Education Commons^™

A Case Study Of An Online Teacher Study Group As A Digital Professional Development Tool, Jessica Martin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In recent years, there appears to have been a shift in professional development approaches for teachers from short-term workshops to teacher communities of professional practice, which extend over a while and focus on the expert knowledge teachers need to use in their setting (Goya, 2014). A supportive approach to teacher learning communities is a teacher study group. An even more promising and flexible approach to teacher learning communities in a global aspect is an online teacher study group. An online teacher study group provided a universal and flexible venue to engage in collaborative discussion between general education and special education …

Connecting Masters Project: Mathematics And Science Teaching Excellence In Rural Schools, Karla M. Childs

The Advocate

This study examined the effects of a focused professional development program for teachers in rural schools on math content knowledge and persistence measured by outcomes on the Math Assessment. Scores for all participants were analyzed (n = 37). A marked improvement was seen in the math content knowledge of teachers from the pre-assessment to the post assessment. Teachers increased their scores by 17% on the Math Assessment. The most salient result of the present study pertained to the number of answers that were scored a zero meaning they were left blank with no attempt to answer. Noteworthy is the …

Emerging Teacher-Leaders For English Learners: A Professional Development Model In Rural Florida, Raisa Ankeny, Nidza Marichal, Maria Coady

School Leadership Review

This paper describes an ongoing Professional Development (PD) program that aimed to prepare teacher-leaders for rural English learner (EL) students. We delineate the theoretical underpinnings of the PD design and describe the two-year graduate coursework program with onsite coaching in rural schools in detail. We define rurality and the context of ELs in the rural partner school district and describe the PD coursework, which was adapted to meet the local rural educational needs of the participants. At its outset, participants reflected on the overall PD through online discussions, surveys, and focus group interviews. Data revealed that the participants found the …

The Impact Of A Hybrid Professional Development On Teacher Instructional Strategies: A Study Of The Integration Of Google Read And Write To Improve Instructional Practices, Amanda Mae Ratkovitch

Theses and Dissertations

Classrooms today are becoming more diverse and students with disabilities are being included more within the general education setting. Therefore, teachers need to continue to develop their instructional practices to be able to support such a diverse population of students. Assistive tech-nology is one way that teachers are able to meet the needs of their students. The purpose of this study was to identify the influence a hybrid professional development had on urban educators use of assistive technology within their classrooms. The professional development included four sixty-minute face to face sessions where teachers learned the principles of Universal Design for …

Attorneys' Experiences With Continuing Legal Education Delivered Online: A Holistic Single Case Study, Kimberly Ann Thomas

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative holistic single case study was to describe how practicing attorneys in North Carolina experience continuing legal education (CLE) courses delivered online. The theories guiding the study are Knowles’ adult learning theory and Siemens’ connectivist theory, as they address how adults learn and how the use of technology connects learning. The central research question is as follows: How do practicing attorneys in North Carolina experience online CLE courses? This question leads to three sub-questions: What meaning do practicing attorneys ascribe to CLE? What benefits and concerns do attorneys identify with CLE delivered online? How do attorneys …

An Examined Life Of A Language Teacher Of Chinese: An Autoethnographic Investigation Into Agency, Ying Zhang

Doctoral Dissertations

There is a paucity of research about and done by L2 Chinese educators regarding the theoretical construct of agency. It is also noted that the qualitative inquiry is marginalized in L2 Chinese research field, let alone the narrative study of the agency of experienced by L2 Chinese-teachers. In this dissertation research, I aim at filling in the gap by conducting a longitudinal autoethnography which captures over a decade (1997-2017) of my personal and professional development with an agency perspective. The highly personalized autoethnographic accounts open up my personal and professional life as an experienced, college-level, transnational, early 40’s female native …

Technology In University Physical Activity Courses: A Mini-Ethnographic Case Study, Dannon G. Cox, Jennifer M. Krause, Mark A. Smith

The Qualitative Report

As younger generations become increasingly reliant on technology, higher educational institutions must continually attempt to stay with or ahead of the curve to foster 21st century teaching and learning. College and university physical activity courses (PACs) are encouraged to incorporate technology for effective pedagogical practices. No qualitative research has specifically examined the culture of PACs instructors’ attitudes and experiences with technology as a pedagogical tool. A mini-ethnographic case study explored the use of technology among seven graduate teaching assistants who shared their pedagogical experiences, teaching practices, and perceptions of technology within PACs. Using an interpretive phenomenological analysis, composite narrative accounts …

The National Professional Development Framework, Marie O' Neill

Certificate in Teaching and Learning

This presentation provides an overview of the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning's National Professional Development Framework For All Those Who Teach in Higher Education.

Exploring Ways To Support Preservice Teachers’ Use Of Udl In Planning And Instruction, K. Alisa Lowrey, Audra Classen, Anne Sylvest

Journal of Educational Research and Practice

There is limited research documenting current efforts to support preservice teachers to use the universal design for learning (UDL) framework in authentic teaching experiences. To increase knowledge on the effects of preparing preservice teachers to incorporate the UDL framework, researchers examined the effects a UDL professional development seminar that was delivered during the student teaching phase had on eight teacher candidates during their K–12 placement. Using a concurrent triangulation mixed-method design, researchers examined lesson plans, video footage of teaching, teacher candidate reflections on their teaching sample, and university supervisor measures of the same sample before and after the UDL seminar. …

Promoting Inclusion In A "Struggling School": Supporting Co-Teachers Through Critical Appreciative-Inquiry Based Professional Development, Louis Olander

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This dissertation explores the extent to which the beliefs and practices of teachers who work in a “struggling” school can be shifted towards inclusiveness through an action research based professional development program. The school was struggling in that it was charged with the education of children who are marginalized by a range of social forces while simultaneously accountable to institutional priorities. Broadly speaking, these institutional priorities preferred behaviorist punishment and technocratic approaches to meeting student needs, devaluing and decontextualizing students’ proficiencies as test scores and special education labels, in turn impeding inclusive change. Over the course of four months, an …

Counselor Educators' Teaching Practices In Contemporary Society, Don P. Trahan Jr, Jeanmarie Keim

Journal of Counselor Preparation and Supervision

Counselor education programs aim to provide students with curricula that enables them to effectively engage culturally diverse populations. However, there are no universal standards for infusing multiculturalism into curricula. This qualitative study provides an in-depth understanding of how various counselor educators infused multiculturalism/diversity into their counseling curricula. Implications for practice and future research are offered.

The Effect Of Joint Training On Knowledge And Attitudes Of Career And Technical Education And Special Education Professionals, Crystal Emery

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Career and technical education (CTE) is a set of career-focused courses and pathways that provide students with technical skills and knowledge which can lead to future employment and postsecondary education. Concentration in a career and technical education pathway while still in high school supports job exploration for school-age youth and is correlated with higher levels of full-time employment after high school. This is especially true for students with disabilities. Special Education (SPED) is the educational support system for students with disabilities. CTE and SPED professionals have struggled to effectively collaborate to serve students with disabilities. Infrequent and inconsistent communication between …

Finding Connections Between Teacher Motivation And Professional Development In Pursuit Of Mastery In Practice, Ann Carlson

School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative case study investigated the connections between teacher motivation and high quality professional development. The research focused on two elementary schools in one large suburban school district in the upper Midwest. Surveys, individual interviews, focus group interviews, and document analysis were all used to collect data. This study identified the attributes of high quality professional development, which include collaboration, sustainability, and active teacher learning (Darling-Hammond, Hyler, & Gardner, 2017; Desimone & Pak, 2017; Macias, 2017; Parsons, Parsons, Morewood & Ankrum, 2016; Steeg & Lambson, 2015). The study explored current research around intrinsic and extrinsic motivation (Deci et al. 1991; …

Using Primary Sources In Content Areas To Increase Disciplinary Literacy Instruction, Salika A. Lawrence, Elise Langan, Julie Maurer

The Language and Literacy Spectrum

This paper describes how a three-day summer workshop on using primary sources helped teachers increase the emphasis placed on disciplinary literacy when teaching social studies and history. Two specific issues in teacher education and practice are addressed. First, increasing teachers’ content knowledge of history topics can help them plan lessons that connect local and global events. Second, content area reading requires literacy practices, which are unique to disciplines. Therefore, teachers need to apply historical inquiry and disciplinary literacy methods in the curriculum.

The Effect Of Professional Development On Teacher Knowledge Of Concussions And Classroom Support Of Concussed Students, Susan Teeter Hawkins

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Concussions have received significant media attention in recent years. Although research has focused on the knowledge and perceptions of parents, athletes, and coaches regarding sports-related concussions, little attention has been given to discovering what teachers know about concussions and the correct concussion protocol for the classroom, even though concussions affect academic performance. The purpose of this applied study was to understand further the problem of deficiency in teacher knowledge of sports-related concussions, including symptoms, academic adjustments needed, and how to design appropriate professional development to address this problem. This study incorporated a mixed methods design to examine the effect of …

Influences On The Self-Efficacy Of Non-English Language Arts High School Teachers To Integrate Literacy Into Instruction, Georgina M. Baker

Doctoral Dissertations

Some secondary teachers of non-reading and non-English language arts content areas resist the idea of integrating literacy instruction with content instruction, due to having low teacher self-efficacy for literacy instruction (TSELI). To explore this phenomenon, I conducted a qualitative case study, through which, I interviewed a group of 10 teachers of math, science, history, art, and business education, all from the same rural, public high school in Alabama. The purpose of this study was to explore within this group of teachers the breadth and depth of teacher self-efficacy for integrating literacy instruction into content instruction on a consistent basis. This …

Teacher Factors And Student Achievement As Measured By The Act Assessment And Subsequent Teacher Perceptions Of Those Factors, Jessica Weaver

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate educator factors that have an impact on student achievement and overall school performance as indicated in the American College Test (ACT) scores from the district and the individual schools. Educators from a moderate-sized public school district participated in an anonymous online survey. According to the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) Report Card, the district ACT composite is a 20.1 (TDOE, 2018e). Two of the district’s schools’ results are higher than the district composite, while the other five are consistent with or below the district composite. Participants of this study shared their …

A Case Study Of The Driven 2 Teach Program: Site-Based Experiential Professional Development For History Teachers, Hadyn Bowen Call

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Driven 2 Teach is a privately funded program for history teachers in the state of Utah. The program emphasizes the importance of teacher travel to educate history teachers in the places where history happened. This study investigated the program’s influence on participant gains in learning about history and how to best teach about the past, social studies professional development, teacher beliefs, and changes in instructional practices. This study utilized a case study methodology, autoethnography, and six interconnected frameworks: Professional development, experiential education, site-based learning, pedagogical content knowledge, teacher beliefs, and professional learning communities. This study helps demonstrate the effectiveness of …

Teacher Factors And Student Achievement As Measured By The Act Assessment And Subsequent Teacher Perceptions Of Those Factors .Pdf, Jessica Weaver

Jessica Weaver

A Dog, A Cat And Professional Development: How Two Bobbies Introduced Teachers To C3wp And Michigan’S Literacy Essentials, Delia King

Language Arts Journal of Michigan

This article demonstrates the important connections between the Language Arts Essentials K-3 with the NWP’s College, Career, and Community Writers Program.

Knotworking The College, Career, And Community Writers Program, Rachel Bear, Tom Fox

Language Arts Journal of Michigan

"Knotworking the College, Career, and Community Writers Program" examines its history and success through four "knots." Using Engeström's concept of "knotworking," the article explores the relationship of the program to national standards, mandated curricula, hyperpartisan public discourse, and student achievement.

A Program Evaluation Of Professional Learning Communities To Support Professional Development And Student Learning, Tiffany Scott

Dissertations

For this program evaluation, I examined the effectiveness of Professional Learning Communities (PLC) with regard to how it supported professional development for teachers and student learning at Sunshine Elementary School (pseudonym). The literature reviewed argues that PLCs are viable venues to develop teacher competencies as well as improve student-learning outcomes when implemented with fidelity. The methods in this study included surveys and interviews from teachers, coaches and administrators. There was also a review of the student achievement data to examine results against the perceptions of the study participants. The results indicated areas that were working well, and areas that were …

Prekindergarten Teachers' Experiences Using Journals To Reflect On Video Recordings Of Their Classroom Instruction: A Phenomenological Investigation, Katherine Orpilla Alvarado-Mirarchi

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore prekindergarten teachers’ experiences using journals to reflect on video recordings of their classroom instruction in an eastern Pennsylvania prekindergarten program. Three theories guided this study. Knowles, Holton, and Swanson’s (2015) theory of andragogy framed this study with a focus on the unique attributes of adult learners. Kolb’s (2015) experiential learning theory informed this study with an emphasis on the importance of workplace experiences for individual development. Dewey (1967) and Schon’s (1987) theory of reflective practice examined the process of reflective thought that is initiated by uncertainty that challenges one’s beliefs. …

From An Active Learner To A Reflective Practitioner: Learning To Become A Professional Indonesian Efl Instructor, Teuku Zulfikar

The Qualitative Report

For teachers, professional development is a lifelong journey and a complex and multi-dimensional process. Effective professional development requires practitioners to engage not only in training but also in habitual reflection. However, research on reflective learning within the context of Indonesian English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teaching, at both secondary and tertiary levels, is limited. Using the-Self Study, Qualitative Inquiry this article explores my reflective practices in the Indonesian educational context. It is structured around a narration of my roles as an active EFL learner and instructor which have led me to become a reflective practitioner. The article starts with …

Exploring Professional Development: Examining Availability And Access To Professional Development For Educators Of Culturally And Linguistically Diverse Students, Karen Grace Clark

The Graduate Review

No abstract provided.

News From The Graduate School - Education, Otterbein Office Of Graduate Programs

Graduate School

Newsletter that provides updates from the Graduate School and the Education Graduate Program.

Principals' Perceptions Of Professional Development And Caring Communities For English Learners, Sunny Sue Chang Jonas

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

A growing population of English Learners (ELs) have unique challenges when navigating the American educational system. In fact, there is an achievement gap such that EL students lag behind their native English peers in school outcomes. Accordingly, there is increased demand for professional development (PD) lead by principals to address the needs of the changing population of ELs. To support effective PD aimed at improved achievement for ELs, principals need embrace transformative thinking in their work. Although PD has the potential to be the driving force of change, traditional approaches to PD have limited impact on academic success of ELs. …

An Investigation Into The Influences Leading To Special Educator Attrition; A Professional Development Approach, Kimberly Miller

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation examined the differences within special education preparation and professional development support and the association with special educator feelings of self-efficacy and burn-out. The dissertation is organized into three separate papers. Paper 1 is a review of the research literature on the causes of special educator attrition. Paper 2 utilized the causes of attrition identified in Paper 1 and outlined research to further identify potential causes, and potential solutions. Paper 3 provides an outline of proactive solutions for districts to implement, in order to support special educators through meaningful professional development.

The literature review identified specific factors impacting special …

Movement In The Classroom: Contingent Factors Underlying Teacher Change, Annie E. Machamer

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Background: Teachers' use of classroom physical activity (PA) has been found to significantly impact students PA participation, time on task, and academic performance. However, teachers have continued to identify barriers affecting delivery related to professional development opportunities, learning environment, and experiences in practice. An understanding of the connection between these experiences and their impact on teacher change is needed.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate teachers’ perceptions of specific factors that have influenced their continued implementation of classroom PA. This study provides insight into the teacher perceptions, and aims to identify connections among orientation to learning and …

Teachers' Perceptions Of The Sustainability Of Mathematics And Science Partnership Professional Development, Robert Harold Alt

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The sustainability of improved pedagogy gained through professional development (PD) of mathematics teachers has undergone little empirical study. In a midsized urban school district in the Northeastern United States, all high school mathematics teachers attended a 3-year mandatory PD program. Although an external evaluator studied this program immediately after completion, there had been no longitudinal study of the perceptions of its participants regarding the sustained benefits of the program. This qualitative study offered a follow-up study of the participants in the Math and Science Partnership (MSP) PD program to provide insight to administrators regarding the sustainability of benefits gained through …