Many educators face the challenge of engaging students in science and mathematics, often struggling to bridge the gap between theoretical concepts taught in classrooms and their real-world applications. This disconnect can lead to disinterest and disengagement among students, hindering their learning outcomes. Cases on Informal Learning for Science and Mathematics Education offers a solution to this problem by showcasing how informal learning experiences can significantly enhance students' understanding and engagement in these subjects.

This book demonstrates the potential of informal learning to support and complement formal classroom instruction by presenting a rich collection of case studies. It highlights how activities such as cooking, budgeting, visiting museums, and participating in after-school math clubs can serve as valuable informal learning experiences that deepen students' understanding of science and mathematics concepts. The book also addresses the challenge of recognizing the value of informal knowledge in problem-solving, offering insights and strategies for educators to help students leverage their informal learning experiences.

With a focus on integrating informal learning into formal education settings, this book provides practical guidance for teacher educators, K-12 teachers, professional development educators, parents, and informal educators. It aims to inspire educators to tap into the rich reservoir of informal knowledge students accumulate daily, empowering them to create more engaging and effective science and mathematics learning experiences. By offering a comprehensive exploration of informal learning in science and mathematics education, this book is a valuable resource for those seeking to enhance their teaching practices and improve students' learning outcomes.

Coverage:

The many academic areas covered in this publication include, but are not limited to:

After-School Math Clubs
Discovery Centers
Family and Community Involvement
Gardening
Informal Knowledge and Informal Strategies for Problem Solving
Informal Learning for Minority Groups
Math in Cooking
Museums
Outdoor Campus
Summer Camps
The Role of Digital Technology

Table of Contents

Search this Book:

Reset

Editor/Author Biographies

Li Sun is an Associate Professor in the Sharon Lust School of Education at Augustana University. She holds a doctoral degree in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in mathematics education from the University of Houston. Prior to joining the faculty at Augustana University, she worked as a certified Mathematics Quality of Instruction (MQI) for Harvard University. Dr. Sun’s research interests include integrating technology and informal learning into science and mathematics education. Dr. Sun works closely with both pre-service and in-service teachers, equipping them with research-based strategies to teach science and mathematics effectively across diverse learning contexts. She was the recipient of the 2017-2018 Carole Bland cultivating faculty excellence award and 2020-2021 Jane & Charles Zaloudek faculty research fellowship.

Cheng-Yao Lin graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He is a Professor of Mathematics Education at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Dr. Lin was awarded a Fulbright Specialist Award in 2017 to Taipei, Taiwan, where he taught at a university and conducted research. He is interested in the integration of technology into mathematics education, the preparation of pre-service teachers and cross-cultural research on pre-service teachers' knowledge of fractions. He has published in many peer-reviewed journals for research in mathematics education.

Archiving

All IGI Global Scientific Publishing content is archived via the CLOCKSS and LOCKSS initiative. Additionally, all IGI Global Scientific Publishing published content is available in the IGI Global Scientific Publishing InfoSci^® platform.