic. It requires educators to first develop authentic assessments aligned with the key LOs, which form the basis of course content and activities. The majority of medical students across the United States encounter lecture-based learning in their first two years of basic sciences curriculum with little opportunity for hands-on training to build on necessary learning skills for future application in the clinic. Compared to traditional lecturing, a backward-designed session with planned activities may better develop medical students’ critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Our goal was to redesign a traditional first-year medical school lecture using the backward design model, and compare student perceptions and understanding of key concepts. Methods: We redesigned a traditional lecture on the topic, “Blood Glucose Control” from Fall 2022, using a backward design framework, and delivered it in Fall 2023. For redesign, we re-evaluated our LOs, and ensured that they aligned with the four assessment questions that we developed, which were used to build session content. We then compared student perceptions of learning and their performance on assessments between the two years. In both years, this topic was delivered asynchronously along with four assessment questions in the foundational course offered to 125 first-year medical students (M1s). Results: LOs were edited to include specific concepts that were tested on the four assessment questions. Upon mapping, we found that certain learning objectives were not adequately covered in the lecture, so we followed an iterative process to edit lecture content and created two activities, such as a clinical case branching scenario and a drag-and-drop activity. Of the 125 M1s, the four assessment questions in the years 2022 and 2023 were completed by a total of 50 and 60 students respectively. The average score for M1 students in Fall 2022 was 68.3562 (SEM=4.241577536) while those for students in Fall 2023 was 72.76966667 (SEM=3.655350463) ( p=0.617). Conclusion: Our results demonstrate an upward movement of the average score among students from Fall 2023 when a backward-design framework was used, compared to that of Fall 2022 students who received the traditional lecture. Although not statistically significant, the backward-design framework benefitted medical student performance when compared to traditional lecturing. Additionally, our research introduces innovative ways of incorporating interactive student activities in an asynchronous lecture that medical educators can implement into their own courses. Our future directions include comparing student perceptions between the two lecturing styles and correlating it with their performance. No funding sources to disclose. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Письмо Д.И. Чижевского Л.Я. Ганчикову (1953)

We publish the letter from the philosopher D.I. Chizhevsky (1894–1977), who lived in Germany, to his colleague and compatriot professor L.Ya. Ganchikov (1893–1968), who lived in Italy and worked on the history of Russian religious thought. Chizhevsky, apparently answering the addressee’s questions, essentially sets out his scientific curriculum vitae, with a brief biography and a list of main publications. The letter is an auto-interpretation of the creative heritage of D.I. Chizhevsky, in which the thinker defines his main interest as an attempt to substantiate some issues of logic and ethics by distinguishing those areas in which different types of logical categories are applicable, and also points to the philosophers closest to him – E. Husserl, H.W.F. Hegel, S.L. Frank, N.O. Lossky. The publication of the letter is accompanied by a thorough academic commentary, which fits the information given in it into the context of the life and creative path of D.I. Chizhevsky.

Techniques and a Model for the Incorporation of Indigenous Knowledge Systems Into the Natural Science Curriculum in Schools

Techniques and a Model for the Incorporation of Indigenous Knowledge Systems Into the Natural Science Curriculum in Schools

Student experiences of photovoice as a medium to inform decolonisation of the Health Sciences curriculum

Decolonisation of curricula embeds the African realities into teaching. Within the Health Sciences, learning, which is responsive to community health needs, is required. This study used photovoice, a student participatory teaching method, where students (n=96) engaged with local communities, capturing photographs of environmental factors involved in causing disease. Photographic information of local adverse environmental conditions was gathered, linking these to disease causation within local communities. This observation and analysis of the South African circumstances, particularly those of marginalized communities, emphasized local knowledge, which prepared students to work within their local and national contexts. Students were prepared to be responsive to the needs of the people in their communities. This teaching pedagogy laid the foundation for lifelong learning as students were able to deal with real-life challenges while applying a new technology in the field of education. This will enable them to cope with changing aspects in health during their careers. Such changes are inevitable as population demographics and environments evolve with time. This alternate pedagogy, using photovoice, promoted decolonisation of the curriculum and has the potential to produce graduates who are reactive to local requirements of the community.

Adapting the DIST-M Model for Designing Experimental Activities—A Theoretical Discussion from an Interdisciplinary Perspective

This study focuses on interdisciplinary approaches within mathematics and physics education. Secondary schools, particularly those specialized in scientific curricula, have opportunities to explore common topics between mathematics and physics; however, creating a coherent interdisciplinary educational experience is challenging. Adopting an interdisciplinary perspective when designing learning sequences becomes imperative. The proposed approach harnesses the power of storytelling to engage students, emphasizing the interconnectedness of subjects and humanizing the evolution of scientific ideas. This study investigates the adaptation of the Digital Interactive Storytelling in Mathematics (DIST-M) model for interdisciplinary storytelling learning sequences. It aims to explore how this model, initially developed for mathematics activities in a virtual environment, can be enriched with elements from inquiry-based learning models to integrate the experimental aspects of physics. The research presents a theoretical discussion grounded in the design of a learning sequence centered around the study of light, taking place in a non-virtual environment and approached from an interdisciplinary standpoint. It introduces hypotheses for adapting the DIST-M model to accommodate interdisciplinary storytelling sequences. One involves the incorporation of an additional phase within the DIST-M cycle, dedicated to consolidating, transferring to other contexts, and addressing variations in the concepts explored, proved, and refined in earlier phases.

The Effect of Teaching the Secondary School 7th Grade Cell and Division Unit with Concept Map on the Academic Success of Students

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

Literature Review: Development of Science Learning Based on Local Wisdom and Indigenous Knowledge for ESD

The problem in science learning that often occurs today is that many students think that science learning is taught in an uninteresting and irrelevant manner. Science learning is irrelevant according to their perception because of the lack of connection and linkage of science learning with everyday life and the socio-cultural background they experience. One alternative solution to overcome the above problems and science learning becomes more relevant is necessary to revitalize the curriculum based on contextual concepts in accordance with the daily lives of students, like the cultural context of local wisdom or indigenous knowledge. This literature review was a scientific study of the analysis of 30 articles on science learning based on local wisdom and indigenous knowledge. This study aimed to analyze and elaborate on the integration of science learning with culture and its impact on education. This research was qualitative research using the descriptive analysis method of Miles and Huberman, which consisted of several steps: data collection, data reduction, data display, and conclusion. The articles analyzed were sourced from national articles indexed by SINTA and internationally reputable articles indexed by SCOPUS from 2017-2021. The results of this study indicated that science learning based on local wisdom and indigenous knowledge is considered very important as an innovation in ESD that affects the character and various abilities of students. These innovations can be carried out through revitalizing the science curriculum, developing learning products, and continuing scientific studies. Keywords: Science Learning, Local Wisdom, ESD

Study Abroad Programs and Student Stress: An Animal Science Curriculum Case Study

Study Abroad Programs and Student Stress: An Animal Science Curriculum Case Study

Online vs in-person delivery of preclinical coursework: A retrospective cohort study evaluating National Board of Chiropractic Examiners performance.

To evaluate the association between basic science curriculum delivery method with other academic and demographic factors on National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) part I pass rates. This was a retrospective cohort study of students from 3 campuses of 1 chiropractic institution who matriculated in 2018 or 2020. COVID-19 regulations required online delivery of a basic science curriculum for students in the 2020 cohorts, whereas students in the 2018 cohorts experienced a traditional classroom delivery. A general linear model estimated odds ratios for passing NBCE part I, comparing individual online cohorts with the combined classroom cohort while adjusting for academic and demographic variables. A total of 968 students were included, 55% from the classroom cohort. The spring 2020 cohort had the fewest students with bachelors' degrees (59%) and more students with high in-program grade point averages (GPA; 61%) along with the lowest estimated odds ratio [0.80 (95% CI: 0.73-0.87)] for passing vs the classroom cohort. The fall 2020 cohort had significantly higher odds [1.06 (95% CI: 1.00-1.03)] of passing vs the classroom cohort. Additional predictors included main campus matriculation, white ethnicity, bachelors' degree, no alternative admission status, and in-program GPA. Students with high in-program GPA (vs low) had a 36% increased odds of passing. Compared to the classroom cohort, the spring 2020 cohort had the lowest odds while the fall 2020 cohort had the highest odds of passing part I. In-program GPA had the highest association with passing. These results provide information on how curriculum delivery impacts board exam performance.

We Have to Talk About Something: Why NOT Talk About the Curriculum? A Guide to Embedding Language Interventions in Curricular Content.

Children with developmental language disorder frequently have difficulty with both academic success and language learning and use. This clinical focus article describes core principles derived from a larger program of research (National Science Foundation 1748298) on language intervention combined with science instruction for preschoolers. It serves as an illustration of a model for integrating language intervention with curricular content delivery. We present a five-step model for a speech-language pathologist and other school professionals to follow to (a) understand the grade-level core curriculum objectives; (b) align intervention targets with the curriculum; (c) select a therapy approach that aligns with both goals and curricular content, and (d) methods for implementing the intervention; and (e) verify that both the intervention and the curriculum have been provided in accordance with best practices. We apply this model to the Next Generation Science Standards, a science curriculum popular in the United States, and to grammar and vocabulary interventions, two areas of difficulty for children with developmental language disorders, though it would be possible to extend the steps to other curricular areas and intervention targets. We conclude by discussing the barriers and benefits to adopting this model. We recognize that both speech-language pathologists and teachers may have limited time to implement language intervention within a general education curriculum, but we suggest that the long-term benefits outweigh the barriers.