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Full-Text Articles in Education
Teachers' Perceptions Of The Implementation Of The Response-To-Intervention Program, Alfred Saldivar Lopez
Teachers' Perceptions Of The Implementation Of The Response-To-Intervention Program, Alfred Saldivar Lopez
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
This study was designed to address teachers' difficulties implementing Response-to-Intervention (RtI) program strategies at a low-performing school in south Texas in response to students failing to meet statewide assessment standards in reading. This exploratory case study investigated the perceptions of Grades 3 and 4 teachers to assist in understanding a pathway to increase higher fidelity of RtI implementation and improve student academic performance. Knowles's theory of andragogy and Lewin's change theory provided the framework for the study. The study included interview data from 6 purposefully selected Grades 3 and 4 teachers supplemented by document reviews of professional development (PD) presentations …
Exploring The Efficacy Of School-Based Professional Development, Michele Theresa Glynne
Exploring The Efficacy Of School-Based Professional Development, Michele Theresa Glynne
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
No method exists for evaluating the effectiveness of professional development (PD) for teachers in Boston Public Schools. Often PD does not contribute to teacher quality, which can hinder student outcomes. The purpose of this study was to explore teachers' perceptions of the effectiveness of PD among K-8 teachers and to examine the alignment of PD in the schools with the 4 prerequisites of professional learning outlined by Learning Forward. These 4 prerequisites served as the conceptual framework. Of the research questions, 4 reflected the topics of the 4 prerequisites: commitment to students, readiness to learn, collaboration, and learning styles. The …
Assessing And Guiding Instructional Practice: Administrators' And Teachers' Perceptions Of The Framework For Teaching Evaluation, Latonya Patrice Wright
Assessing And Guiding Instructional Practice: Administrators' And Teachers' Perceptions Of The Framework For Teaching Evaluation, Latonya Patrice Wright
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
School officials in a large district adopted a research-based teacher evaluation system, the Framework for Teaching (FFT). Despite a 4-year phase-in of the FFT, teachers' evaluation ratings increased while student achievement results decreased. This disparity impacted the school district's growth targets as set by the State Department of Education. If target growths are unmet, school administrators must relinquish school operations to the state. A bounded, qualitative case study was designed to explore administrators' and teachers' perceptions of the FFT and its influence on school administrators' assessment of teachers' instructional practices. Social constructivist and andragogy theories formed the study's conceptual framework. …
Exploring The Impact Of Wyoming's Pathways To Professional Development Program On Childcare Providers And Quality Early Childcare, Colleen Kay Bartlett
Exploring The Impact Of Wyoming's Pathways To Professional Development Program On Childcare Providers And Quality Early Childcare, Colleen Kay Bartlett
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Childcare programs that provide high quality care can strengthen children's early development. One component of a quality program is having providers who are knowledgeable in child development; however, despite the understanding of these known predictors of child development, Wyoming does not require childcare providers to complete any training before beginning to work with children. Guided by the constructivist theories of Piaget, Vygotsky, Dewey, and Bruner, this objectives-based program evaluation investigated the Pathways to Professional Development program to determine participants' perceptions of the strengths and weaknesses of the program. A researcher-produced survey was created based on the objectives of the program …
Academic Coaching, Student Engagement, And Instructor Best Practices, Jainie Denisse Miranda Martinez
Academic Coaching, Student Engagement, And Instructor Best Practices, Jainie Denisse Miranda Martinez
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Academic coaching has demonstrated positive relationships with college students' academic engagement and performance. A university campus in Puerto Rico implemented academic coaching for at-risk students, but the program has not been studied for its impact on student engagement. Guided by self-regulation theory and constructivism, this quasi-experimental study examined differences in engagement and identification of best teaching behaviors between students who experienced academic coaching (n = 115) and those who did not (n = 55). Students completed the Classroom Survey of Student Engagement (CLASSE) before and after the 4-week instructional unit and the Instructor Behavior Checklist (IBC) after the instructional unit. …
Math Teacher Perceptions Of Professional Development And Student Mathematics Performance, Michael Edward Smith
Math Teacher Perceptions Of Professional Development And Student Mathematics Performance, Michael Edward Smith
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Math Teacher Perceptions of Professional Development
and Student Mathematics Performance
by
Michael Edward Smith
EdS, Tennessee Technical University, 2007
MA, Tennessee Technical University, 2006
BS, University of Tennessee Chattanooga, 2003
Doctoral Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree of
Doctor of Education
Walden University
February 2015
The standardized math test scores at a Tennessee high school have trended below the state and national averages. One strategy to improve math performance is a pedagogical structure that facilitates peer interaction and discovery learning. A program of professional development (PD) designed to foster such interactive learning was delivered to …
Teacher Perceptions Of Administrative Involvement In Transfer Of Training, Stephanie Michelle Heflin
Teacher Perceptions Of Administrative Involvement In Transfer Of Training, Stephanie Michelle Heflin
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
This study district provides ongoing professional development for teachers; however, there was little evidence that transfer of training was occurring and it was unclear whether the administrator role could improve the implementation of learning from professional development. The purpose of the study was to examine teachers' perceptions of administrative involvement in professional development in order to identify indicators that could strengthen nonevaluative, collaborative relationships leading to higher rates of transfer. The central research question focused on teachers' perceptions of the roles of administrator-as-evaluator and administrator-as-collaborator and whether collaboration might influence transfer of training for teachers as they strive to improve …
Perceived Self-Efficacy Of Secondary General Education Teachers In The Inclusion Classroom, Pamela Sime-Cummins
Perceived Self-Efficacy Of Secondary General Education Teachers In The Inclusion Classroom, Pamela Sime-Cummins
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Teacher self-efficacy (TSE) has been linked to the academic success of students. This association has been found in contexts where teachers have received training relevant to working with the student population being served. In the suburban Pennsylvania school district targeted in this study, there was little district-sponsored professional development (PD) available to general education teachers regarding strategies for teaching students with disabilities in the inclusion setting. The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to determine whether a difference exists in perceived TSE when instructing in the inclusion setting compared with the traditional setting, and whether an association exists linking prior …
Designing Professional Development For Elementary School Teachers, Simon F. Quattlebaum
Designing Professional Development For Elementary School Teachers, Simon F. Quattlebaum
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Within a Northeast urban school, there is little empirical evidence to indicate the effectiveness of the district professional development (PD) program. Elementary teachers at the study site reported that they encountered problems accessing professional development programs applicable to their needs. The purpose of this case study was to examine teacher perceptions of district PD programs and to discover teacher perceptions of PD best practices. Knowles' adult learning theory provided a frame of reference for this study. The research questions assessed teachers' perceptions of the format, content, and process of professional development programs and examined how teachers applied new knowledge, concepts, …
Secondary School Choral Teachers' Perceptions Of Quality Professional Development, Raymond Owen West
Secondary School Choral Teachers' Perceptions Of Quality Professional Development, Raymond Owen West
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Quality professional development is essential to enhance and sustain teacher efficacy. In a Southeastern school district, content-based, job-embedded professional development was not practiced or available for secondary school choral teachers. The purpose of this research was to discover the perceptions that choral teachers possess about what constitutes quality professional development. Guided by Bruner's constructivist approach, Knowles' concept of andragogy, and DuFour's professional development practices, this study examined the connection between these 3 ideas and supplied the foundation for the development of a professional development program. Using a case study design, data were collected through interviews and lesson plan documents from …
Moving From Theory To Practice: Integrating Mobile Devices In Elementary Reading Instruction, Lisa Marie Bald
Moving From Theory To Practice: Integrating Mobile Devices In Elementary Reading Instruction, Lisa Marie Bald
Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies
Technology integration continues to be a professional development concern, especially in elementary schools. It remains unclear why there is a difference between how teachers talk about using technology and how they apply it in teaching reading. The purpose of this study was to explore professional development options that would help teachers connect theory to practice by studying their decision-making process. The conceptual framework was based on elements of the knowing-doing gap and reflective practices. The research questions explored (a) the decision-making process, (b) reflective practices used during decision-making, (c) professional development that facilitates closing the knowing-doing gap, and (d) recommendations …