Conceptions of Engineering: Photo Novellas Assignment and Codebook (Hammack et al., 2024)
Expert NotesStrengths:Supports engagement of rural and Indigenous students through local funds of knowledge
Multimodal format that is accessible to young learners
Cautions:Requires student access to cameras or cameraphones
Time- and labor-intensive to code and analyze
Deductive codebook may miss emergent or culturally specific ideas
Topics: Student Well-BeingTags: Science educationThe Conceptions of Engineering: Photo Novellas Assignment and Codebook is an instrument that uses photo "novella" (story) to investigate primary-grade students understanding of engineering in rural and reservation communities.The codebook was developed by two engineering professors and two…Pedagogical Content Knowledge in Biology Inventory (PCK-IBI)
Expert NotesStrengths:Informed by expert review for content validity
Practical for large-scale or program-level assessment contexts
Cautions:Developed and validated primarily with German pre-service biology teachers
Some items show potential bias, raising concerns about test fairness
Generalizability to in-service teachers is uncertain
Topics: Student Well-BeingTags: Science educationThe Pedagogical Content Knowledge in Biology Inventory (PCK-IBI) is a 34-item assessment with a mix of closed-ended and open-ended items. It was designed to measure the content knowledge of pre-service biology teachers (secondary level). It is made up of the Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK),…Pedagogical Content Knowledge Self-Report for Biology (PCK SR -bio)
Expert NotesStrengths:Applicable across preservice teacher populations at different stages of preparation
Useful for examining links between content knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge
Efficient multiple-choice format that supports objective scoring and test economy
Cautions:Evidence primarily drawn from preservice teachers rather than in-service biology teachers
Topics: Student Well-BeingTags: Science educationThe PCK SR-Bio (Pedagogical Content Knowledge Self-Report for Biology) is a survey scale designed to assess teachers’ self-perceived knowledge of how to effectively teach biology concepts. It measures dimensions of pedagogical content knowledge, including understanding of students’ misconceptions,…Pupils’ Attitudes Towards Socioscientific Issues (PASSI) Questionnaire
Expert NotesStrengths:Usefulness and liking of SSI are distinguished
Cautions:The subscale "dependency on others" consists of two items, raising questions about the validity of this particular subscale
The ability to predict behavioral and cognitive engagement with SSI was not tested
Topics: Student Well-BeingTags: Science educationThe Pupils’ Attitudes Towards Socioscientific Issues (PASSI) Questionnaire is a student survey designed to measure young people’s attitudes toward complex, real-world issues that connect science with social, ethical, and environmental considerations. The instrument examines how students think and…Next Generation Science Classroom (NGSC) Questionnaire
Expert NotesStrengths:Explicitly aligned with the practice turn emphasized in NGSS
Captures student perceptions of classroom science practices rather than teacher reports alone
Sensitive to differences in student experiences across classrooms and teachers
Useful for examining the opportunity to learn in practice-oriented science instruction
Cautions:Has not been tested with grade levels other than 7th and 8th grade
The sample of students it was tested with was small, and had limited demographic, socioeconomic, and geographic diversity
Best used alongside other measures rather than as a standalone indicator of opportunity to learn
Topics: Student Well-BeingTags: Science educationThe Next Generation Science Classroom (NGSC) is a questionnaire that contains 35 items all scaled on a 5-point Likert scale. The items include understanding scientific explanations, generating scientific evidence, reflecting on scientific knowledge, and participating productively in science. Leisure Time in Science (LeTiS) Scale
Expert NotesStrengths:Covers multiple science domains including life, physical, Earth, and space science
Child-centered pictographic format that is easy for young children to understand
Avoids use of the term “science,” reducing confusion for early learners
Interview-based approach that supports comfort and engagement during administration
Suitable for use in pretest–posttest designs to detect changes in science attitudes
Cautions:Small number of items may limit coverage of science processes and content areas
Topics: Student Well-BeingTags: Science educationThe Leisure Time in Science (LeTiS) scale is an 8-item pictographic scale that measures attitude toward informal science. It assesses 5-6 year old perception using science-related pictures. This tool was developed as a way to measure science interest in children too young to be in formal science…iSTEM Protocol
Expert NotesStrengths:Grounded in a theory of integrated STEM learning, the Productive Disciplinary Engagement (PDE) framework
Useful for both research and instructional improvement
Cautions:Requires training to ensure reliable use
Rating scales may be perceived by teachers as evaluative, so results may need to be translated into descriptive or formative feedback
Topics: Student Well-BeingTags: Science educationThe iSTEM Protocol is a classroom observation tool designed to assess the quality of integrated STEM instruction. It focuses on how science, technology, engineering, and mathematics are meaningfully connected during lessons, with particular attention to problem-solving, real-world relevance,…Identity and Science Measure for Everyone (ISME) Questionnaire
Expert NotesStrengths:Developed from a social practice theory perspective of identity development
Cautions:Does not include “recognition”—whether and to what extent youth's identity work is recognized, legitimized, and validated by others
Topics: Student Well-BeingTags: Science educationThe ISME (Identity and Science Measure for Everyone) is a short questionnaire that asks about perceptions of self, perceptions and interest in science, and participation in science-related activities. It also covers majors/career aspirations, personal/family backgrounds, possible future selves, and…