Teacher Education and Professional Development Commons^™

Sustaining The Spark: Professional Learning For The Seasoned Principal, Jennifer C. Mccrystal

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Principals play a pivotal role in shaping student achievement and supporting teacher success. However, the limited existing research reveals that professional development opportunities for principals, especially seasoned ones, are often uninspiring, inadequately designed, and disconnected from their actual needs. As a result, seasoned principals may face challenges in maintaining motivation, engagement, and continued leadership development. This study addresses this gap by investigating how seasoned principals perceive and value professional learning, focusing specifically on their pinnacle experiences—those they regard as the most impactful and significant throughout their careers.

Using a narrative inquiry approach with an Appreciative Inquiry lens, this study captures …

The Slow Leadership Framework: A Humanizing, Social Justice Approach To Leadership, Christine E. Crouse-Dick, Sheryl R. Wilson, Rachel Epp Buller

Feminist Pedagogy

This essay introduces the Slow Leadership Framework as a humanizing, social justice-oriented alternative to conventional leadership models. Challenging Eurocentric, hierarchical approaches that prioritize efficiency over human connection, Slow Leadership integrates three complementary practices: Circle Process, Self-Compassion, and Deep Listening. Circle Process creates equitable spaces for dialogue that value marginalized perspectives; Self-Compassion disrupts internalized patterns of self-criticism and perfectionism; and Deep Listening transforms communication by prioritizing multisensory perception and awareness. Particularly resonant in higher education contexts, this framework offers practical implementation strategies for educators, administrators, and community partners seeking to dismantle systemic barriers, foster inclusive environments, and redistribute power. Through qualitative …

In-Service Teachers’ Awareness And Professional Development In Egyptian Public Schools, Hanan Mohamed Metawea

Theses and Dissertations

Neuroscience is an emergent field that focuses on studying brain structure and understanding its significance in the learning process. There has been a recent movement in how to bridge the gap between neuroscience concepts and education by incorporating neuroscience principles into the teaching process. However, there have been limited studies in Egypt on how educators understand and utilize neuroscience principles in the classroom. This qualitative exploratory case study examines Egyptian teachers’ understanding of neuroscience concepts and how they apply them in their teaching practices. This case study was carried out in two government schools, including interviews with 11 teachers representing …

Predicting Secondary Mathematics-For-Teaching Knowledge Using Beliefs, Experience, And School Culture: A Hierarchical Regression Analysis, Adam R. Brulhardt

Theses and Dissertations

Research in recent decades has supported the notion that practice-based mathematical knowledge is crucial for effective teaching, playing an important role in enacting reform-oriented instruction required for improving student achievement. Despite its importance, teachers—especially novices—require more support in acquiring such knowledge, an ongoing challenge exacerbated by teacher shortages. The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine whether collaborative school culture (CSC) explained variance in knowledge of algebra for teaching (KAT) beyond variance explained by mathematics-related beliefs and years of teaching experience for U.S. secondary teachers. Measures within an online Qualtrics survey included the Beliefs About Mathematics and Teaching Scale …

Synchronous And Asynchronous Online Learning In A Tefl Course: An Investigation Of Student-Teachers’ Perceptions, Sumer Salman Abu Shaban, Mohamed Ali Shaat

Journal of the Association of Arab Universities for Research in Higher Education مجلة اتحاد الجامعات العربية للبحوث في التعليم العالي

هدف البحث الحالي إلى تسليط الضوء على رأي الطلبة المعلمين في جامعة الأزهر-غزة بالتعلم المتزامن وغير المتزامن والذي تم استخدامه من خلال نشاطات في مساق طرق تدريس اللغة الإنجليزية، وإيجاد هل لمتغير الجنس والمستوى الأكاديمي أثر على آرائهم. اعتمد الباحثان المنهج الوصفي التحليلي، حيث شارك 13 طالباً معلماً و36 طالبة معلمة من كلية التربية في تعبئة الاستبيان. استخدم الباحثان استبيان يحتوي على ثلاثة أقسام لمعرفة رأي المشاركين بالتعلم المتزامن والتعلم غير المتزامن واقتراحاتهم لتحسينه، وتضمنت النتائج أن الطلبة المعلمين في جامعة الأزهر-غزة كانت لديهم اتجاهات إيجابية نحو التعلم المتزامن وغير المتزامن وأن هذا النوع من التعلم عبر الإنترنت يعزز ممارساتهم …

الكفايات التدريسية لدى طلبة قسم التربية البدنية خلال فترة التدريب الميداني بجامعة قطر, Ayat Alshaer

Journal of the Association of Arab Universities for Research in Higher Education مجلة اتحاد الجامعات العربية للبحوث في التعليم العالي

هدف المقال تحديد مستوى الكفايات التدريسية لدى طلبة قسم التربية البدنية خلال فترة التدريب الميداني، وتم استخدام المنهج الوصفي عن طريق الاستبانة كأداة لجمع المعلومات، حيث تشكلت عينة الدراسة من (52) طالباً وطالبة من المسجلين في مقرر التدريب الميداني خلال العام الدراسي 2023م في جامعة قطر. وتم خلال الدراسة تقييم مختلف الكفايات التدريسية بما في ذلك الكفايات المهنية وكفايات إدارة الفصل وكفايات التقييم. وأشارت النتائج إلى أن الطلاب يعتقدون أنهم يتمتعون بكفايات تدريسية عالية، بمتوسط حسابي بلغ (4.41) أما فيما يتعلق بالمجالات (كفايات إدارة الصف، الكفايات المهنية، كفايات التدريس للطالب المعلم بكلية التربية، وكفايات التقييم الصفي) فقد جاءت جميعها بدرجة …

أثر استخدام بيئة تعلم إلكترونية تكيفية قائمة على الذكاء الاصطناعي في تنمية مهارات التفكير العليا في مادة الكيمياء لدى طلبة المرحلة الثانوية, Ruwaida Abu Shoshah, Hala J. Abualnadi

Journal of the Association of Arab Universities for Research in Higher Education مجلة اتحاد الجامعات العربية للبحوث في التعليم العالي

هدف البحث إلى استقصاء أثر استخدام بيئة تعلُّم إلكترونية تكيُّفيّة قائمة على الذكاء الاصطناعي في تنمية مهارات التفكير العليا في مادة الكيمياء لدى طلبة الصف الحادي عشر، وتكونت عينة الدراسة من (60) طالبة من الصف الحادي عشر في العاصمة عمان، تم تقسيمهم إلى مجموعتين، تجريبية وضابطة، تم اختيار افراد العينة بالطريقة القصدية، ولتحقيق هدف الدراسة تم الاعتماد على المنهج شبه التجريبي، وتم إعداد اختبار لقياس مستويات مهارات التفكير العليا في مادة الكيمياء، بعد التحقق من صدقه وثباته ومعاملات الصعوبة والتمييز للفقرات، وقد أظهرت نتائج الدراسة وجود فرق في الأداء البعدي بين المجموعتين في اختبار مهارات التفكير العليا، حيث بلغت قيمة …

Chingonas In Charge: A Phenomenological Study Of Latina Educational Leaders In Colorado, Paulina Yvette Lerma-Banuelos

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Despite comprising 76% of the U.S. teaching workforce (2017−2018), Latina women held only 8.5% of principal roles and 2.7% of superintendent positions. In places such as Colorado, where Latinos make up 15.1% of the population, this inequity highlights the pressing necessity for better representation. The present study used a qualitative phenomenological approach to explore the fundamental essence and attributes of leadership among Latina K−12 administrators in Colorado, with a focus on the concept of “chingona” and its transformative significance in their professional journeys. The name “chingona” was historically rejected by young Latina women because of connotations to being aggressive or …

Phenomenological Inquiry: High School English Language Arts And Reading Professional Development Design And Delivery, Michelle Jestice

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative, phenomenological inquiry aimed to understand the overall essence of public high school English language arts and reading professional development design and delivery from an inclusive, sociocultural, responsive theoretical lens. The lens extended previous scholarship, combining six educational concepts and theories to develop an ideological framework for high school English language arts and reading professional development design and delivery. They include Vygotsky’s (1978) sociocultural theory, Knowles’ (1978) andragogy, Shulman’s (2013) content-pedagogy-curricular contextualization, Hammond’s (2015) culturally responsive teaching, Bennett’s (1986) intercultural competencies, Smale-Jacobse and others’ (2019) and Tomlinson and others’ (2003) concepts of differentiation: referred to as SACReD. A central …

Infographic: Pisa Insights - Students' Mathematics Anxiety, Dominique Russell

Teacher infographics

Each cycle of the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) includes a student questionnaire. One topic – mathematics anxiety – is characterised by feelings of tension, fear or apprehension when a person is faced with mathematics-related tasks. Today’s infographic provides useful prompts for teachers when considering their own students.

The Write Time For An Autoethnography: How Writing Project Has Shaped My Understanding Of Professional Learning In Community, Tracy Brosch

Dissertations

This study critically examines the cultural and societal phenomenon that comprises the National Writing Project (NWP), specifically reflecting on my experiences of re-designing Gateway Writing Project professional learning experiences as a leader in the organization. I reflect on my encounters, collaborations, and decisions as an Institute instructor and analyze them within the theoretical framework of Communities of Practice using autoethnography as my research methodology. This autoethnographic narrative documents my analysis and understanding of NWP’s framework of social practices, chronicling my journey from participant to advocate and from organizer to leader. Employing the autoethnographic method enabled me to illuminate my own …

From Picturebooks To Play: Dialogic Pedagogy For Cultivating Agency And Social Awareness In Young Learners, Amanda Deliman

Teacher Education and Leadership Faculty Publications

This study examines how young children engage with picturebooks, discussion, dramatic inquiry, and writing to negotiate diverse perspectives and develop empathy in an early childhood classroom. Grounded in sociocultural and critical literacy theories, the research explores the role of dialogic pedagogy in fostering young learners’ agency and social awareness. Utilizing a qualitative single-case study design, data were collected over a full academic year in a second-grade classroom through video recordings, field notes, interviews, and student artifacts. Thematic analysis revealed that dialogic engagements supported students in developing a shared language about empathy, resolving classroom conflicts, and exploring actionable ways to support …

Holistic Student Discipline: How A Proactive Empathetic Approach To Discipline Combined With Restorative Practices Can Change The Discipline Landscape, Melissa A. Dunworth

Education Dissertations

Student discipline in the United States consists of a myriad of methods, including suspension, corporal punishment, isolation, seclusion, and restraint. Since the onset of COVID-19, students and staff have experienced an increase in trauma which has impacted the social-emotional skills of students and teacher burnout. Post-COVID student discipline requires a different approach to discipline combined with restorative practices, which can alter the discipline landscape. This qualitative case study investigates the impact of proactive empathetic discipline and Restorative Practices on student discipline, executive functioning, and school culture.

Grounded in Social Learning Theory, Self-Regulation Theory, and Respect for Children, this study examines …

Rethinking “Key-Chain Swap” And Other Decontextualized Algorithm Teaching Practices For Rational Number Learners, Connor B. Desai

Education Dissertations

Mathematical literacy is critical in an increasingly data-driven society, yet many students struggle with rational number concepts due to the prevalence of decontextualized algorithmic instruction. This study investigates the impact of targeted professional development (PD) on sixth-grade teachers’ instructional strategies and their students’ rational number achievement. The research examines whether explicit, conceptually grounded teaching of rational number operations improves student understanding compared to traditional algorithm-based instruction. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study collected quantitative and qualitative data from students at two middle schools. The intervention was statistically significant at School A, where students in the intervention group demonstrated greater achievement …

Motivating Students To Move And Therefore Honor God With Their Bodies, Shari Jurgens

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

Abstract

This qualitative content analysis investigated the intrinsic and extrinsic motivation necessary for male and female colleges students to engage in physical activity, including spiritual aspects. Survey questions were used to collect data from 80 college students from the suburbs of Chicago, ages 18-24, 43 males and 37 females. Data analysis included coding of the student comments and results showed that males are motivated by the extrinsic motivators of competition and social engagement and the intrinsic motivators of enjoyment and stress relief while females are motivated by the extrinsic motivator of appearance and the intrinsic motivators of spirituality, enjoyment and …

A Mixed-Methods Investigation Of Lesson Field Tests And Subsequent Learning Outcomes Amongst Fourth Grade Public-School Students In Los Angeles County, Amber Lynwood

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

This mixed methods study sought to field test a series of four lessons designed for fourth graders in order to expand historical understandings concerning Black Americans. The primary goal of the study was to determine the effectiveness of the lessons, measured by statistically significant positive changes in knowledge on pre and post-tests. Given the limited empirical work on Black history teaching, this study sought to address this gap in the literature.

Refugee Student Perspectives On Educators’ Role In Fostering Resilience In U.S. Schools, Ann Marsh, Clementine Msengi, Sandra Harris

Tapestry: Journal of Research in Education

This qualitative study focused on five individuals who arrived in the United States either as refugees from conflict areas or as asylum seekers already residing in the country. The refugees were from Afghanistan, and the asylum seekers were from Iran. The researchers employed a phenomenological approach to conduct in-depth interviews with refugees, asylum seekers, and parents of such students, all of whom had experienced attending school after their arrival in the United States. The research question explored the role of teachers, instructors, and professors in fostering resilience among refugee students. Consistent with existing literature, the findings indicated that the teachers' …

Letter From The Editors, Jennifer Butcher, James Wiser, Cicely Ward

Tapestry: Journal of Research in Education

No abstract provided.

Research Integrity In The Era Of Generative Artificial Intelligence, Andrea Wilson, Cheryl Burleigh

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

Protecting research integrity is crucial for maintaining trust in the scholarly record. Historically, threats to research integrity stemmed from deliberate human actions, such as data manipulation and misrepresentation. Generative artificial intelligence (GAI) is increasingly prevalent in higher education and is capable of generating research data and scholarly papers almost instantly. The immediate production of research data challenges traditional standards of academic rigor and integrity. The purpose of this study was to explore the role and impact of GAI on research integrity and the scholarly record, emphasizing the need for robust safeguards. For this study, we submitted Likert-type survey questions to …

Unveiling Success: A Qualitative Exploration Of Job Offer Attainment Among International Female Master's Graduates In Technology, Anna Bahvala

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study explores the job search experiences of international female graduates from a Master of Science in Business Analytics and Information Systems (MS BAIS) program in the United States. I focus on the job search and preparation strategies that differentiate graduates, earning $100,000 and above from their peers. Using an Appreciative Inquiry framework and attribution theory as a foundation, the research examines the intersection of gender, mindset, risk-taking, negotiation skills, and self-efficacy in job attainment outcomes. Nine participants were interviewed, with data analyzed using Saldaña’s coding techniques to identify common themes and behaviors. Findings indicate that high earners demonstrated …