The Power of Computational Modeling and Simulation for Learning STEM Content in Middle and High Schools

2015 ◽  
pp. 135-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahnaz Moallem ◽  
Shelby P. Morge ◽  
Sridhar Narayan ◽  
Gene A. Tagliarini
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Simulation And Modeling ◽  
School Students ◽  
Mathematical Concepts ◽  
Learning Conditions ◽  
And Mathematics ◽  
Computational Modeling And Simulation ◽  
Level Of Understanding ◽  
The Impact

Using Squeak Etoys to Infuse Information Technology (USeIT) was designed to offer expanded information technology experiences to 155 middle and high school students over a three-year period by exploiting the Squeak Etoys media authoring tool as a simulation and modeling environment. Through problem-solving activities and development of Squeak Etoys modeling projects, USeIT investigated the impact of Problem-Based Learning (PBL) and utilization of Squeak Etoys on student understanding of scientific and mathematical concepts. A design-based research method was used to collect data. The results revealed that when simulation and modeling are used under specific learning conditions, a deeper level of understanding of key science and mathematics concepts is observed. In addition, problem-based simulation tasks cognitively engaged students, particularly those who otherwise did not see the relevancy of STEM content in their lives. Less motivated students developed interests in STEM content and showed confidence in their abilities to learn mathematics and science.

The Power of Computational Modeling and Simulation for Learning STEM Content in Middle and High Schools

2018 ◽  
pp. 916-950
Author(s):  
Mahnaz Moallem ◽  
Shelby P. Morge ◽  
Sridhar Narayan ◽  
Gene A. Tagliarini
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Simulation And Modeling ◽  
School Students ◽  
Mathematical Concepts ◽  
Learning Conditions ◽  
And Mathematics ◽  
Computational Modeling And Simulation ◽  
Level Of Understanding ◽  
The Impact

Using Squeak Etoys to Infuse Information Technology (USeIT) was designed to offer expanded information technology experiences to 155 middle and high school students over a three-year period by exploiting the Squeak Etoys media authoring tool as a simulation and modeling environment. Through problem-solving activities and development of Squeak Etoys modeling projects, USeIT investigated the impact of Problem-Based Learning (PBL) and utilization of Squeak Etoys on student understanding of scientific and mathematical concepts. A design-based research method was used to collect data. The results revealed that when simulation and modeling are used under specific learning conditions, a deeper level of understanding of key science and mathematics concepts is observed. In addition, problem-based simulation tasks cognitively engaged students, particularly those who otherwise did not see the relevancy of STEM content in their lives. Less motivated students developed interests in STEM content and showed confidence in their abilities to learn mathematics and science.

scholarly journals The Self-Determination Theory and Mathematics Motivation: Grade Levels and Gender Differences among United Arab Emirates Students

2011 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 15
Author(s):  
Jalal Haj Hussien
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
High School Students ◽  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
School Students ◽  
Grade Levels ◽  
Mathematics Motivation ◽  
The Difference ◽  
And Gender ◽  
And Mathematics ◽  
The Impact

The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of students’ grade levels, gender, and interaction between the two on mathematics motivation. In addition, the relationship between students’ various types of mathematics motivation and achievement were examined. Four hundred twenty four elementary school students (186 boys and 238 girls), 588 middle school students (296 boys and 292 girls), and 276 high school students (154 boys and 122 girls) completed the MMS. The findings of this study showed that all types of motivation in mathematics steadily decreased with grade advancement (elementary through high school) with the exception of introjected regulation. Moreover, results indicated a significant gender difference in each type of mathematics motivation, exception regarding intrinsic motivation, where the difference was not significant. In addition, the interaction between grade levels and gender was significant only in students’ introjected regulation; the differences in intrinsic, external regulation, and amotivation were consistent between males and females in different grade levels. Finally, the results revealed a significant relationship between all types of motivation and mathematics achievement as well as overall academic achievement. 

scholarly journals THE DEEP RIVER SCIENCE ACADEMY: A UNIQUE AND INNOVATIVE PROGRAM FOR ENGAGING STUDENTS IN SCIENCE

2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (01) ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carl W. Turner ◽  
Rick Didsbury ◽  
Margo Ingram
Keyword(s):  
High School Students ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Summer Program ◽  
School Students ◽  
Science Camp ◽  
Innovative Program ◽  
Science Academy ◽  
And Mathematics ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Canada Limited

For 28 years, the Deep River Science Academy (DRSA) has been offering high school students the opportunity to engage in the excitement and challenge of professional scientific research to help nurture their passion for science and to provide them with the experience and the knowledge to make informed decisions regarding possible future careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The venue for the DRSA program has been a six-week summer science camp where students, working in pairs under the guidance of a university undergraduate tutor, contribute directly to an on-going research program under the supervision of a professional scientist or engineer. This concept has been expanded in recent years to reach students in classrooms year round by engaging students via the internet over a 12-week term in a series of interactive teaching sessions based on an on-going research project. Although the research projects for the summer program are offered primarily from the laboratories of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited at its Chalk River Laboratories site, projects for the year-round program can be based, in principle, in laboratories at universities and other research institutes located anywhere in Canada. This paper will describe the program in more detail using examples illustrating how the students become engaged in the research and the sorts of contributions they have been able to make over the years. The impact of the program on the students and the degree to which the DRSA has been able to meet its objective of encouraging students to choose careers in the fields of STEM and equipping them with the skills and experience to be successful will be assessed based on feedback from the students themselves. Finally, we will examine the program in the context of how well it helps to address the challenges faced by educators today in meeting the demands of students in a world where the internet provides instant access to information.

scholarly journals The Involvement of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Learning in an APOS Analysis of Students’ Mathematical Understanding

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. p105
Author(s):  
Achmad Mudrikah ◽  
Nandang Arif Saefuloh
Keyword(s):  
High School Students ◽  
Mathematics Learning ◽  
Mathematical Understanding ◽  
Stem Learning ◽  
School Students ◽  
Mathematical Concepts ◽  
Science Technology ◽  
Action Process ◽  
And Mathematics ◽  
Theory Framework

This article was reported as a research that involved Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Learning by using APOS theory framework to investigate Students’ Mathematical Understanding of sine rule and cosine rule concept. Sine rule and cosine rule concepts are taught to eleven-grade senior high school students in Indonesia. Students’ responses to five trigonometric problems involving sine rule and cosine rule were analyzed through this article. This study has confirmed that sine rule and cosine rule concept can be understood through STEM learning engagement because it has enabled students to obtain the appropriate mental structure at the action, process, object and schema levels. However, sustainable development needs to be done to improve mathematics learning that can build mental structures needed by students to understand mathematical concepts.

scholarly journals CYBERBULLYING SEBAGAI DAMPAK NEGATIF PENGGUNAAN TEKNOLOGI INFORMASI

2013 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Flourensia Sapty Rahayu
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Technology Development ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
School Students ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Set Up ◽  
A Minor ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Insight Into

Information Technology can bring postive and negative impacts to our lives. One of the negative impact that emerge with the this technology development is Cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is any cyber-communication or publication posted or sent by a minor online, by Information Technology devices that is intended to frighten, embarrass, harass, hurt, set up, cause harm to, extort, or otherwise target another minor. In other countries there are many cases of Cyberbullying that ended with very serious event such as the suicide of the victims. This study was conducted to gain insight into how this phenomenon occur in Indonesia. We used questionnaires as a mean to get the informations about Cyberbullying among Indonesian teenagers. We distributed these questionnaires to secondary and high school students in Magelang, Yogyakarta and Semarang. The result shows that Cyberbullying has already happened with a big enough number (28%) but the impact was not very serious. From the answers we can conclude that many teens haven’t understand what Cyberbullying is and what its potential dangerous impacts may follow. We also explored the roles, responsibilities, and things that can be done by teens, parents, schools, law enforcements, and communities in order to prevent and stop Cyberbullying.

scholarly journals EUROPA: A Case Study for Teaching Sensors, Data Acquisition and Robotics via a ROS-Based Educational Robot

Sensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (9) ◽  
pp. 2469 ◽  
Author(s):  
Georgios Karalekas ◽  
Stavros Vologiannidis ◽  
John Kalomiros
Keyword(s):  
High School Students ◽  
Data Acquisition ◽  
Critical Parameters ◽  
School Students ◽  
Mathematical Concepts ◽  
Software Infrastructure ◽  
Open Hardware ◽  
And Mathematics ◽  
Approximate Cost ◽  
And Robotics

Robots have become a popular educational tool in secondary education, introducing scientific, technological, engineering and mathematical concepts to students all around the globe. In this paper EUROPA, an extensible, open software and open hardware robotic platform is presented focusing on teaching physics, sensors, data acquisition and robotics. EUROPA’s software infrastructure is based οn Robot Operating System (ROS). It includes easy to use interfaces for robot control and interaction with users and thus can easily be incorporated in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and robotics classes. EUROPA was designed taking into account current trends in educational robotics. An overview of widespread robotic platforms is presented, documenting several critical parameters of interest such as their architecture, sensors, actuators and controllers, their approximate cost, etc. Finally, an introductory STEM curriculum developed for EUROPA and applied in a class of high school students is presented.

A Strategic Perspective on Using Symbolic Transformation in STEM Education

2018 ◽  
pp. 242-284
Author(s):  
Jack M. Rappaport ◽  
Stephen B. Richter ◽  
Dennis T. Kennedy
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Mirror Neurons ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
School Students ◽  
And Mathematics ◽  
Strategic Perspective ◽  
Interdisciplinary Study ◽  
Decision Making Model ◽  
The Impact

This paper describes and implements an innovative model for teaching Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) that enhances the decision making process of students considering a major or a career in STEM fields. The model can also be used as a decision making tool for educators interested in stressing the importance of STEM for career enhancement and for society as a whole. The model creates analogies and metaphors for various STEM topics using the contents of popular music videos. Theories of neuroscience, the interdisciplinary study of the nervous system, are used to describe and validate our decision making model. Concepts such as, embodied cognition, mirror neurons and the connection between emotion and cognition, are used to explain how the brain processes the information and multi-modal stimuli generated by our model. The model was implemented using the topic of automated decision processes in robotics and automation with a group of university and high school students and teachers. The impact of the model was evaluated using the National Science Foundation (NSF) frameworks for evaluating informal science projects. The results indicate that the model using symbolic transformation to teach STEM can have a significant impact on students' attitude towards STEM and the decision making process about their careers.

A Strategic Perspective on Using Symbolic Transformation in STEM Education

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jack M. Rappaport ◽  
Stephen B. Richter ◽  
Dennis T. Kennedy
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Mirror Neurons ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
School Students ◽  
And Mathematics ◽  
Strategic Perspective ◽  
Interdisciplinary Study ◽  
Decision Making Model ◽  
The Impact

This paper describes and implements an innovative model for teaching Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) that enhances the decision making process of students considering a major or a career in STEM fields. The model can also be used as a decision making tool for educators interested in stressing the importance of STEM for career enhancement and for society as a whole. The model creates analogies and metaphors for various STEM topics using the contents of popular music videos. Theories of neuroscience, the interdisciplinary study of the nervous system, are used to describe and validate our decision making model. Concepts such as, embodied cognition, mirror neurons and the connection between emotion and cognition, are used to explain how the brain processes the information and multi-modal stimuli generated by our model. The model was implemented using the topic of automated decision processes in robotics and automation with a group of university and high school students and teachers. The impact of the model was evaluated using the National Science Foundation (NSF) frameworks for evaluating informal science projects. The results indicate that the model using symbolic transformation to teach STEM can have a significant impact on students' attitude towards STEM and the decision making process about their careers.

scholarly journals Forma mentis networks quantify crucial differences in STEM perception between students and experts

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Massimo Stella ◽  
Sarah De Nigris ◽  
Aleksandra Aloric ◽  
Cynthia S. Q. Siew
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Free Association ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Science Anxiety ◽  
School Students ◽  
General Importance ◽  
And Mathematics ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Mathematics And Physics

In order to investigate the stances of high school students and researchers toward STEM subjects, we introduce the methodology of forma mentis networks -- free association networks enriched with affective attributes that represent how people conceptually perceive and structure their stance toward a given topic. In this paper, we constructed separate forma mentis networks for ($N_s=159$) Italian high school students and ($N_r=59$) interdisciplinary professionals and researchers in order to investigate how these groups differed in their mental associations and emotional perceptions of STEM subjects. At the global scale, STEM concepts occupied central positions in students' forma mentis network, suggesting that students understood the general importance of such topics in science. At a microscopic scale, although the concept of "science'' was positively perceived in both the students' and professionals' forma mentis networks, students not only perceived STEM concepts such as "physics'' and "mathematics'' as negative but also associated them with other negative STEM-related concepts. This aura of negative emotional associations towards quantitative STEM subjects was absent in professionals. Cross-validation with external datasets suggested that the negative emotional aura in the forma mentis network of students might be attributed to science anxiety. Further consideration of the semantic associates of maths and physics indicated that their negative aura may originate from a negative, dry perception of the technical methodology and quantitative tools frequently taught in these subjects (e.g., "function'', "integral'').Whereas students associated mathematics and physics with quantitative tools, professionals linked the same disciplines to more general and creative aspects of science and displayed a positive stance towards these concepts. Overall, our results underline the crucial importance of emphasising nontechnical and applied aspects in the teaching of quantitative disciplines, highlighting the necessity of establishing interdisciplinary links between science, the complexity of the real-world and creativity in order to enhance the impact of STEM education and outreach activities.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document