PRACTITIONER JOURNAL ARTICLE WRITING FORMAT, TEMPLATE AND GUIDELINES
General Guidelines
Articles should describe classroom experiences, action research or reflective practice in STEM education. Write 1,500–2,000 words, excluding references, using simple, clear, language. Follow APA 7th edition, using 12-point Times New Roman, one-and-half line spacing and 1-inch (2.54 cm) margins. Place page numbers at the bottom right of every page. Align text as Justify. Do not add extra spacing between paragraphs. Use the following format to prepare your article:
(i) Title of your Article
Provide a clear, concise title that reflects the main classroom experience, teaching strategy or the issue you addressed. The title should have not have more than 15 words. Centre the title, use bold type and capitalize the major words (title case).
(ii) Author’s Name, Affiliation and Email Address
Below the article title, write your full name. On the next line, indicate the school or institutional affiliation, followed by the email address on a separate line. Align all the three lines to the left and use regular type, without bold or italics.
(iii) Abstract and Keywords Abstract
Write a single paragraph of not more than 250 words, using 1.5 line spacing and justify alignment. Briefly describe the classroom problem or purpose, the approach/strategy used, the key/main findings or observations, practical implications andrecommendations. Centre and bold the heading Abstract.
Keywords
Include three to five keywords that represent the main topics of the article. Place them on a new line below the abstract, using 1.5 line spacing Italicize only the label Keywords; write the keywords in regular type and lowercase, except for proper nouns. Separate them with commas and do not add a final full stop.
(iv) Introduction
Briefly introduce the classroom context and the teaching or learning issue addressed. Explain what prompted the action or reflection, including evidence of the challenge observed among learners. State the purpose of the article and the strategy or approach explored. Support relevant assertions with a few appropriate citations, integrating the literature into the introduction rather than providing a lengthy review.
(v) Classroom Practice and Reflection
Describe the teaching strategy or action taken, how it was implemented, and the evidence collected to assess learning. Present the main findings or observations, reflect on successes and challenges, and explain how the experience informed improvements in your classroom practice. Use short, descriptive subheadings appropriate to your article, such as Implementing the Strategy, Evidence of Learning, and Reflection on Practice. Indicate the Grade/Form, subject, relevant learner characteristics, where applicable, without identifying learners. Protect learners’ identities and obtain applicable permissions and consent when collecting or sharing learner work, quotations or other classroom evidence.
Tables and Figures
Tables and figures are normally used to clarify classroom activities, findings or observations. Refer to each table or figure in the text before presenting it and place it near the relevant discussion. Keep all displays within the page margins. Double-space table and figure numbers, titles and notes. Text within table cells and figure images shall be one-and-a-half-spaced or double-spaced for readability.
Tables
Number tables consecutively in the order they are first mentioned. Place the table number in bold above the table, followed by an italicized, descriptive title in title case on the next line. Align both to the left. Avoid vertical lines and borders around every cell; include only necessary horizontal rules. Add notes below the table to explain abbreviations or other details.
Figures
Figures include photographs, diagrams, drawings, charts and graphs. Number them consecutively, separately from tables. Place the figure number in bold above the figure, followed by an italicized, descriptive title in title case on the next line. Align both to Justify. Ensure that images and labels are clear and readable. Use arrows where needed to show direction or relationships. Provide explanatory notes and source acknowledgments below the figure where applicable. Obtain necessary permissions for reproduced material and identifiable photographs of learners.
(vi) Conclusion
Briefly summarize the main insights from the classroom experience, action research or reflective practice and explain their implications for STEM teaching and learning. Draw conclusions supported by the evidence presented, acknowledging relevant limitations. Do not introduce new findings.
(vii) Recommendations
Provide practical, achievable recommendations linked to the findings or observations. Explain how other teachers could adapt the strategy and identify improvements to consider in subsequent lessons. Avoid generalizing beyond the classroom context or evidence available.
(viii) References
List all sources cited in the article using APA 7th edition. Ensure that every reference is cited in the text and that each in-text citation has a corresponding reference entry, except for personal communications, which are cited in the text only. Begin the reference list on a new page with the heading References in bold. Arrange entries alphabetically by the first author’s surname. The entire list should have 1.5 line spacing, with no additional spacing between entries. Apply a 0.5-inch (1.27 cm) hanging indent, so that the second and subsequent lines of each entry are indented. Use sentence case for article, book, chapter and webpage titles, capitalizing the first word of the title and subtitle and any proper nouns. Use title case for journal titles. Italicize book and webpage titles, journal titles and journal volume numbers. Do not italicize article or chapter titles, issue numbers or page ranges. Include the page range or article number where applicable. Present DOIs as links in the format https://doi.org/xxxxx. Include a URL where required for sources without a DOI. Do not place a full stop after a DOI or URL. Verify all author names, dates, titles and publication details against the original sources.