Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Scientific literacy through Problem-Based Learning focusing on the occurrence and consequences of microplastics in the environment

Researchers implemented a Problem-Based Learning approach to develop scientific literacy skills in students by focusing on the occurrence and environmental consequences of microplastics. The study, conducted in a Portuguese-language educational context, used microplastics as a real-world science topic to cultivate critical thinking and evidence-based decision-making competencies.

2024 Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (Universidade de São Paulo)
Article Tier 2

Community-Engaged Research Projects in School Settings: Science Teachers’ Practices and Reflections

Not relevant to microplastics — this education research study analyzes how nine teachers implemented community-engaged research projects addressing environmental justice issues in their classrooms, focusing on pedagogy, student empowerment, and institutional challenges.

2024 Social Sciences 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Science Literacy Profile of High School Students: Implications of PBL Didactic Design on the Topic of Microplastics

This education research paper is not primarily about microplastic risks; it studies Indonesian high school students' scientific literacy after a problem-based learning curriculum using microplastics as a teaching topic, assessing students' ability to explain phenomena, evaluate investigations, and interpret data within the PISA framework.

2026 Hydrogen Jurnal Kependidikan Kimia
Article Tier 2

Increasing knowledge and awareness of microplastic pollution in United States middle school students in a hybrid-classroom setting through science education

Researchers assessed microplastic pollution knowledge and awareness among middle school students in the United States, finding significant gaps in understanding of microplastic sources, pathways, and human health implications. The study highlights an educational opportunity and suggests targeted curriculum integration could improve scientific literacy around plastic pollution in younger generations.

2024 Journal of Geoscience Education 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Sustainability in K-12 education: how can schools support students to address challenges of environmental sustainability?

This action research study examines how K-12 schools can promote environmental sustainability, finding that successful programs combine student education, school-wide practices, and community engagement to reduce environmental impact.

2023
Article Tier 2

Integrating STEM Curriculum Across the Schools' Learning Environment to Reflect & Impact Life Practices

This paper is not about microplastics. It discusses integrating STEM curriculum across school environments to promote sustainability education and critical thinking, referencing UN Sustainable Development Goals. While it mentions environmental challenges broadly, the paper focuses on educational pedagogy rather than microplastic pollution or environmental contamination research.

2023 KnE Social Sciences 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Transformative STEAM Educators Developing Students’ Capabilities For Resolving Global Sustainability Crises

This paper argues that transformative STEAM education — integrating science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics — can develop students' capacity to address global sustainability crises including plastic pollution. The research advocates for educational approaches that go beyond conventional curricula to build environmental problem-solving skills.

2023 Proceedings of International Conference on Social Science Political Science and Humanities (ICoSPOLHUM)
Article Tier 2

Application of the Steam Approach in Efforts to Improve 4c Skills in Elementary School Students

This education research paper examined the effectiveness of the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics) teaching approach for developing 21st-century skills in elementary students. This is a pedagogy paper with no direct connection to microplastics or environmental science.

2023 Formosa Journal of Sustainable Research
Article Tier 2

Desenvolvimento da literacia química de alunos do ensino básico

A Portuguese citizen-science project engaged over 500 middle-school students in testing coastal water quality and learning about microplastic pollution through hands-on chemistry investigations. The program significantly improved students' attitudes toward chemistry and their conceptual understanding of water parameters and polymers compared to a control group, demonstrating that microplastic science can be an effective hook for building broader scientific literacy in young people.

2024 Educación Química 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Do future teachers’ sustainability commitments really relate to action-oriented educational approaches?

Researchers analyzed educational proposals designed by 130 future secondary school teachers addressing the socioecological problem of microplastic pollution, examining the relationship between teachers' own sustainability perceptions and their selection of action-oriented educational approaches through mixed qualitative and quantitative methods.

2024 Environmental Education Research 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Contextual Teaching and Learning in Learning Environmental Pollution: the Effect on Student Learning Outcomes

This study evaluated contextual teaching and learning approaches for environmental pollution education, finding that connecting plastic pollution and waste concepts to real-world situations significantly improved student comprehension and motivation compared to conventional instruction.

2022 Prima Magistra Jurnal Ilmiah Kependidikan 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Detecting, sensibilization and measuring microplastics in the environment: a guidebook of practical activities for primary and secondary schools

Researchers developed a practical guidebook for primary and secondary school students to detect, measure, and understand microplastic pollution using table salt as a simple, accessible study matrix. The activities integrate scientific, technological, chemical, and geological concepts while addressing four UN Sustainable Development Goals, aiming to raise environmental awareness about microplastics in the educational system.

2022 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Fourteen-Year-Old Students’ Understanding of Problems Related to Microplastics in the Environment

Researchers assessed 14-year-old Slovenian students' understanding of microplastics in the environment, a topic absent from the national curriculum. The study found that students had limited knowledge, though performance correlated with grades in chemistry and biology, and exposure through informal or extracurricular science activities improved understanding.

2025 Sustainability
Article Tier 2

Marine plastic pollution in kindergarten as a means of engaging toddlers with STEM education and educational robotics

This paper explores using marine plastic pollution as a topic to engage preschool children with STEM education and robotics through experiential learning. Environmental topics like plastic pollution can serve as motivating contexts for early science and technology education.

2022 Advances in Mobile Learning Educational Research 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Facilitating Learning of Socio-scientific Issues through An Adaptive Critical Pedagogy Module

A two-day workshop using Foldscope microscopes engaged Grade 9 students in Mumbai with microplastic pollution as a socio-scientific issue, finding that hands-on inquiry shifted students from passive to active engagement, with cultural context shaping how they related to the topic.

2025 Proceedings.
Systematic Review Tier 1

Sustainable Development Issues in Chemistry Learning as Educational for Sustainable Development Implementation: A Systematic Literature Review

This systematic literature review synthesized research on integrating sustainable development issues into chemistry education. While not directly about microplastics, it identified microplastic pollution as one of the sustainability topics being incorporated into chemistry curricula to help students understand real-world environmental challenges.

2026 Jurnal Pendidikan Matematika dan Sains
Article Tier 2

A self‐reported instrument to measure and foster students' science connection to life with the CARE‐KNOW‐DO model and open schooling for sustainability

Researchers developed and validated a self-reported instrument to measure students' connection to science using the CARE-KNOW-DO model combined with an open schooling approach for sustainability. The study involved students working on real-world environmental problems including microplastic pollution alongside families and scientists. Evidence indicates that this approach can strengthen young people's engagement with science and sustainability topics.

2024 Journal of Research in Science Teaching 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Educating for environmental transition: the summer school on microplastics

Researchers developed a summer school curriculum on micro- and nanoplastics to train students at the intersection of environmental science, toxicology, and sustainability. The program used MNPs as a case study for interdisciplinary education about complex environmental challenges requiring both scientific and policy responses.

2025 Environmental Science and Pollution Research
Article Tier 2

Aligning classroom assessment with engineering practice: A design‐based research study of a two‐stage exam with authentic assessment

This education research paper describes the design of a two-stage exam incorporating authentic engineering assessment tasks. It is not related to microplastics or environmental health.

2021 Journal of Engineering Education 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Science Studies teachers’ selection of content when teaching for Sustainable Development

This paper is not about microplastics; it investigates how Swedish Science Studies teachers select content when teaching for Sustainable Development, finding that most teachers struggle to take a truly holistic approach that integrates social, economic, and environmental perspectives. The study is an education research paper with no relevance to microplastic science.

2024 Nordic Studies in Science Education 2 citations