Retraction is among the most important basic behaviors of anthozoan Cnidaria polyps and achieved through coordinated contraction at least six different muscle groups. Across Anthozoa, these muscles range from unrecognizable atrophies to massive hypertrophies, producing a wide diversity retraction abilities functional morphologies. The marginal musculature often single largest component mechanism composed muscular, attachment, structural features. Although arrangements features have defined...

AbstractUnderstanding the connections between scientific inquiry and digital literacy in informal learning environments is essential to furthering students' critical thinking technology skills. The Habitat Tracker project combines a standards-based curriculum focused on nature of science with an integrated system online mobile computing technologies designed help students learn about participate formal classroom settings such as museums or wildlife centers. This research documents skills...

Abstract Computing fields are foundational to most STEM disciplines and the only discipline show a consistent decline in women's representation since 1990, making it an important field for educators study. The explanation underrepresentation of women girls computing is twofold: sense that they do not fit within stereotypes associated with lack access computer games technologies beginning at early age (Richard, 2016). Informal coding education programs uniquely situated counter these hurdles...

The ubiquity of mobile devices makes them well suited for field-based learning experiences that require students to gather data as part the process developing scientific inquiry practices. usefulness these devices, however, is strongly influenced by nature applications use collect in field. To increase student success and satisfaction with experiences, must be intuitive functional students, support a systematic approach complex collecting during inquiry. This article examines how developers...

Women and girls, particularly women girls of color, remain underrepresented in STEM disciplines. This underrepresentation begins as early late elementary school age. Educators, those informal education, can help address gender inequity by understanding how research be translated into actionable strategies. article summarizes on equitable practices for middle the last decade addresses disconnect between practice presenting findings a way that educators immediately act on. The falls six...

Abstract Science reforms in national K‐12 science education standards position engineering as a discipline that can be productively integrated into curricula. This approach presents foundational to and tool contextualize reinforce ideas such students come develop understandings about the natural engineered worlds. To better understand if integrating classrooms achieves promise described reforms, we explored how elementary school came what is expected of them when asked engage an unit whether...

National efforts have described the need for students to develop scientific proficiency and identified informal learning environments, interactive technologies, an understanding of inquiry as ways support this development. The Habitat Tracker project was developed in response by developing a digitally-supported, inquiry-oriented curriculum focused on engaging elementary science practices formal settings. This study employed mixed methods approach explore how engagement affected 125 fourth...

U.S. mathematics teachers face considerable pressures to keep up with pacing guides and prepare students for standardized tests. At the same time, they are called upon engage in innovative exploratory activities incorporate new technologies into their lessons. These competing priorities pose challenges. Against this backdrop, we investigated how middle-school incorporated play lessons involving interactive computer simulations (sims). The used PhET sims a variety of Following general...

Mathematics teaching that provides opportunities for play embodies many of the Teaching Practices described in Principles to Actions: Ensuring Mathematical Success All (NCTM 2014). PhET interactive simulations (or sims), developed by Project at University Colorado Boulder ( http://phet.colorado.edu ), are freely available virtual tools promote and exploration mathematics science topics K-16 students.

Assessments of scientific reasoning that capture the intertwining aspects conceptual, procedural and epistemic knowledge are often associated with intensive qualitative analyses student responses to open-ended questions, work products, interviews, discourse classroom observations. While such provide evaluations students’ skills, they not scalable. The purpose this study is develop a three-tiered multiple-choice assessment measure about biological phenomena understand affordances limitations...

Mathematics teachers are increasingly encouraged to incorporate computer-based technology in their classrooms, but these tools require strategic use order provide any substantive improvement student understanding. This paper reports on how three middle-school mathematics leveraged one particular tool, PhET interactive simulations (sims), quite differently. Using the perspective of instrumental orchestration, we describe five different sim and roles that emerged lessons. These prompted lesson...

This paper presents findings from a qualitative analysis of electronic journal entries created by elementary school students during field trips to nature center. The were part the Habitat Tracker project (http://tracker.cci.fsu.edu/) designed help learn about scientific practices. team developed mobile app and accompanying Web site integrated with standards-based science curriculum. includes observation worksheets an that guide student inquiry activities trip. study focuses on how students’...

There is a growing consensus on the significance of tailoring instruction mindful students' resources, which known as responsive teaching.When encountering such student-centered pedagogies, teachers often express vexationsfeelings concern and discomfort.This case study surfaces one elementary preservice teacher's (PST) vexations she was sensemaking about science teaching during methods class when her became disciplinary substance instruction.We described an iterative cycle vexations,...

If we are to support students become epistemic agents in the ways envisioned reforms, must acknowledge that classrooms can be spaces of injustice, where instructional efforts propagate inequitable systems oppression.In this case study, describe one Black girl, Jessie, and rights privileges afforded or denied her as she worked with a group peers develop negotiate scientific claim.Through examination video data, transcripts, student work products, characterized students' about epistemic,...

This research employs the lenses of epistemological resources and framing to examine complexities one teacher's efforts position his middle-school biology students as sensemakers.Through interviews, classroom observations, document analysis, we trace activation varied how such positioned students' throughout lesson.While launch tasks was framed an opportunity for "doing science," this became less stable when teacher engaged with in small group work during wrap up that were focused on "right...