Education Commons^™

Teacher Observations As Professional Development Opportunities, Ashton Carrie Padgett

Theses and Dissertations

This research project sought to understand how the complexities and challenges of offering high-quality professional development district-wide impacted teachers’ ability to implement their new learning. The literature posits that to be considered effective, professional development must include six distinct design elements: (1) Data driven, (2) Incorporates active learning utilizing adult learning theory, (3) Supports collaboration, (4) Context-Specific, (5) Feedback-centered, and (6) Supported by principal leadership (Darling Hammond et al., 2017, p. 4). While each of these design elements seems appropriate and rooted in best practices, when planning professional development, the scheduling and unique circumstances of secondary schools makes incorporating these …

Teacher Perceptions Of The Implementation Of A Digital Token Economy In Inclusive Classrooms, Richard Thomas Richardson

Theses and Dissertations

In inclusive classrooms teachers support students with various needs. Students with exceptionalities are included in general education which can provide various challenges for teachers. A common system used by teachers to support students is a token economy. Increase use of digital technology in education has make available the use of token economies on digital platforms. More information is needed to determine how digital token economy has allowed teachers to expand their use of the system as a tool to support classroom management, student motivation, and academic achievement for students with exceptionalities. The purpose of this generic qualitative study was to …

Resilience In Early Second Career Stem Teachers Employed In Public Secondary Schools, Donald Selway

Theses and Dissertations

A troubling shortage of K-12 Science, Technology, Engineer and Mathematics (STEM) teachers exists in the United States. One solution to increase STEM teachers involves recruiting STEM professionals to transition from industry to K-12 teaching. Research indicates that fostering resilience is one way to help new STEM teachers’ retention and persistence in the field. This study explored individual and programmatic factors that increase early career and early second career K-12 STEM teachers’ resilience. Moreover, this research examined how strategic initiatives and programs assisted STEM professionals to build resilience as they transitioned into K-12 STEM educators.

This study utilized mixed-methods design to …