Education Commons^™

A Case Study On Professional Development: Improving Stem Teaching In K-12 Education, Roshani Rajbanshi, Susan Brown, Gaspard Mucundanyi, Mehmet Ali Ozer, Nicole Delgardo

The Qualitative Report

STEM Outreach Center is a non-profit educational center in southern New Mexico that supports K-12 STEM teachers and students by providing professional development, after school programs, summer camps, and field visits. This center has been organizing the Summer Institute Professional Development (SIPD) for more than ten years. The purpose of this research is to understand the effect of SIPD on teachers’ pedagogy to excite and engage students in STEM learning. This study contributes to the program evaluation by analyzing the experiences of teachers who participated in SIPD. This qualitative study uses the open-ended questionnaire as a method of data collection. …

Cct Professional Development Bulletin December 2020, Marie O'Neill

Teaching and Learning Bulletins

A summary of Professional Development opportunities for CCT staff as of December 2020

A Program Evaluation Of The Effectiveness Of Fundations And Reading Strategies Professional Development, Cecile Amy Farino

Dissertations

This program evaluation focused on a research-based reading intervention program implemented in a public school district. It also considered the professional development provided in reading strategies and the use of the program to increase students’ reading achievement levels. A problem I identified with using a reading intervention program was it did not identify student deficiencies, and educators lacked the knowledge of basic reading foundational skills to help identify students’ deficiencies. In my research, I examined one elementary school and the administrative team members’ implementation of the reading intervention program. The literature I presented focused on two phases of reading: the …

A Quantitative Assessment Of The Effectiveness Of A Global Online Professional Development Course To Enhance 21st Century Skills In Stem Instructional Design, Chris Link

Dissertations

Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines are becoming increasingly important in the 21st century workforce, but there is currently a shortage of STEM professionals around the world. Even when students graduate with STEM degrees, many lack basic interpersonal skills such as communication and problem solving that would position them for success in the marketplace. The New York Academy of Science developed the STEM Education Framework to help ensure that STEM curricula teach the Essential Skills that students need in order to thrive in the modern workplace. In order for educators to proficiently utilize the STEM Education Framework, they must …

Cct Professional Development Bulletin November 2020, Marie O'Neill

Teaching and Learning Bulletins

Register of professional development activities available for CCT Teaching and Learning staff and other teaching and learning professionals in November 2020.

Impact Of Concept-Based Mathematics Instructional Strategies On Seventh Grade Student Achievement, Katherine Annette Lawley Ellsworth

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In a nation with declining enrollment in college math courses, it is important to examine how mathematics is being taught in the K-12 education system and to identify best practices. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact concept-based instructional strategies has on middle school student achievement in mathematics when integrated into the traditional mathematics curriculum. Participants included 424 seventh grade students from two middle schools. Students Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Fall-to-Winter data 2018 prior to implementation was used a covariate and Fall-to-Winter data 2019 data during the implementation of concept-based instructional strategies integrated into the traditional …

Teachers’ Perceptions Regarding Dyslexia Professional Development Training For Addressing The Social-Emotional Needs Of Children With Dyslexia, Darlene Elizabeth Breaux

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Students with dyslexia simultaneously struggle with both literacy acquisition and poor selfesteem and undergo social-emotional learning difficulties. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore elementary general education teachers’ perceptions regarding the dyslexia training they received for addressing the social and emotional learning (SEL) needs of children with dyslexia. The conceptual framework guiding this study was the five core competencies for SEL developed by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning. The researcher used a qualitative description research design involving semistructured interviews. The population included 10 elementary general education teachers who taught in first through fourth-grade classrooms …

Collaborative Teacher Action Research: Improvement Science As Professional Development?, Carol L. Munson

Theses and Dissertations

There is growing consensus in the education world about the need to change the dominant practices in P-12 teacher professional development, which do not respect teacher knowledge and are unconnected to teachers’ daily work, to be more consistent with new and ambitious visions for school reform. This study employed collaborative action research, using improvement science, in which a small cadre of teachers worked through problems of practice to examine the effect on their practice and student learning. In this research project, I implemented a systematic evidence-based process developed by Anthony Bryk, president of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of …

Examining Elementary Teachers’ Feelings Of Self-Efficacy As Writers: Do The Writing Samples Tell More Compelling Stories?, Elizabeth Bifuh-Ambe

Teaching/Writing: The Journal of Writing Teacher Education

Teaching writing to elementary students can be a difficult instructional task for many teachers, due to the complexity of the writing process and the variety of skills that students must demonstrate to be considered proficient writers. Because quality instruction is highly predictive of students’ achievements, teachers need to feel competent in various subject-specific disciplines. This mixed-methods study examines the role of professional development in fostering elementary teachers’ writing proficiency, and improving their feelings of self-efficacy as writers. Results indicate that it is difficult for teachers whose students struggle with writing to feel confident in their own writing abilities.

Bridging Gaps In Architectural Education: Developing A Professional And Career-Oriented Curriculum, Rana Al-Matarneh, Ashraf Mansour

Architecture and Planning Journal (APJ)

The concern about the future of architecture education has been growing in the last few decades. This phenomenon is powered by the sensation that the existing models of teaching and practicing architecture may not be appropriate enough to address the challenges of tomorrow. The aim of this research paper is to explore the missing links between the continuous chain of architecture education and the current state of the profession that leads the future. The research conducted a comprehensive review of literature, surveys of academics and Heads of School in Architecture, and the development of some case studies of the existing …

The Hr Connection, Georgia Southern University

Georgia Southern University Human Resources Newsletters

• 2020 Virtual Benefits Fair
• Nominations for the 2020-2021 University Awards of Excellence are now open!
• Financial Guidance is here!
• Earn 2021 Well-being Credits!
• Professional Development Calendar
• Create and Maintain a Learning Transcript in Building A Better U
• We Are Moving

Cct Professional Development Bulletin September 2020, Marie O' Neill

Teaching and Learning Bulletins

A summary of the Professional Development of staff in CCT College Dublin as of September 2020.

Urban Public Middle School Teachers And Their Response To High Student Mobility, Maria J. Ortiz

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This study examined the teachers’ perspective of student mobility in urban public middle schools in the northeast state of the country. Thirty middle school teachers in an urban public-school system were interviewed about their prior years’ classroom experience with student mobility. They included those teaching English as a Second Language, Special Education, Science, Math and Language Arts, and Social Studies. In addition, student achievement data on standardized tests were studied. The research study concluded that teachers reported that they experienced frustration and anxiety, and that student mobility and its classroom consequences were relegated to the “undiscussable” aspects of the profession; …

The Level Of Leadership Abilities Of Academic Department Chairpersons At The Jordanian Universities And Its Relationship With The Level Of Professional Development Of The Faculty Members, عائشة علي أبو شلحه, راتب سلامة السعود

Jordanian Educational Journal

The study aimed at identifying the level of leadership abilities of academic department chairpersons at the Jordanian universities and its relationship with the level of professional development of the faculty members. To achieve the objectives of this study, a questionnaire was developed where its validity and reliability were assured. The study sample consisted of (461) faculty members from Jordanian universities. The study used the descriptive survey method in data collection. The results revealed that the level of leadership abilities of academic department chairpersons was medium, and the level of professional development of the faculty members was medium as well. The …

Integrating Culturally Relevant Teaching Strategies: Professional Development For Elementary Classroom Teachers, Anne Taylor

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects

Research has determined that culturally responsive teaching is a powerful tool that improves student achievement while providing more equitable educational opportunities for all students (Au, 2009; Banks, 2006; Gay, 2000; Hammond, 2015; Ladson-Billings, 2009). Schools that engage in CRT are able to build bridges of meaning between home and school experiences and between academics and students' cultural realities. However, evidence also suggests that while teachers may have knowledge of multicultural education, many do not display the characteristics needed to fully apply and sustain culturally responsive pedagogical practices. The professional development and PLC supports created for this project are built upon …

Teacher Leadership: The Value Of Action Research In The Development Of Science Teacher Leaders, Vanessa Vernaza-Hernández

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The past few years have seen the establishment of many professional development programs for science teachers leaders aimed at improving the process of teaching and learning of science. One of these is the Robert Noyce Master Teacher Fellows (MTF) program, which is part of a research university in the southeastern United States. This is an extended teacher development program with the purpose of developing effective science and mathematics teachers into successful teacher leaders, professional development providers, curriculum developers, and formal mentors. One of the characteristics that distinguishes this MTF program is that, as part of the leadership development experiences, the …

A Phenomenological Study Of 21-29-Year-Old Teachers' Perceptions Of Using Twitter For Professional Development, John Woodring

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This transcendental phenomenological study explored the perception of 21-29-year-old public school teachers’ use of Twitter in their professional development. However, while teachers in the 21-29-year-old age range were part of the demographic dominating online social media use in general, they did not use online social networks for professional development purposes as much as their older peers (Carpenter & Krutka, 2014; Visser et al., 2014). While professional development was important for improving teachers’ classroom performance and student achievement (Coldwell, 2017), traditional professional development often was ineffective in changing classroom instruction (Carpenter & Krutka, 2014; Dingle, Brownwell, Leko, Boardman, & Haager, 2011; …

Getting To The Heart Of Professional Development And Employee Engagement Among Non-Teaching Personnel In Higher Education: An Appreciative Inquiry Into The Influential Role Of A Staff Development Center, Rowena Casis-Woidyla

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Despite the importance and incorporation of staff development in higher education, there is limited research on the availability and use of learning opportunities for non-teaching personnel (NTP) in the form of professional development. Work performed by NTP in higher education is critical to university operations. Without professional development and engagement opportunities, NTP lack visibility, disengage and ultimately may separate from institutions of higher education. Deliberate organizational efforts to provide access to new learning opportunities and promote personal growth among NTP is the development and institutionalization of centers for professional development, also called staff development centers and staff training and professional …

Evolution Of Computational Thinking Contextualized In A Teacher-Student Collaborative Learning Environment., John Arthur Underwood

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The discussion of Computational Thinking as a pedagogical concept is now essential as it has found itself integrated into the core science disciplines with its inclusion in all of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS, 2018). The need for a practical and functional definition for teacher practitioners is a driving point for many recent research endeavors. Across the United States school systems are currently seeking new methods for expanding their students’ ability to analytically think and to employee real-world problem-solving strategies (Hopson, Simms, and Knezek, 2001). The need for STEM trained individuals crosses both the vocational certified and college degreed …

The Relationship Between The Perceived Value Of Professional Development, Job Satisfaction, And Intent To Leave, Wendy Marie Wells

Dissertations

Organizations striving to remain competitive compete in the war for talent in order to recruit and retain employees. Studies assessing intent to leave and turnover suggest numerous strategies to mitigate the revolving door of employees quitting jobs (Allen, 2008; Allen, Bryant, & Vardaman 2010; Lee, Hom, Eberly, & Li, 2018). This study assesses the relationship between the perceived value of professional development, job satisfaction, and intent to leave. Results of the study reveal as one finds professional development, valuable job satisfaction increases. In assessing the relationship between professional development and intent to leave, the results of the study suggest that …

Digital Immigrant Teachers’ Technology Integration And In-Service Professional Development: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, Michael William Peck

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) research study was to describe and interpret the digital integration learning experiences of digital immigrant teachers at a southeastern United States school system. Digital immigrant teachers represent a large segment of the teachers in American classrooms. Digital immigrant teachers desire to be effective educators in today’s digital technology-rich classrooms, yet they have struggled due to a lack of technological knowledge and with knowing how to effectively integrate digital tools in their practices. Theories that guided this study were constructivism and Mishra and Koehler’s TPACK, a conceptual knowledge framework that considers technological knowledge …

Making Meaning Of A Whole School Transformation Model: A Policy Ethnography Of A Schools Of Hope Legislation Implementation, Adam Charles Rea

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Cheryl High School (CHS) is a geographically large county in Florida that received funding through the state of Florida's "Schools of Hope” grant. The grant’s parameters called on Carter County Schools (CCS) to partner with an external consultant and a research university to help improve teacher and school administrative capacity. The district chose Scientific Pedagogy Services (SPS) and to continue their existing relationship with Tampa Bay State University (TBS). The consultant’s mission was to improve school performance through a unique form of professional development. TBS was charged with developing an on-site program that funded staff efforts to obtain advanced degrees …

Increasing Relevance And Impact: Using Action Research With Middle Level Teachers’ Insights And Perceptions Of Technology Professional Development, Janet Dedmon

Theses and Dissertations

To move beyond technology use and realize the full benefits of technology integration, school districts need to provide effective technology professional development experiences. The purpose of this action research was to describe middle level teacher attitudes and perceptions regarding technology training and professional development in Woodcreek School District in order to recommend more effective technology professional development offerings. The research questions of this study focused on (1) the attitudes middle level teachers have toward technology professional development and (2) factors that may influence those attitudes. Going deeper into the influences on attitudes toward technology professional development, this study also explored …

Digital Learning Environment Development: Action Research Using A Situated Coaching Model With Elementary Classroom Teachers Integrating Technology, Robert Burggraaf

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this action research was to evaluate the impact of a situated coaching model for participating teachers at an elementary school. This study focused on three research questions: (1) how do participants experience a situated coaching model for technology professional development? (2) how does a situated coaching model affect participants’ digital learning environment scores? and (3) how does a situated coaching model impact participants’ perception of barriers to implementing a digital learning environment?

This study situated a coach in an elementary school to work with four teachers over a six-week period in modeling, co-planning, co-teaching, and observing classroom …

Examining Career And Technical Education Practitioner Preparation And Professional Development Needs, Shane Wilson Lange

Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative study was used to investigate Illinois automotive educator professional development needs and to identify the demographic landscape of Illinois secondary and post-secondary automotive teachers. The study should bring a greater understanding of what automotive teachers feel they need to learn in order to continue as successful educators. A modified Borich (1980) needs assessment model was used to identify the perceived importance and ability levels for 32 professional competencies. Mean Weighted Discrepancy Scores (MWDS) were calculated using the importance and ability scores in order to report the professional development need. The administered survey was also utilized to examine their …

Flexibility Matters: A Qualitative Look At Four Middle Grade Teachers’ Implementation Of Personalized Learning, Christa Evans Heath

Doctor of Education in Instructional Technology Dissertations

Personalized learning (PL) has emerged as a trend in K-12 teaching and learning (Netcoh, 2017). This instructional strategy provides a customized learning experience, allowing students to work on their own path and at their own pace while learning and instruction is developed to students’ ability levels, interests, and learning modalities. While some scholars and many educational organizations have published definitions of PL, these definitions are often vague and sometimes conflicting. Furthermore, there is limited in-depth research presently available regarding the implementation of personalized learning in K-12 classrooms. Due to the lack of clear definitions and descriptions of PL, educators struggle …

Professional Development Opportunities For Graduate Students: The Launch Of A Speaker Series, Kara Flynn, Lori Birrell

Transforming Libraries for Graduate Students

Eager to provide graduate students the opportunity to develop themselves professionally, University Libraries in partnership with the Graduate School and International Education initiated a graduate student speaker series in 2018. The series, now in its second year, provides graduate students a forum in which to present their research- whether a finished product or work in progress- to the university community. To be eligible to speak in the series, each student must have used resources from the Special Collections Division as part of their work. This initiative highlights the research graduate students are engaged in, and draws attention to the university’s …

The Influence Of Principal Leadership On Teacher Collaboration: Does Effective Professional Development Mediate This Effect?, David Evertson

Department of Educational Administration: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

School leadership has been a topic of empirical, quantitative study for nearly four decades, and in that time a great deal has been discovered about the strategies and mechanisms through which effective leadership acts. In its modern conceptualization, leadership is seen as an organizational construct, not centered on single individuals but rather as leadership activity stretched across leaders, followers and the situation which exists in the organization. Nevertheless, principals continue to play a central role in leadership activity, and their actions, behaviors, and strategies significantly influence school effectiveness and improvement efforts.

Research clearly demonstrates that positive teacher collaboration is an …

University Update- February 2020, Academic Affairs

University Updates & Communications from the University President

This is the Otterbein University monthly update to the faculty and staff from the university president. Within the letter, the president addresses relevant topics for the Otterbein community and gives updates on the budget, academic affairs, and student successes.

Inspiring And Incentivising Professional Development At Cct College Dublin: A Multi-Pronged Approach, Naomi Jackson, Marie O' Neill

Faculty Presentations

This presentation looks at the attributes of professional development delivery at CCT. it also explores professional development initiatives that CCT contributes at a national level. Coverage of the conference can be accessed on Twitter at #modelsofsuccess. Slides of the conference can be viewed here.