Curriculum and Instruction Commons^™

Examining The Multilevel Effects Of Instructional Leadership On Teachers’ Professional Commitment And Classroom Management, Nuruddin Ahmed Masud, San Su Su San, Kim Ki Bong, Mst Taherun Nesa Subarna

Georgia Educational Researcher

This study examined the multilevel effects of instructional leadership on teachers’ professional commitment and classroom management in secondary schools. Using a multilevel modeling (MLM) approach, data were collected from 250 teachers nested within 8 schools. The analysis assessed the influence of both school-level instructional leadership and teachers’ perceptions of leadership on professional commitment and classroom management outcomes.

Results indicated that instructional leadership at both levels significantly predicted teachers’ professional commitment (teacher-level: β = .32, p < .001; school-level: β = .45, p < .001). Similarly, instructional leadership demonstrated significant positive effects on classroom management (teacher-level: β = .28, p < .001; school-level: β = .41, p < .001). Furthermore, teacher professional commitment was positively associated with classroom management (β = .36, p < .001) and moderated the relationship between instructional leadership and classroom management, such that the effect was stronger under higher levels of leadership support.

These findings highlight the importance of instructional leadership in shaping teacher-related outcomes across organizational levels. The study contributes to the literature by providing empirical evidence …

Designing Faculty Standards For Technology Integration In Higher Education Institutions: A Design-Based Research Study, Helen Crompton, Diane Burke, Christine Nickel

STEMPS Faculty Publications

This design-based research study responds to the call from scholars, organizations, and institutions to address the gap in scholarly knowledge regarding the lack of technology standards for faculty in higher education. These standards cover the three areas of faculty workload: teaching, research, and service. Conducted over two iterative macro cycles, this unique study engaged 114 participants, including faculty from a range of disciplines and institutional types, accreditation organizations and coordinators, and education and technology organizations. The outcome is a framework comprising six faculty standards; Instructor, Coordinator, Leader, Researcher, Learner, and Contributor. Each outcome is accompanied by practical indicators that support …

Exploring K-2 Teachers’ Perspectives Around Screen Time In Blended Learning Classrooms, Cameryn Lee Ronspies

Dissertations and Theses

The integration of digital technologies in primary education has transformed instructional practices, yet the use of screen time in K-2 classrooms remains a debated issue. While prior research has examined the effects of screen time on children’s development and learning outcomes, little is known about how teachers themselves make decisions regarding its use in the classroom. This study explores how K-2 teachers in blended learning environments navigate the complexities of screen time. Despite debate among researchers, few policies exist to guide teachers in regulating the quality and duration of screen use, leaving teachers to make complex decisions independently. Grounded in …

An Analysis Of Ohio's Advanced Quantitative Reasoning Course, Ethan A. Douglas

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Beginning in about 2018, The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce partnered with the Ohio Department of Higher Education and the Ohio Math Initiative to create a mathematics transition course to provide high school students with a class that could prepare them for a college entry-level mathematics course if they had not previously earned a remediation-free score. This course was titled “Mathematical Modeling and Reasoning” and has since been named, “Advanced Quantitative Reasoning” (AQR) and has become an Algebra II equivalent course where students can receive their final math credit to graduate. This study looked to compare students in Algebra …

Designing Classroom Routines To Reduce Math Anxiety: A Growth Mindset And Productive Struggle Toolkit For Middle Schoolers, Heather Carey

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Math anxiety is an evident barrier to the success of students in middle school mathematics which often leads to decreased confidence, lower achievement overall, and avoidance of more challenging tasks. Research in mathematics education advocates that the instructional approaches that are more grounded in growth mindset and productive struggle can positively influence students’ attitudes toward learning and their engagement with solving more complex problems.

This project examines how researched-based strategies can be rendered into practical classroom applications. Using a qualitative design-based approach, this study integrates math anxiety, growth mindset, and productive struggle existing literature to inform the development of instructional …

A Case Study Examining Organizational Influences On Student Teacher Placement In K-12 Classrooms, Rachel L. Ickes

Graduate Studies Theses and Dissertations 2026

Student teaching is a prominent and required learning experience in most teacher education programs. The learning that takes place in student teaching blends pedagogy with practice. However, not all student teaching placements provide positive learning experiences for student teachers. This descriptive case study examines the organizational factors that affect the process of student teacher placement at K-12 classroom sites by one teacher education program. For this case study, one teacher education program in the southeastern United States was selected as the case site, and the case for this study is the process of student teacher placement. Semi-structured interviews, observation, and …

Academic Integrity In The Age Of Ai: A Student's Guide To Citation And Disclosure, Steve Baule

Essays in Education

The rapid emergence of generative artificial intelligence (AI) has reshaped academic work, creating new opportunities for learning while introducing complex challenges for maintaining academic integrity. This article presents a clear, practical three question framework to help students determine when and how to disclose AI use in their coursework. Grounded in principles of transparency and intellectual honesty, the framework consists of three guiding questions addressing AI‑generated content, meaningful process support, and purely mechanical assistance. Through detailed explanations and real‑world scenarios, the article clarifies distinctions among these categories and outlines appropriate citation and disclosure practices for each. It emphasizes that AI use …

Motivational Systems In Education That Encourage Academic Achievement And Student Leadership, Hannah Lockhart

2026 Research Poster Competition

This research investigates the role of motivational systems in education and their impact on students’ academic achievement, leadership development, and overall engagement following the implementation of school-based motivational frameworks. Grounded in an expanded review of educational and psychological literature, this study builds upon substantial evidence demonstrating that motivation is a critical determinant of both academic performance and personal development. While prior research consistently establishes positive correlations between student motivation and achievement, there remains a notable gap in empirical examination of how specific motivational systems are implemented in school contexts and how they function across diverse student populations. Drawing upon established …

Phonics And Friends: A Critical Multimodal Discourse Analysis Of Popular Teacher Influencers' Content, Zachary T. Milford

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

This critical multimodal discourse analysis examined how five teacher-influencers aligned with the Science of Reading (SoR) movement performed authority, constructed discourses, and used affective and semiotic resources in viral TikTok videos about reading instruction. Drawing on Kress and van Leeuwen's (2001) multimodal social semiotics, Fairclough's (1992) critical discourse analysis, Foucault's (1977, 1982) theorizations of power, Papacharissi's (2014) theory of affective publics, Ong's (1982) secondary orality, and Taussig's (1993) mimesis and alterity, this interpretive, qualitative, multiple-case study analyzed fifty viral TikTok videos and four semi-structured interviews with teacher-influencers. Data were analyzed through within-case and within-mode coding, cross-modal analysis, and cross-case analysis …

Analyzing Educators’ Roles In Preparing Students For Civic Engagement In Arkansas Communities, Mia Hastings

2026 Research Poster Competition

Individuals aged eighteen to twenty-nine accounted for only thirteen percent of the voting electorate in the 2018 election, despite representing nearly twenty-two percent of the voting age population (Making Young Voters, 2020, p. 3). Although the percentage of students enrolled in at least one high school government course has remained relatively constant since the late 1920s, most state standards, including those in Arkansas, require only a single civics course to graduate (Branson, 2003, p. 3). As a preservice teacher, I am struck by how civic education often focuses on reciting facts about government and political institutions rather than equipping students …

Stream Education: How It Can Enrich The Expansion Of Social-Emotional Learning., Madalyn Menke

2026 Research Poster Competition

This research project investigates the implementation of a STREAM Education curriculum – integrating science, technology, reading/writing, engineering, arts/humanities, and mathematics, with a group of fourteen elementary-aged students. The study explores how the intentional inclusion of Reading and the Arts within a traditional STEM framework - guided by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL framework - can enrich students’ social-emotional wellbeing and engagement in learning. In partnership with SOAR Afterschool Care, an eight-week instructional project was implemented in which students read What Do You Do with an Idea? by Kobi Yamada as a central text. The book served …

Designing Ai-Aware Media 101 Curriculum Through Faculty–Librarian Collaboration, Miranda Gale Smith, Elizabeth Oppe

2026 Scholarly Teaching Conference: Concurrent Session Papers

This presentation explores faculty–librarian collaboration as a teaching practice. It will inform attendees about the work done by a faculty member (Elizabeth) and a Student Success & Instruction Librarian (Miranda) to design and implement an AI-aware curriculum into an existing Media 101 course at West Virginia University. This resulted in the careful integration of subject-specific and information literacy expertise into the course’s curriculum. More broadly, this is meant to illustrate that in terms of practice, treating AI-aware curriculum development as a shared, iterative process grounded in mutual respect for distinct but complementary forms of knowledge has the potential to yield …

Inclusive Teaching Strategies That Increase Student Engagement, Manar Yamany, Jeffrey Carver

2026 Scholarly Teaching Conference: Concurrent Session Papers

This teaching practice introduces participation pathways intentional structures that design how students engage during class. A participation pathway is a planned sequence that moves students from individual thinking to small-group interaction, to shared application. Rather than relying on voluntary participation, this approach embeds engagement directly into the structure of the lesson.

This practice emerged through observing a range of college classrooms and participating in courses where structured engagement increased attention, listening, and meaningful participation. In these settings, instructors organized class sessions so that all students engaged through writing, discussion, and application activities. These pathways ensured that students who were present …

Preparing Elementary Teachers Through Targeted Science Content And Hands-On Learning, Manar Yamany, Jeffrey Carver, Susie Huggins, Arooj Justin, Yuanhua Wang

2026 Scholarly Teaching Conference: Concurrent Session Papers

This session presents an instructional approach implemented in the undergraduate course Science for Elementary Educators, designed to intentionally align science content instruction with the specific learning needs of future elementary teachers. The course focuses on developing conceptual understanding in core elementary science domains, physical science, life science, and earth and space science, while modeling developmentally appropriate instructional practices suitable for elementary classrooms.

The teaching practice emphasizes hands-on, inquiry-based science experiences that reflect the types of learning activities preservice teachers are expected to facilitate with their own students, while engaging with the content at a deeper conceptual level appropriate for …

Meaningful Work: A Phenomenological Study Of Embedded Writing Peer Mentors, Susan S. Detwiler

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

This phenomenological case study examines the experiences of writing peer mentors who are embedded in a first-year inquiry-based writing seminar. It aims to understand how peer mentors who are engaged in the complex practice of supporting first-year writers in a writing classroom make sense of themselves and writing. At a large R-1 diverse university, I interviewed 6 writing peer mentors 3 times over 1 calendar year. I traced their development from mentees, (first-year writing students), through their three semesters of peer mentoring. They also shared written reflections from their training praxis course (a course for peer mentors focusing on their …

Exploring The Impact Of Mindful Social Media Literacy Instruction On Self-Regulated Smartphone Use, Catherine Coons

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Smartphone and social media addiction, and increasingly high rates of anxiety and other mental health challenges, afflict contemporary undergraduate students more than previous generations of college students. The mental health challenges faced by students directly affect their academic potential, influencing their ability to concentrate, maintain confidence, get adequate sleep, and sustain overall well-being. Despite the increasing prevalence of these issues, universities often lack sufficient resources, services, and trained staff to support this growing student population adequately.

This study examines the impact of mindfulness-based social media literacy instruction on curbing problematic social media use in college students. While extensive research has …

From Written Curriculum To Classroom Practice: Teacher Supplementation In The Teaching Of American Slavery In Florida And New York, Matthew T. Maloof

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

This study examined how K–12 public school teachers in Florida and New York perceived the adequacy of curriculum standards and instructional materials for teaching American slavery, how they responded when those materials were perceived as limited, and how the standards and materials aligned with Shuster’s (2018) Ten Key Concepts for Teaching American slavery. Using a qualitative multi-method design, the study combined qualitative survey research with document analysis. Teachers’ open-ended survey responses were analyzed through a Modified Grounded Theory approach, while curriculum standards and instructional materials were analyzed in relation to Shuster’s framework. The final sample included 41 teachers, including 20 …

From Local Innovation To Statewide Policy: A Quantitative Study Of I How Long Island Educators Are Preparing For New York State’S Portrait Of A Graduate Framework, Ishanee Brown-Murphy

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

The New York State Portrait of a Graduate (PoG) framework emphasizes the development of transferable competencies intended to prepare students for college, career, and life readiness. Although the framework has been adopted statewide, limited empirical research exists regarding secondary educators’ perceptions of preparedness to implement PoG competencies within curriculum, instruction, assessment, and schoolwide practices. Understanding educator readiness is essential to supporting effective and equitable implementation across schools The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine how secondary educators on Long Island perceive their readiness to implement the New York State Portrait of a Graduate framework. Specifically, the study explored …

Teacher Awareness, Perspectives, And Implication Of Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education (Cr-S): Exploring And Describing Education Decision-Making For English Language Learners (Ells), Dilrabo Dina Kenkes

Selected Full Text Dissertations, 2011-

With more immigrant students in American classrooms, it is more important than ever to use culturally responsive teaching. Even after years of policy changes, English Language Learners (ELLs) are still placed in special education programs at higher rates than expected. This quantitative study examines how teachers’ understanding and use of New York State’s Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education (CR-S) framework affect their decisions when referring ELL students for special education evaluation. Many educators struggle to distinguish between language-learning challenges and real learning disabilities. This frequently happens because they are not fully aware of cultural differences or do not use culturally responsive teaching …

Beyond The Book: Charting New Progressions Through Improvisational Experience In Higher Education Jazz Performance Programs, Jacob L. Manny

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

Jazz improvisation is a historically rich and culturally relevant art form that is also an underutilized pedagogy in higher education music performance programs (HEMPPs). Previous research has extensively unmasked the relationship of creative, social, and cognitive benefits of improvisational learning. Yet, postsecondary institutions continually rely upon Western European colonialist practices through the isolation of music history, music theory, piano, and compositioncourses. This disconnect results in curricular designs that fail to recognize the importance of experiential learning. In this qualitative inquiry semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten participants who perform and educate globally. Participant stories unearthed not …

Teaching Safety Skills To Young Adults With Intellectual Disabilities In A School Setting, Nicole Freeman

Dissertations and Theses

his study was designed to determine the effectiveness of using Behavior Skills Training with or without In-situ Training to teach responding to a simulated toxic substance in young adults with intellectual disabilities in a school setting. Simulated safety skills were measured using a task-analysis of independently identifying, avoiding, and reporting the simulated toxic substance to a qualified adult (i.e., teacher, caregiver, classroom support provider). The task analysis of the identification, avoidance, and reporting was an attempt to quantify independent self-help skills on the part of the participants. The measurement procedure was consistent with previous research conducted on similar safety skills …

Exploring Saudi Arabian Efl Teachers’ Experiences With The Flipped Classroom, Amal Bin Dlil

Dissertations of Practice

This qualitative phenomenological study aimed to explore the lived experiences of Saudi teachers of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) who implemented the flipped classroom model in a middle school context in southern Saudi Arabia. To achieve this aim, the research questions examined teachers’ descriptions of their lived experiences and perceptions of implementing the flipped classroom strategy, as well as the contextual factors that influenced these experiences in middle school classrooms. To guide the investigation, the study was informed by Active Learning Theory and the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework, which provided a conceptual lens for examining teachers’ experiences …

Preparing Students For What Comes Next: A Qualitative Study Of District Approaches To Postsecondary And Career Readiness, Amanda C. Pelsor

Dissertations of Practice

PREPARING STUDENTS FOR WHAT COMES NEXT: A QUALITATIVE STUDY OF DISTRICT APPROACHES TO POSTSECONDARY AND CAREER READINESS

This qualitative study examines how Illinois school districts support students’ readiness for postsecondary success and career planning and exploration. Despite longstanding state and federal efforts to improve college and career readiness, many students continue to face challenges after high school, including lack of workforce readiness, underpreparedness for postsecondary education, unclear career pathways, and difficulty navigating complex transitions. Using semi-structured interviews, this study explores how districts conceptualize and implement career readiness frameworks, the ways readiness work is embedded within district systems, and the barriers …

The Lived Experiences Of Lgbtqia+ Community College Students Regarding Their Science Identity And Sense Of Belonging, Moria L. Nagy

Dissertations of Practice

A minoritized group that struggles in science, though it spans many genders, and racial/ethnic identities, are LGBTQIA+ individuals. These students face challenges such as a lack of social acceptance manifesting in microaggressions, prejudice and violence, as well as challenges in their studies due to non-inclusive curriculum. These challenges impact the learning experience of these students and reduce retention rates, especially in the sciences. In addition, the climate of social acceptance for LGBTQIA+ students at community colleges is worse than that of four-year institutes. Science identity is a complex composition of recognizing oneself as a science person, or a competent practitioner …

Literacy Intervention At The Middle Level: A Mixed-Methods Examination Of The Implementation Of Thinking Maps, Ashley Chantal Choice

Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the implementation of Thinking Maps® as a literacy instructional intervention for students in grades four and five. Using an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design, the study investigated the effect of Thinking Maps® on student achievement, changes in students’ literacy-related work products, and teachers’ perceptions of the strategy. The study was conducted at a rural Title I elementary school in the southeastern United States and included nine teachers and 150 students across English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies during an eight-week intervention period. Quantitative data included unit pretest and posttest scores from standards-aligned assessments and teacher perception …

Supporting First-Generation College Student Success Through Increased Participation In High-Impact Academic Practices, Michael Daly

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

First-generation college students, those with neither parent having earned a bachelor’s degree, represent approximately one-third of all students attending college in the United States. Many enter college not fully prepared for success and, despite decades of research and the development of a variety of student support interventions, substantial and lasting improvements in their institutional retention and graduation rates on a national level have been elusive. This persistent issue creates a variety of negative consequences for the students, the institutions they attend, and society. The purpose of this action research study was to develop recommendations for improving the practice of supporting …

Assistant Principals’ Perspectives And Experiences Concerning Their Influence As Instructional Leaders On Student Achievement In Title I Schools, Courtney J. Charles

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

This qualitative descriptive study explored the perspectives and experiences of assistant principals in Title I schools in the context of their instructional leadership responsibilities. The study examined the relationship between assistant principals as instructional leaders in Title I schools and student achievement by addressing research questions related to curriculum implementation, data-driven decisions, school culture, instructional support, and professional development. Moreover, this study used purposeful sampling to select 13 assistant principals from Title I schools, and data were collected through semistructured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. Marzano’s focused school leader evaluation model served as the framework for interview questions. …

Religious Education In Bulgaria: Historical Development, Values, And Public Role In Contemporary Society, Ioannis Kaminis

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This paper examines the historical development, contemporary legal framework, and public debates related to religious education in Bulgaria. The analysis traces the role of Christian (Orthodox) education from the Middle Ages to the present day, paying special attention to the dramatic changes during the communist period and the transformations after 1989. At the heart of the study is the question of the place of religious education in a context of democracy, pluralism, and constitutionally guaranteed freedom of conscience. The article examines the current regulatory framework, the religious landscape in the country, and the various models for teaching religion in Bulgarian …

The Impact Of The Covid-19 School Shutdown On Standardized Test Scores In Rural And Nonrural Areas, Cory Laflamme

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

The novel Coronavirus of 2019 (COVID-19; Gillings School of Global Public Health, n.d.) caused an extensive disruption of education systems worldwide. Elementary and secondary schools began to close to students and staff to protect them from potential exposure to the virus (Masonbrink & Hurley, 2020). Nearly 1.6 billion students in over 200 countries had their learning impacted on some level, causing changes in traditional educational practices (Pokhrel & Chhetri, 2021). One profound change in educational practice was the shift from face-to-face learning to online learning alternatives. Using the State of New Hampshire data allowed for a unique analysis of how …

The Relationship Between State-Level Career And Technical Education (Cte) Policies And Secondary Student Enrollment In Construction, Manufacturing, And Health Sciences Cte Programs, Brittany A. Kitterman

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Across the United States, employers in construction, manufacturing, and healthcare report ongoing difficulty filling positions. These shortages have been driven by an aging workforce, increased demand, and high rates of retirement. Compounding these shortages, Federal investments such as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the CHIPS Act have further increased demand. Career and Technical Education programs are well positioned to support workforce development and help close workforce shortages, but access and participation remain limited. Supported by Federal Perkins funding, states have enacted CTE policies to increase access and enrollment in CTE programs aligned with high-demand industries such as construction, …