In this book the editors consider the resistance to change among teachers and learners despite all the evidence that science participation brings benefits for both individuals and nations. Beginning with biology, Stability and Change in Science Education: Meeting Basic Learning Needs explores this balance in teaching and learning science. The authors reflect upon this equilibrium as they each present their work and its contribution. The book provides a wide range of examples using the change/stability lens. Authors from the Netherlands, Israel, Spain, Canada and the USA discuss how they observe and consider both homeostasis and novelty in theory, projects and other work. The book contains examples from science educators in schools and in other science rich settings. Contributors are: Lucy Avraamidou, Ayelet Baram-Tsabari, Michelle Crowl, Marilynne Eichinger, Lars Guenther, Maria Heras, Phyllis Katz, Joy Kubarek, Lucy R. McClain, Patricia Patrick, Wolff-Michael Roth, Isabel Ruiz-Mallen, Lara Smetana, Hani Swirski, Heather Toomey Zimmerman, and Bart Van de Laar.

This edited volume brings together an international perspective of 22 diverse learning theories applied to a range of informal science learning environments. The book is divided into 7 sections: community of practice, critical theory, identity theory, sociocultural, socioscientific, and social entrepreneurship, systems theory, and theory development. The chapters present how researchers from diverse backgrounds and cultures use theories in their work and how these may be applied as theoretical frameworks for future research. The chapters bridge theory and practice and collectively address a wide range of ages (children-adults) and contexts. The book is written to engage a broad audience of researchers in universities and museums, while appealing to the growing number of researchers and educators who recognize the importance of informal learning to the development of environmental and scientific literacy. It is essential reading for inexperienced researchers and those seeking new theoretical perspectives.

In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, recent long-term policy plans emphasize the ever-increasing need to transition to 21st-century skills and achieve sustainable development goals by preparing highly qualified nationals with credentials in STEM fields relevant to the current and future needs of the labor market. Yet, despite multiple educational reforms and substantial resources, national and international indicators of student performance still demonstrate insignificant improvement in MENA students’ achievement in STEM subjects. STEM Education Approaches and Challenges in the MENA Region contributes to the existing STEM literature by exploring factors that influence student participation in STEM in MENA countries. The book also identifies the gaps in STEM education research in MENA countries and presents the current practices and challenges. Covering key topics such as gender equity, school administration, and education systems, this premier reference source is ideal for administrators, policymakers, researchers, scholars, academicians, practitioners, instructors, and students.

Geopolitics is a concept that shapes shifts following the socio-political and economic changes made within or in neighboring states. Usually, the popularity in geopolitics is motivated by victory in war, which binds the nation, revives the national culture, and promotes the spiritual and territorial expansion into neighboring states. However, the defeat in war can be motivating as well, as the defeat catalyzes the creation and dissemination of geo-political theories. In the modern era, further study on the Russia-Ukraine war in relation to geopolitics must be considered. The Russia-Ukraine War and Its Consequences on the Geopolitics of the World analyzes the main geopolitical theories and discusses possible geopolitical, economic, military, security, and information consequences of the Russia-Ukraine war. The book also reviews the attitude of the main geopolitical players in the world toward the war and their foreign policy and national security priorities. Covering key topics such as democracy, international security, and geopolitical interests, this premier reference source is ideal for government officials, policymakers, industry professionals, researchers, academicians, practitioners, instructors, and students.

Science, engineering, and technology permeate nearly every facet of modern life and hold the key to solving many of humanity's most pressing current and future challenges. The United States' position in the global economy is declining, in part because U.S. workers lack fundamental knowledge in these fields. To address the critical issues of U.S. competitiveness and to better prepare the workforce, A Framework for K-12 Science Education proposes a new approach to K-12 science education that will capture students' interest and provide them with the necessary foundational knowledge in the field. A Framework for K-12 Science Education outlines a broad set of expectations for students in science and engineering in grades K-12. These expectations will inform the development of new standards for K-12 science education and, subsequently, revisions to curriculum, instruction, assessment, and professional development for educators. This book identifies three dimensions that convey the core ideas and practices around which science and engineering education in these grades should be built. These three dimensions are: crosscutting concepts that unify the study of science through their common application across science and engineering; scientific and engineering practices; and disciplinary core ideas in the physical sciences, life sciences, and earth and space sciences and for engineering, technology, and the applications of science. The overarching goal is for all high school graduates to have sufficient knowledge of science and engineering to engage in public discussions on science-related issues, be careful consumers of scientific and technical information, and enter the careers of their choice. A Framework for K-12 Science Education is the first step in a process that can inform state-level decisions and achieve a research-grounded basis for improving science instruction and learning across the country. The book will guide standards developers, teachers, curriculum designers, assessment developers, state and district science administrators, and educators who teach science in informal environments.

This edited volume brings together innovative research in the field of Science Education, fostering scientific citizenship in an uncertain world. The nineteen chapters presented in this book address diverse topics, and research approaches carried out in various contexts and settings worldwide, contributing to improving and updating knowledge on science education. The book consists of selected high-quality studies presented at the 14th European Science Education Research Association (ESERA) Conference, held online (due to the Covid-19 pandemic) by the University of Minho, Portugal, between August 30th and September 3rd, 2021. Being of great relevance in contemporary science education, this book stimulates reflection on different approaches to enhance a deeper understanding of how better prepare the coming generations, which is of great interest to science education researchers and science teachers.

This edited volume presents latest development in applications of Rasch measurement in science education. It includes a conceptual introduction chapter and a set of individual chapters. The introductory chapter reviews published studies applying Rasch measurement in the field of science education and identify important principles of Rasch measurement and best practices in applications of Rasch measurement in science education. The individual chapters, contributed by authors from Canada, China, Germany, Philippines and the USA, cover a variety of current topics on measurement concerning science conceptual understanding, scientific argumentation, scientific reasoning, three-dimensional learning, knowledge-in-use and cross-cutting concepts of the Next Generation Science Standards, medical education learning experiences, machine-scoring bias, formative assessment, and teacher knowledge of argument. There are additional chapters on advances in Rasch analysis techniques and technology including R, Bayesian estimation, comparison between joint maximum likelihood (JML) and marginal maximum likelihood (MML) estimations on model-data-fit, and enhancement to Rasch models by Cognitive Diagnostic Models and Latent Class Analysis. The volume provides readers who are new and experienced in applying Rasch measurement with advanced and exemplary applications in the forefront of various areas of science education research.

In advancing the vision of adult learning articulated at the International Conference on Adult Education (CONFINTEA V) held in Hamburg in 1997, the UNESCO Institute for Education has been conducting studies on the different areas and dimensions of ‘Adult Learning and the Changing World of Work’. One question that has been central to this area is: What constitutes adult learning for those who traditionally secure their survival in the informal economy, as well as for those school leavers and dropouts who are forced to work in this sector? In answering this question, the informal sector or popular economy may be defined in various ways, but there is an increasing recognition that it is a phenomenon that has come to stay and that government policies aimed at economic and social development, including national education and training policies and programmes, should target those who work in this sector. In particular, basic education and continuing education and training are being seen as key to empowering people and as crucial to strategies for reducing poverty. Moreover, there is a growing awareness that education is a human right of fundamental siginificance to promoting decent work and humane living conditions. It is in view of such considerations that UIE and the ILO planned to conduct studies in South Asia (Nepal, Bangladesh, India) to develop an understanding of the quality provision of education and skills development in and for the informal sector.

Teaching Primary Science Constructively helps pre-service teachers to create effective science learning experiences for primary students by using a constructivist approach to learning. This best-selling text explains the principles of constructivism, the implications for learning and teaching and discusses core strategies for developing science understanding and science inquiry processes and skills. Part 2 provides research-based ideas for implementing a constructivist approach within a number of content strands. Throughout there are strong links to the key ideas, themes and terminology of the latest Australian Curriculum: Science.