Action Researchin STEM Classrooms

Wake Innovative Noyce Scholars (WINS)

Leah McCoy, PISamantha Freiberg, Scholar

Anna Hester, ScholarJoseph Hester, Scholar

Action Research Process

Identify a topic (question) in the classroom

Seek information (related studies) Apply a possible solution

(treatment/analysis) Reflect on the results and next steps

(conclusions and implications)

Graphing Calculators

Research Question

How does the use of graphing calculators support conceptual understanding in mathematics?

Graphing Calculators

Ellington, A. J. (2006). Graphing calculators can improve overall

achievement and attitude toward mathematics

Milou, E. (1999). Teachers think that students should solve

problems algebraically first, and then use calculators to support solutions

Quesada, A. R., & Maxwell, M. E. (1994). Students think that calculators help improve

conceptual understanding

Graphing Calculators

ParticipantsProcedures

Quadratics Unit Cubics Unit

Measures Student work (pre-test & post-test) Focus group interview

Analysis

Graphing Calculators

Results Student work Focus group interview

“…it depends on the way they taught you. Sometimes it’s simpler by hand or sometimes the calculator helps more…”

Conclusions Implications

Self-relevant Future Goals

Research Question

How does having students identify self-relevant future goals and form related sub-goals affect their perception of relevance, task instrumentality, and achievement in a math class?

Self-relevant Future GoalsMiller and Brickman (2004) Proposed a new model focusing on personal,

future goals  Personal Future Goal->Formation of Subgoal-

>View Task as Related ;> Increased Motivation  Kadlec, Friedman, and Public Agenda (2007) Most students don’t think math is relevant 76% of students attributed others’ failures in

math/science to perceiving the topics as irrelevant Motivation is difficult

Self-relevant Future Goals

Treatment Students …

Identified their personal, future goals, Created sub-goals Reflected

Measures and Analysis 1) Surveys 2) Focus groups 3) Student work

Self-relevant Future GoalsResults Common Goals Common themes

1) Students had not identified sub-goals previously 2) Motivation increased 3) Recommended the activity 4) Perception of relevance

Achievement

Conclusion The results suggest the treatment was effective in

increasing students’ motivation and in many cases, their achievement.

Science Identity

Research Question

To what extent does the incorporation of humanistic, research-based science stories impact biology students’ identity in science?

Science Identity

Related Studies Making science accessible (Kozoll &

Osborne, 2004). Context is important for meaning and

relevance (Rudolph and Stewart, 1998). “Way of knowing” vs. fact memorization

(Lederman, 1998). NOS and socially acceptable roles and

experiences (Shanahan, 2009).

Science Identity

Treatment & Analysis 2 classes of Honors biology, mostly

comprised of 9th grade students Discussion-based, research-focused

lectures: Collaboration/Competition – Discovering the

structure of DNA Tentativeness – “Lock-and-key” vs. “Induced fit”

enzyme activity models Innovation/Creativity – Famous experiments in

cell biology Used Likert and free response surveys,

open-ended interviews and observations.

Science Identity

Results & Conclusions T-tests showed no significant

differences in opinions before and after the intervention.

More nuanced understandings of NOS.

Naïve misconceptions about the relevance of science.

Identity formation requires exposure to both formal and informal applications of science.

Other studies this year

What is the impact of a scientific module-formatted unit on student attitudes towards science?

How does incorporating students’ creative expression through the arts affect engagement and motivation in mathematics?

Other studies this year

How does writing “Math Tweets” several times each week to summarize the material affect students’ engagement and understanding?

Does problem-based learning lead to the creation of female scientific identity, increased learning and performance?

Other studies this year

Does peer-teaching with group presentations improve the learning and understanding of new physics material?

What is the impact of reflective journal writing on student engagement in a high school biology class?