Teacher Education and Professional Development Commons^™

Nature As The Foundation: A Shift In Pedagogy, Mary Moroney-Fernandez

The Cicadian

Somewhere in the United States right now, a child is sitting beneath fluorescent lights while the world outside continues without her. This paper argues that her confinement is not accidental, but rather theoretical. Examining the divergent frameworks of Friedrich Fröbel and Jean Piaget, it traces how American public schooling absorbed a vision of learning organized around cognitive individualism while displacing Fröbel's relational vision of child and nature. Drawing on reflection, historical analysis, and research, this paper contends that lasting reform requires confronting the foundational assumptions that built the classroom in the first place.

Nature Writing As A Bridge To Student Scientific Interest, Christine Mcgrail, John Kudukey, Colette Smith, Fnu Dharma

The Cicadian

Nature writing is an important pathway for preservice teachers’ engagement with science that can help more students recognize themselves as knowers and doers of science and better connect them and their students to the world around them. Nature writing allows all students, including those from non-dominant cultural backgrounds, to include their experiences and backgrounds in their science education. Nature writing also affords all students an opportunity to better understand the natural world they are a part of. Nature writing is typically written in first person and characterized as scientific observation of the natural world through a personal reflective lens. In …

Challenges And Innovations In Tennis Coach Development: International Insights From Practitioners Across Continents, Miguel Crespo, Rafael Martinez-Gallego, Christine Nash

Journal of Coach Development

Tennis is a global sport with effective coaches being essential to the continued appeal, therefore the work of the coach developers within the International Tennis Federation (ITF) is crucial. This research examined the work and aspirations of coach developers in tennis using in-depth interviews with 10 ITF coach developers. Subsequently, we developed detailed pen portraits of two ITF coach developers at different levels of experience and engagement in order to highlight any differences in work, objectives or ambition. Findings from coach developers revealed three themes: support from ITF; barriers to learning; making learning less traditional. The pen portraits added further …

The Impact Of The Science Of Reading Initiative On Reading Test Scores Among Rural Elementary Students In Arkansas, Julie A. Ferguson

ATU Theses and Dissertations 2021 - Present

This study examines changes in reading achievement among rural elementary students in Arkansas following the statewide implementation of the Science of Reading initiative. Beginning in 2019, Arkansas required educators in kindergarten through sixth grade to receive training in evidence‑based literacy practices emphasizing phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Despite these efforts, rural districts continue to face challenges related to staffing, access to professional development, and instructional resources, raising questions about whether statewide reforms have produced measurable improvements in reading outcomes.

Using a quantitative, longitudinal, quasi‑experimental design, this study analyzes ACT Aspire reading assessment data collected from rural Arkansas schools …

Pedagogy In Context: How Private School Teachers Make Meaning Of Equity-Focused Teaching Practices, Savannah Shana Scarborough

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This pedagogical ethnography examines how teachers in a private school context understand and enact Culturally Relevant Education (CRE). While CRE emphasizes cultural competence and critical consciousness, less is known about how it is interpreted within private school settings, where institutional culture and community expectations shape pedagogy. This study explores how teachers engage culturally relevant commitments and how institutional context influences those practices.

A qualitative ethnographic design was used to examine classroom practice in a South Carolina private school. Data was collected through observations, semi-structured interviews, and teacher reflections from four Upper School teachers selected through purposive sampling. Analysis combined deductive …

Exploring The Impact Of Ungrading On Student Engagement And Motivation In A First-Year Composition Class, Mary B. Gruis

Dissertations, Theses, and Projects

This study investigated the association between student engagement, motivation, and self-efficacy in college-level writing-intensive courses using an ungraded approach. Motivated by disillusionment with traditional grading methods and inspired by texts on equitable grading and culturally responsive teaching, the researcher explored how ungrading could foster deeper learning and equitable educational practices. Grounded in Bandura’s (1997) self-efficacy framework, this qualitative case study examined the lived experiences of first-year composition students at a two-year institution. Data collection included student interviews, student reflections, and an instructor interview. The analysis revealed themes aligned with self-efficacy, engagement, and motivation, suggesting that ungrading positively impacted students' perceptions …

A.I. And Education: The Relationship Between Policy And A.I. Implementation In Louisiana K-12 Schools, Johnny R. Moore Jr

Honors Theses

This research focuses on A.I. policies in Louisiana K-12 education, trying to figure out what the best possible policies would be to ensure that students are using A.I. as a tool rather than a crutch to rely on. This goes through the history and background of technology implementation and educational policies in Louisiana. The research focuses on current A.I. policies in the state, if any, and then evaluates other states policies around the country. Teachers and administrators from around the state were surveyed on this and were also asked on their opinions on A.I. in the classroom.

Sjsu Erfa Board Minutes, April 6, 2026, San Jose State University, Emeritus And Retired Faculty Association

SJSU ERFA Minutes

SJSU ERFA Executive Board Minutes
April 6, 2026

Is The School Environment The Leading Cause Of The Rise In Burnout Rates Among Tenured Teachers?, Jazalyn A. Brown

Honors College Theses

Teacher burnout has become an increasingly significant issue within the field of education, affecting not only teachers themselves but also the learning environments within schools. Many educators face growing pressures, including overwhelming workloads, limited resources, and a lack of consistent administrative support, which can lead to emotional exhaustion and frustration over time. As more teachers report experiencing burnout or leaving the profession altogether, it becomes increasingly important to better understand the factors that contribute to this issue and how schools can respond to it. This thesis explores how school environments and leadership practices influence teacher burnout and why stronger support …

Teachers As Wisdom Workers Of Love: A Radical Reconceptualization Of Teacher Education Centering Wholeness, Compassion, And Interbeing In A Fractured World, Yueyue Wang, Jing Lin, Maha Shoaib, Anna Lytkina

Journal of Contemplative and Holistic Education

Amid global crises and rising teacher burnout, current teacher education often prioritizes technical skills and standardized competencies while neglecting the inner life, relational presence, and spiritual vitality essential for sustaining educators. This article reconceptualizes teacher preparation by envisioning teachers as “wisdom workers of love” -- healers, guides, and community nurturers grounded in wholeness, compassion, and interbeing. Drawing from Daoism, Ubuntu, contemplative pedagogy, and Indigenous epistemologies, this study employs collaborative autoethnography as contemplative inquiry, weaving narratives from educators in China, Pakistan, Russia, and the United States. Through mutual witnessing and collective reflection, we identify five interrelated dimensions for cultivating love-based education: …

Incorporating Play-Based Learning While Meeting State Standards, Alicia Muer

Graduate Teacher Education

This paper reviews the benefits of incorporating developmentally appropriate practices into the classroom through a play-based approach. This is a controversial topic, as most teachers are more concerned with teaching to the standards than with the needs of students as a whole. Fifteen studies, including qualitative, quantitative, mixed-methods, and action research, were used to examine what developmentally appropriate practices are. Three themes emerged from the studies: play-based learning, professional development, and teacher-student collaboration. In the play-based theme, a sub-theme emerged which focused on games and gaming. The findings showed that students thrive more in an environment where play-based learning is …

The Brain And Becoming: Integrating Play And Performance-Based Learning In The Community College Classroom, Hannah M. Green

English

Instruction in the community college classroom is in need of a shift, according to neuroscientific, pedagogical, and demographic data. Primarily, students in today’s community college classrooms are instructed in the form of lectures (Nilson 106), but research has shown that game-based learning would be the way to enhance learning experiences for these adult learners. Game-based learning specifically takes form in student learning through games, interactive reading activities such as performance pedagogy, discussions, and small group work. While research shows that play-based learning at the community college level is neurologically beneficial for students, there is a gap in implementing play-based learning …

Teaching Isixhosa As A First Additional Language In Former Model C Schools: Implications For Educator Experiences In The Harry Gwala District, Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa, Lundi Nomlala, Lwandile Ncam

Jurnal Pendidikan: Teori, Penelitian, dan Pengembangan

This paper explored educators' experiences of teaching isiXhosa as First Additional Language (FAL) in former Model C schools in the Harry Gwala District, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The study aimed to understand practical teaching approaches that enhance linguistic diversity and improve IsiXhosa proficiency while addressing systemic challenges. A qualitative case study design was employed, using semi-structured interviews with five IsiXhosa FAL teachers across three schools. The findings revealed the need for partnerships between schools and communities, curriculum revision, including mentorship and professional development for teachers, collaborative learning, and the effective use of technology. However, challenges such as unequal language recognition, insufficient …

Educator Perceptions And Uses Of Generative Artificial Intelligence (Genai) In Middle Level, Secondary, And Higher Education Classrooms, Rachel Stowers

Honors Capstones

GenAI has experienced rapid growth and controversy over its benefits, drawbacks, and ethicality in education. This study examines Illinois educators’ attitudes and classroom use of GenAI across middle school, high school, and higher education. Data was collected through a digital survey containing both quantitative and short-answer questions, yielding 330 respondents who were practicing teachers, along with five supplemental interviews. Preliminary results show that respondents ages 20–29 reported the highest understanding of how to use GenAI yet were also the most likely to express ethical discomfort, with 45.9% disagreeing that they feel comfortable using it ethically. While responses varied, educators generally …

From Confidence To Competence: Embedding Critical Genai Literacy In Physician Associate Education, Chanceeth Chandrakanthan, Amy H. Donaldson-Perrott Mrs, Jane Secker, Julie Voce, Tamara S. Ritsema

Journal Of Indian Physician Associates

Background: Generative artificial intelligence is now embedded in how many healthcare students learn. Tools provide rapid explanations, summaries and practice questions, but use does not equal AI literacy, particularly where accuracy, medicines safety and guideline alignment matter.

Objective: To describe current use of generative AI by Physician Associate students and outline a practical approach to teaching critical AI literacy.

Methods: Educational evaluation using three activities: (1) baseline survey of students about use and attitudes, (2) an embedded compare and critique session in applied pharmacology where small groups assessed AI answers against trusted UK sources, including BNF and NICE guidance, followed …

Exploring Coaching Issues And Feedback Generation During A Virtual International Coaching Exchange, Lori A. Gano-Overway, Ian Hj Cowburn, Liam Mccarthy

Journal of Coach Development

Internship opportunities can provide coaches with the chance to learn through experience and explore their personal theories in practice. However, to effectively develop coaches during internships facilitators of learning need to know more about what student coaches typically perceive and find meaningful to puzzle through to support their learning and developing theory of practice. Grounded in experiential learning theory and the notion of the reflective practitioner, the authors sought to examine how early-career sport coaches identify, frame, and explore practical coaching issues presented through a virtual international coaching exchange. Using a descriptive multiple-case study approach, the authors presented the coaching …

Reconsidering The Champion Teacher In Assessment-Oriented Development Education Systems, Nyagwegwe Wango, Jane Rarieya, Fredrick Mtenzi, Wachira Nicholas

Institute for Educational Development, East Africa

Purpose: This study investigates the impact of teacher assessment practices in Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda on the cultivation of “champion teachers” who can provide competency-based, inclusive, and gender-responsive education.

Methodology: A mixed-methods approach was employed, integrating document analysis, interviews, and surveys with teacher educators and student teachers from the three countries.

Findings: Even though policy changes have encouraged new ways of teaching, teacher education still mostly focuses on summative assessments and following the rules. This method makes it harder for teachers to become more reflective and adaptable, which slows progress toward better, more inclusive education.

Unique Contribution to Theory, …

Unmasking Barriers: A Critical Examination Of Systemic Challenges Facing Bipoc Pre-Service Teachers, Nia V. Fratrik

Education Doctorate Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Agents Of Agency: Identifying Teacher Traits And Trainings Associated With Promoting Student Agency, Clara Mateo

Dissertations

This study shifts the focus of mathematics teacher quality from the traditional metric of test scores to “student agency,” defined as a learner's capacity to access power, make decisions, and take ownership of their learning process. While the literature on student agency provides ample qualitative insights, it is largely composed of small-scale studies. This research addresses this gap by conducting a large-scale, nationwide quantitative analysis to identify teacher factors associated with the promotion of student agency. The central research question is: What teacher demographics, dispositions, and professional development experiences are associated with increased student agency?

This study used a cross-sectional …

Evaluating The Impact Of Mysci On Student Outcomes In The St. Louis Region, Megumi Hine, Rachel Ruggirello, Jason Jabbari, Yung Chun, Maia Elkana

Institute for School Partnership: Research & Publications

mySci is a K-8 science curricular program widely used in the St. Louis region. Collaboratively developed by researchers and educators, mySci uses a hands-on, inquiry-centered approach to science instruction. This study investigates mySci’s impact on student science achievement at the school level.