Molecule genetics concepts are dificcult concepts for students almost in every country. Students must strugle to visualize those concepts. In this study, we presented bioinformatics resources in facilitating students' conception on molecule genetics concepts. Our research questions targeted students conception of deoxyriboculeic acid (DNA), transcription, genetic code, codon/anti-codon, intron, exon, gene. Data sources included pre/post-test and transcript of interviews. Our findings on pre-test showed that students have many variatian of molecule genetics concepts as prior knowledge. We found that most students held misconception of all over concepts and have partial conception on intron, exon and gene. Through bioinformatics learning process, the students prior conceptual frameworks was transformed to better understanding. Most students have a comprehensive knowledge of DNA, transcription, genetic code and codon/anti-codon. However most of students still held the partial knowledge of intron, exon and gene. Meanwhile in intron, exon and gene concepts, the students were unable to integrate their prior knowledge with informations of the bioinformatics resources. The transcripts revealed that bioinformatics resources were able to enhance students in representing of the DNA, transcription, genetic code and codon/anti-codon concepts.

Student engagement in learning science is both a desirable goal and a long-standing teacher challenge. Moving beyond engagement understood as transient topic interest, we argue that cognitive engagement entails sustained interaction in the processes of how knowledge claims are generated, judged, and shared in this subject. In this paper, we particularly focus on the initial claim-building aspect of this reasoning as a crucial phase in student engagement. In reviewing the literature on student reasoning and argumentation, we note that the well-established frameworks for claim-judging are not matched by accounts of creative reasoning in claim-building. We develop an exploratory framework to characterise and enact this reasoning to enhance engagement. We then apply this framework to interpret two lessons by two science teachers where they aimed to develop students' reasoning capabilities to support learning.

This paper investigates the perspectives held by stakeholders in relation to education in rural China, in light of social changes stemming from rapid economic growth. Historically, rural citizens are more likely to experience potential social and economic injustice by the implementation of the household registration (hukou) system and other national polices, especially in relation to the provision of education. These inequalities between rural and urban communities not only influence the quality and opportunities afforded by education, but also shape people’s perception of the value of education. This paper reports on research that explored stakeholders’ perception of the value of education in rural China and explored the associated reasons for stakeholders holding these opinions from three aspects, including social mobility, gender and culture. The research data include 669 student questionnaires, 456 parent questionnaires and 26 interviews with students, parents and grandparents from a relatively poor county of He Bei province in Northern China. This investigation explores that the way in which social mobility, gender, and traditional cultural values shape stakeholders’ perception of the value of education. The findings indicated that grandparents tend to have different perspectives from the parents and students in terms of reasons for their acceptance of the significance of education due to the diversity of understanding upward social mobility. Meanwhile, although the gender of students is not a significant issue, it cannot be ignored that some stakeholders still consider that a boy’s education is intrinsically more valuable than a girl’s education. This investigation also offers a cultural ‘lens’ through which to explore some of the reasons for parents’ and grandparents’, influences on students’ own perspectives. The result of this research provides an in-depth understanding of the causes of impacting on stakeholders’ perception of the importance of education in rural China.

The study analysed profiles of students’ argumentation and how lessons may develop students’ argumentation skills. The study was conducted at two Indonesian progressive private schools and a school located in Australian low socio-economic community. This study explored possibilities to draw together results from two different research approaches typical to each country. The Indonesian research project used paper and pencil tests and interviews to investigate students’ argumentation skills, while the Australian research project analysed videos of the lessons. The Indonesian study finds that there is no significant different between two types of schools and gender. The Australian classroom showed shifts in creative dispositions that include the argumentation processes but not a consistent pattern between classes. The Australian teachers actively required students to make claims, explore the robustness of these claims, transferred these claims to new settings and to think of alternative explanations that encouraged students to construct more coherent arguments. This study finds that interpreting and re-interpreting two different research approaches can produce insights that benefit both sides as it can account for the context and needs of each country. In addition, combining of two different methodologies provided perspectives often not collected through single methodologies.

This article focuses on a Personalised Learning model which has 19 scales that were used to evaluate regional students’ perceptions of their readiness to learn, assessment processes, engagement, extent to which their learning is personalised and their associations with academic efficacy, academic achievement and student well-being. The data came from an average of 2700 students during each year of a 3-year study in six schools in provincial Victoria. A previously reported instrument was developed to measure students’ and teachers’ perceptions of the above factors affecting the implementation of Personalised Learning Plans (PLPs). It employed the latest scales to assess a range of PLP indicator variables, with all scales modified for use in an Australian context and with the total number of items kept to a minimum. Only scales that were more sensitive to PLPs were used in order to minimise the length of the instrument. There were three outcome variables: academic efficacy, academic achievement and student well-being. The emergent model demonstrates that addressing personalisation of learning and well-being depends on a combination of factors rather than “just getting one factor right”. This implies that there is a need for a coherent and collaborative approach for addressing the needs of students of low socioeconomic status.

In assessing a major educational reform of the kind enacted in the BEP, many questions are raised, requiring comprehensive, evidence-based answers. Was the original Plan well-conceptualised and effectively enacted to meet the needs of these twenty-first century learners? What are the short-term and long-term effects of this major reorganisation of schooling? What are the gains and losses (if any) of this approach? To what extent were initial goals achieved, and enacted strategies effective, and why? How sustainable are the emerging signs of positive changes to student academic attainment and wellbeing? What are lessons for like contexts and future schooling? Elsewhere (Prain et al., 2014), we have sought to answer some of these questions around BEP goals, implementation strategies, and outcomes, including key enablers and constraints.

Thanks Dr Dave. I'm glad you like the idea for my Spider-Bat and I will definitely try and fix those ears and I agree that my critter does seem a little defenceless. I will make sure to think about some ways in which my Spider-Bat can avoid being lunch!! Thanks again.

Abstract: Implementation of Multiple-Representation-Based Instructions to Improve the Mastery of Quantum Physics Concepts. This study aimed to design and investigate the role of multiple-representation-based instructions in the improvement of student teachers’ quantum physics mastery. This study used a quasi-experimental control group pretest-posttest design as quantitative part of a mixed-methods study. The subjects were student teachers of physics in the Department of Mathematics and Science Education in a state university in Lampung Province in the 2009-2010 academic year. For assessing the quantum physics mastery, the Quantum Physics Concept Achievement Test (QPCAT) was used. The quantitative analyses were conducted using the Mann Whitney U test. The results showed that multiple-representation-based instructions had a significant effect on student teachers’ quantum physics concept mastery. The results of semi-structured interviews as qualitative part of this study indicated that in the experimental group the students used a variety of representation modes in the learning process and were capable of using the most appropriate one to solve a given quantum physics concept problem. Keywords: quantum physics, multiple representations, concept mastery

Mathematics educators now broadly agree about key dimensions of quality mathematics programs and experiences (Schoenfeld, 2014), but achieving these practices in schools with high concentrations of low SES students remains a challenge in many countries (Black, 2007; Greeno & Collins, 2008). In this chapter we first review current understandings of what enables quality learning in mathematics, as a basis for reporting on the impacts of personalised learning approaches to this subject in three of the BEP colleges: Whirrakee, Ironbark and Melaleuca.

Can removing classroom walls enable more personalised learning and enhance student wellbeing? In this book we claim these outcomes are possible in an open-plan school for low SES students, if appropriate conditions are met. A major condition is the development of these spaces as supportive communities where teams of teachers address learners’ individual and collective needs.

In this book we have identified many BEP implementation effects, some expected and others less predictable. We also recognise that many effects and outcomes have arisen from altered conditions since the development of the BEP's original goals nine years ago. In summarising these findings we are particularly interested in focusing again on new knowledge about the relationship between up-scaled learning communities and learning and wellbeing for predominantly low SES students.

These comments reflect positive staff perceptions of adapting to the new settings in the BEP schools. However, for some other staff members the new settings entailed excessive noise, increased student distraction, loss of intimacy and structure, threats to traditional practices, exposure to the gaze and critique of colleagues, and demands for new team and individual skills.KeywordsProfessional LearningEnglish TeacherRelational AgencyTeam TeachingCurriculum InnovationThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

This chapter explores how teachers utilize representations in their teaching. It illustrates this use through examples drawn largely from three regions of the world - Australia, Indonesia and Melanesia. They describes the value that these teachers perceived in utilizing these and how their use impacted on teaching and learning strategies. It explains representational attempts by teachers to enable student learning as they work with students to negotiate effectively between everyday discourse, culture, and values and those of the science community and to sustain connections between students community beliefs and canonical science in these settings. Some of the issues explored include the impact of status and gender, ownership and relationships, uniqueness of teaching approaches, societal and life experiences, need to link to student lives, impact of expert and student-generated representations on teaching and learning. It concludes through a discussion on how these representations are constrained by the assessment process and how they can be utilized to explore the development of understanding in each of these regions