Education Commons^™

Identifying Characteristics Of Expert Elementary School Technology Integration Teachers - A Cognitive Task Analysis, Mark Campoli

Doctor of Education in Teacher Leadership Dissertations

In all domains, certain individuals consistently perform better than their peers. In ill-structured domains such as education, the identification of experts can be difficult. This is especially true when considering technology integration experts (TIEs). In order to be a TIE, one must be an expert in content knowledge, pedagogy, and instructional technology. Systematically identifying and studying TIEs could provide characteristics consistent with expert performance.

Typically, it takes 1,000 hours, or ten years, of practice to acquire expertise. In domains such as education, the acquisition of expertise can happen sooner. Acquiring expertise can be further hastened by deliberate practice. Not all …

“¡Ya Entiendo! Now I Understand!” Parents' Perceptions Of The Diagnosis Process And Early Intervention Services, Jenna Hudson

Doctor of Education in Teacher Leadership Dissertations

This qualitative research study examined parents’ perceptions on the diagnosis process that identified their children as deaf or hard of hearing and the early-intervention services provided after the diagnosis. It explored how culture influenced the parental perception of information given to them and the ways in which their backgrounds swayed their individual reactions. As a convenience sample, the researcher conducted interviews with six families in the participants’ homes for ease and comfort. After each interview, an observation was conducted to collect data on the family’s interactions during leisure time, focusing on how the parents and their child communicated with one …

How General And Special Educators’ Conceptualizations Of Critical Thinking Influence Their Pedagogy For Students With Disabilities In Secondary English Inclusive Classrooms, Jeffrey R. Wheeler

Doctor of Education in Teacher Leadership Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to explore the intersection of critical thinking, teachers’ thought processes and values, and students with disabilities. More specifically, the researcher sought to reach a stronger understanding of how general and special educators’ decisions to explicitly and/or implicitly embed critical thinking into English course content for students with and without disabilities at the secondary level are influenced by teachers’ conceptualizations of critical thinking. The study utilized case study methods with four participants who teach in co-teaching pairs (i.e., a general and special educator who comprise the co-teaching partnership in 9^th Lit, and a general …

Critical Literacy In The Primary Grades, Whitney Talbert Spooner

Doctor of Education in Teacher Leadership Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study using ethnographic methods was to gain insights into how teachers of primary-aged students successfully enact critical literacy in their classrooms. Using a critical pedagogical theoretical framework, I addressed the following research questions: In what ways are teachers of primary grades modeling and fostering critical literacy within their classrooms? What challenges have primary-grades teachers faced when employing critical literacy practices? What suggestions would teachers offer to those who wish to move toward a more critical stance with their teaching? I interviewed nine K-3 teachers who had experience with critical literacy and supplemented interview data by …