Teacher Education and Professional Development Commons^™

Teachers’ Exposure To Professional Development And The Quality Of Their Instructional Technology Use: The Mediating Role Of Teachers’ Value And Ability Beliefs, Margaret A. Bowman, Vanessa W. Vongkulluksn, Zilu Jiang, Kui Xie

Educational Psychology, Leadership, and Higher Education Faculty Research

© 2020 The Author(s). Published with license by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. One way to help teachers use technology effectively is through professional development (PD). However, understanding of how exposure to PD relates to teachers’ personal characteristics is limited. The purpose of this research was to investigate the relationships among PD exposure, teachers’ abilities and values, and teachers’ quality of technology integration according to Bloom’s taxonomy. By surveying 724 middle and high school teachers, and using structural equation modeling, this study showed that values mediate the influence of PD exposure on technology integration. Results suggest that PD may be …

Trauma-Informed Performance Art Education, Yvonne Houy, Kymberly Mellen, Alethea Inns, Morgan Iommi

Creative Collaborations

Trauma is the emotional response to a disturbing event or series of events, and can cause symptoms such as unpredictable emotions, flashbacks, headaches, and nausea, according to the American Psychological Association (2022). Learning activities in the performing arts - such as adjusting the body through touch, or the emotional content of scenes - can retraumatize students unintentionally. In contrast, creating the conditions for emotional states that enhance learning is a science, and an art, that can support conditions for optimal performance including Flow states

Performing arts educators can proactively support students and performances by becoming trauma-informed and actively using intimacy …

How Do Beliefs Come Into Play? An Examination Of The Influence Of Core Conceptions On Science Teachers’ Inquiry Lesson Plan Designs, Mehmet Fatih Dulger

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Teaching science through inquiry-based methodologies has been advocated by several governmental and professional organizations (National Research Council [NRC], 2000; NGSS Lead States, 2013); however, their use is not widespread. Why is this? What science teachers do in their classrooms is shaped by their beliefs, especially their beliefs about the nature of science, about the goals and purposes of school science and the goals of teaching science, and about the teaching and learning science. By critically examining these core conceptions and their influence on teacher lesson planning, this study aims to shed light on the role conceptions play when teachers design …

Problematizing The Use Of The Cultural Autobiography In Pre-Service Multicultural Education Courses, Aaron C. Bruewer, Gilbert Park, Jayne Beilke

Taboo: The Journal of Culture and Education

This paper explores the qualitative methodology of narrative life history as an instructional tool for pre-service teachers at a midwestern regional public university. Specifically, the authors problematize the use of the cultural autobiography assignment for undergraduate teacher candidates enrolled in required multicultural education courses in order to evolve its use. While life history has the potential to promote critical reflections on one’s own position in a complex interplay of power relations, it can also reify pre-existing prejudicial attitudes as currently used. The paper includes composite quotes from the papers of 85 undergraduate students to support authors investigation, as they suggest …

Learning As We Grow: A Multiple Case Study Of Teachers Experiences With Graduate Online Courses, Erica K. Reid

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Teacher professional development in the United States has significant gaps in practical training. In the state of Nevada, research has shown discrepancies between the retention of skills from training sessions and the ability to transfer learned methods into daily classroom practices. Previous studies have investigated teacher professional development and understanding its influence on student learning. Furthermore, the limits in framework design for contemporary approaches to professional development in online mediums has created inconsistencies in measuring outcomes. Finally, current research has resulted in mixed reviews concerning training in nontraditional online courses offered through graduate courses in various organizations. This research explored …

Understanding And Addressing Preservice Elementary Teachers’ Misconceptions In Science Education, Nicole Juliana Thomas

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Prior research has demonstrated that both children and adults alike hold misconceptions about various scientific phenomena (Snyder & Sullivan, 1995; Driver et al., 1985). These misconceptions range from a variety of different fields, including astronomy and space science, environmental biology, and geology, among others (Miller & Brewer, 2010; Wandersee et al., 1994; Ritger & Cummins, 1991). Research suggests that the vast majority of misconceptions are formed early in a students’ educational career, and these misconceptions could be held throughout adulthood unless they are sufficiently addressed (Coley & Tanner, 2012; Posner et al., 1982; Nehm & Reilly, 2007; Sadler et al., …

Improving K-12 Education For Hispanic Students In Las Vegas And Beyond, Richard Reeves, Ember Smith

Policy Briefs and Reports

Public K-12 education serves as a launching pad for economic mobility and opportunity, preparing students for college or a good-paying job. Despite K-12 education’s influence on later-in-life outcomes, schools often underserve students of color. Hispanic students in particular constitute a significant and growing portion of the U.S. student population yet are often overlooked in education literature because they are not the lowest performing demographic. In this brief, we examine how well public K-12 education serves Hispanic students in Clark County, where nearly half of students are Hispanic. We then consider factors that may influence student performance, including both in-school factors …

Path To Success: Examining A Multifaceted Retention Model For Major Pathways Students At A Large, Diverse Research University, Dan Gianoutsos, Anne White, Brandy Smith, Nicole Stella

Academic Success Center Faculty Research

This study examines a retention model designed for the understudied, at-risk, Major Pathways students, at a large, diverse, research university. Major Pathways students were defined as undergraduates who initially selected their major during the admission process and while they were accepted to the institution, they were not admitted into their desired major/college primarily due to their math test scores. The retention model included a strategic new student orientation, marketing/outreach, proactive academic advising, and a specialized first-year seminar. The fall-to-spring retention rate increased from 84.5% to 88.5% to 89.6% to 89.7% and increased the fall-to-fall retention rate by 12.9 percentage points.

School Climate, Teacher Self-Efficacy, And Teaching Practices: Evidence From Talis 2018, Chengcheng Li

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Since the enactment of Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) in 2016, K-12 schools in the U.S. have responded to the challenge with various instructional reform initiatives. School climate, teaching practices, and teacher self-efficacy are important aspects of research as they affect students’ learning. The purpose of this study was twofold: first, to evaluate the goodness of fit of the three hypothesized mediation models with the data from the Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS) using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM); and second, to determine the interrelations between teacher self-efficacy, school climate, and teaching practices. To address the research questions and hypotheses, …

Finding Ways To Increase Physical Activity In Students With Disabilities In A Social Distanced World, Paula Kerchenski

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Obesity in the United States is becoming a problem that negatively affects the life expectancy of young children, which for the first time in history is moving in the wrong direction (Ogden et al., 2014). According to obesity trend data, obesity has tripled in children from 5% in 1978 to 18.5% in 2016 (Anderson et al., 2019). For our students with disabilities, obesity rates are two times higher than students without disabilities (Neter et al., 2011). Although physical activity is considered an essential component of a young child’s health and development, the lack of physical activity attributes to the obesity …

Understanding Visual Language And Visual Literacy: A Case Study Of Young Children’S Meaning Making Of Complex Wordless Picturebooks, Yunying Xu

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The world is quickly evolving and young children interact with technology more often and may have more interactions with technology than print materials. Incorporating wordless picturebooks into literacy instruction, specifically complex books that include multiple storylines, unconventional structures, figurative visual language, etc., provides a perfect medium for teachers to address the demands of this increasingly multimodal world and also the Common Core State Standards. This dissertation is a qualitative case study (Yin, 2017) that aimed to investigate how young children aged 3 to 6 made meaning of complex wordless picturebooks. This dissertation attempted to answer the following four research questions: …

Effects Of An Online Learning Module For Pediatricians Regarding Early Intervention Services, Nicole L. Atwell

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Pediatricians serve a vital role in identifying young children with developmental delays and disabilities and referring families for services to support their children’s development and learning. However, past researchers indicated there is minimal research on training pediatricians on the Part C early intervention (EI) process that supports young children with developmental delays and disabilities. This study examined the effectiveness of a web-based training on pediatricians' knowledge of EI services and referral processes. The training components included interactive, online modules and paper resources directed towards an understanding of EI services. A convergent parallel mixed-methods study design was used to determine the …

A Project-Based Literature Review Of Girls In Stem Day: A Day-Long Stem Event For Middle School Girls, Emily Carter, Tina Vo

Spectra Undergraduate Research Journal

Research specifically targeted at youth participation in STEM highlights the importance of community engagements outside of school to bolster interest in STEM. Representation of women in STEM and encouragement of girls’ participation and interest in STEM fields parallels the importance of designing and implementing curriculums that enhance middle school-aged girls’ participation in STEM fields. The Girls in STEM Day program hosted by UNLV Scientista Foundation is designed to encourage middle school girls of color from the Clark County School District to find interest in STEM. Interactive activities and framework analysis of the program provides prospective success towards increasing interest and …

Retention Starts With Preparation: Preparing Black And Latinx Teachers Through Alternative Routes To Licensure, Iesha Jackson, Doris L. Watson

Policy Issues in Nevada Education: Policy Papers

Problem. Critical to the support and success of students of color is support for Black and Latinx teachers. Yet, teacher preparation programs often neglect the culturally relevant perspectives and experiences of teachers of color. This can contribute to retention issues given challenging school climates that Black and Latinx teachers must navigate. Purpose. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of sound teacher recruitment, preparation, and retention practices nationally and draw alignment to the state of Ne- vada. We focus on alternative routes to licensure (ARL) because such programs are touted for increasing the number of teachers of …

Educational Equity Perspectives In Response To The Black Lives Matter Movement: A Road Map For Nevada, Patrice Leverett, Lawrence Jackson, Neffisatu Dambo, Jared Lau

Policy Issues in Nevada Education: Policy Papers

Problem. Communities across Nevada call for more equitable practices, especially to reduce contact between communities of color and law enforcement, particularly in the African American community. By increasing our cultural awareness and highlighting the commitment of the state to support an Antirac- ist Nevada, we foresee a reduction in unrest and an increase in educational outcomes across all student groups. Purpose. The purpose of this policy paper is to highlight the importance of addressing racism and racialized bias in education. Recommendations. To address the rising need for equity practices and poli- cies in Nevada, we propose six recommendations to acknowledge …

Renewed Purposes For Social Studies Teacher Preparation: An Analysis Of Teacher Self-Efficacy And Initial Teacher Education, Leona Calkins, Paul J. Yoder, Peter Wiens

Teaching and Learning Faculty Research

Using data from TALIS 2018, this study analyzed the relationship of U.S. social studies teachers’ initial teacher education (ITE) and their self-efficacy, with an emphasis on the newly added construct of multicultural teacher self-efficacy. Results indicated that content and pedagogy training is present in the vast majority of ITE programs that U.S. social studies teachers have attended; however, over one quarter of participants reported no training in teaching in a multilingual or multicultural setting during their ITE. Social studies teachers were more self-efficacious about instruction and classroom management than they were about student engagement and teaching in multicultural classrooms. All …

Career And Technical Education Experiences Relationship To Technology Attitudes, Self-Regulation And Grit, Kendall Hartley, Xue Xing

Teaching and Learning Faculty Research

Career and Technical Education (CTE) secondary school experiences have a positive impact on career development and academic achievement. This study explores other positive impacts such as technology attitudes, persistence, and cognitive traits that are associated with career and academic success. This study investigated the relationships between high school CTE experiences of 103 pre-service education students and technology attitudes, grit, and self-regulated learning. The results demonstrate a statistically significant positive correlation between the number of CTE courses taken in high school and technology dependence. Similarly, there is a positive correlation between CTE courses and self-regulatory skills. Grit was positively correlated with …

Addressing Disproportionality In School Discipline Through Alternatives To Exclusionary Discipline Practices, Kevin Matthew Higley

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Tasked with ensuring that school environments are safe and orderly, school administrators spend an increasingly inordinate amount of time and energy on managing student discipline. Often, when students commit egregious behaviors or violate school policy, schools resort to out-of-school disciplinary consequences, i.e. suspension, expulsion, or alternative educational placements, in attempts to reduce problem behaviors from recurring. Historically though, these exclusionary discipline practices have led to the unfair treatment of some students, (e.g., Black/African American students, male students, and/or students with disabilities). This disproportionate practice is often cited as the genesis for the school-to prison pipeline phenomenon. From a behaviorist perspective, …

Agricultural Education Teacher Candidates’ Reflection On The 15-Week Clinical Teaching Internship: A Collective Case Study, Christopher J. Eck, Jon W. Ramsey, Nathan Smith

Journal of Research in Technical Careers

This collective case study explored the integration of video reflection during the 15-week clinical teaching internship at three distinct points in time. Weeks three, seven, and 11 were investigated to determine if the integration of video reflection improved the quality of teacher candidate reflection and to gauge teacher candidates’ views on agricultural education during the clinical teaching internship. Four overarching themes emerged from the video reflections: establishing roles as a teacher, teaching and learning, balance, and coming full circle. Throughout the internship, candidates expressed a deeper understanding of teaching within the three-component model of school-based agricultural education (SBAE). We recommend …

Potential Mentoring Impacts On Oklahoma Induction-Year School-Based Agricultural Education Teachers: A Modified Delphi Study, Jessica M. Toombs, Jon W. Ramsey

Journal of Research in Technical Careers

Literature supports benefits of mentoring for induction-year school-based agricultural education (SBAE) teachers. Yet for the past 15 years, no structured mentoring program has been offered for Oklahoma SBAE induction-year teachers. This study sought to find consensus among an expert panel representing Oklahoma SBAE regarding the impact on induction-year SBAE teachers without a structured mentoring program. Panel members were asked to respond to three open-ended questions representing goals, outcomes, and impacts of a mentoring program. Sixty-two unique statements representing eight themes met consensus. Themes included building mentoring relationships, effective emotional management, effective SBAE program management, impact to the profession, student learning, …

Doctoral Program Design Based On Technology-Based Situated Learning And Mentoring: A Comparison Of Part-Time And Full-Time Doctoral Students, Shaoan Zhang, Chengcheng Li, Mark Carroll, P. G. Schrader

Teaching and Learning Faculty Research

Aim/Purpose: Most programs are designed with full-time doctoral students’ characteristics and needs in mind; few programs consider the unique needs of part-time doctoral students, including time restrictions, experiences during the program, identity development, and different professional aspirations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential differences between part-time and full-time doctoral students in their scholarly development, and how technology may serve as a communication and organization tool for individual and program support. Background: Built on the application of communities of practice, information and communication technology, and situated learning theory, this study sought to evaluate the potential differences among …

A Graphic Novel Tasting: Develop Your Professional Palate For Young Adult Comics, Amanda Melilli

Library Faculty Presentations

Staying knowledgeable of the newest YA graphic novels can be a daunting task. This session will discuss some of the struggles that educators new to graphic novels face as well as a fun activity that participants can do on their own (or together!) to increase their knowledge of the format.

Reflections Of An Early Literacy Professional Learning Community: An Interactional Ethnographic Case Study Of Transforming Pedagogy Through Reflective Practice, Carly Waters

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Teachers have historically been faced with extrinsic factors, such as federal, state, and local mandates, that leave them feeling disempowered (Slattery, 2006; Spring 2018). In response to low reading proficiency, many states have adopted Read by Grade Three laws, some of which require or make optional retention of students that are not reading proficiently by the end of third grade. Laws such as these, though well-intentioned, provide another external force that leave teachers feeling stressed and chained to practices they are told to implement. Effective professional development that targets both strong early literacy pedagogy and the empowerment of teachers may …

The Relationship Between Teacher Identity And Teacher Retention In Title 1 Schools: A Multiple Case Study, Michelle A. Arroyo

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Teacher turnover is a significant phenomenon and a dominant factor driving demand for new teachers and, in turn, creating school staffing problems. Retaining teachers in the classroom is critical to properly serve a growing and diverse student population. The purpose of this case study was to investigate critical components that cause teachers to remain teaching in Title 1, hard to staff schools and how their professional identities contribute to that decision. A qualitative research design was used by conducting one interview with seven teachers employed at a Title 1 elementary school in the Southwest portion of the United States.

The …

Teaching Students With Special Needs In School-Based, Agricultural Education: A Historical Inquiry, Kathryn L. Teixeira, M. Craig Edwards

Journal of Research in Technical Careers

The purpose of this historical study was to investigate the inclusion of students with special needs in school-based, agricultural education as reported by The Agricultural Education Magazine and the Journal of Agricultural Education over a time period of six decades. The impact of landmark legislation, such as the Vocational Education Act of 1963, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975, and the Individuals with Disabilities Act of 1990, were examined. This legislation motivated and supported agricultural education’s efforts to meet the learning needs of special education students by providing modified …

How Aspiring Principals Applied Course-Based Learning To Develop School Improvement Plans, Dana L. Bickmore, Maria M. Roberts, Miguel M. Gonzales

Educational Psychology, Leadership, and Higher Education Faculty Research

© 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited. Purpose: School improvement planning and implementation is one organizational process by which principals may positively impact school and student outcomes. Limited research, however, has explored how principal preparation programs prepare aspiring leaders for this common school leadership activity. This study examined aspiring principals engaged in the school improvement process by evaluating what they included in their school improvement plans (SIPs) that were developed as part of their field experience. Design/methodology/approach: The authors examined SIPs aspiring principals collaboratively developed as part of their field experience. Using an abductive analysis method, combining both deductive and inductive coding …

College And Career Preparation Activities And Their Influence On Post-High School Education And Work Attainment, Xue Xing, Margarita Huerta, Tiberio Garza

Teaching and Learning Faculty Research

This study examined students’ participation in college and career preparation activities in high school, and the relationship between participation in these activities and students’ education and work attainment within one year of high school graduation. This study used the High School Longitudinal Study of 2009 (HSLS:2009) dataset and participants included 12,217 public school students with 6,046 (49.49%) boys and 6,171 (50.51%) girls. Data analysis included descriptive statistics and multinomial logistic regression. Results indicate that socioeconomic status was the only significant predictor across all post-high school education and work outcomes. Significant predictors of post-high school education/work attainment were found but differed …

A Comparative Analysis Of The Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale-Revised And Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale, Third Edition, Jennifer Neitzel, Diane Early, John Sideris, Dore Laforrett, Michael B. Abel, Margaret Soli, Dawn L. Davidson, Amanda Haboush-Deloye, Linda L. Hestenes, Denise Jenson, Cindy Johnson, Jennifer Kalas, Angela Mamrak, Marie L. Masterson, Sharon U. Mims, Patti Oya, Bobbi Philson, Megan Showalter, Mallory Warner-Richter, Jill Kortright Wood

School of Public Health Faculty Research

The Early Childhood Environment Rating Scales, including the Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale–Revised (Harms et al., 2005) and the Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale, Third Edition (Harms et al., 2015) are the most widely used observational assessments in early childhood learning environments. The most recent version of the scale addresses some of the criticisms in the research literature, particularly related to the organization of the Scale and the standard scoring procedures. In the current study, we explore the relationship between the two scales. Specifically, we evaluated the correlations between the Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale–Revised and the Early Childhood Environment …

An Analysis Of Teacher Training Concerning The Identification Of Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Brittany Jo Desnoyer

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Given recent revisions to the diagnostic criteria as it pertains to students with ASD (DSM-V; APA, 2013), several studies have raised concern that future diagnosis will be limited (McPartland et al., 2012). However, prevalence rates of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) have continued to rise since its release (Baio et al., 2018). Because special education referrals are subject to bias, and positively correlated with a high probably of subsequent diagnosis (Ysseldyke & Algozzine, 1981), the role of the educator warrants exploration.

This study investigated the level of training provided to pre-service and in-service general and special educators in the DSM-IV (APA, …

Exploring Preservice Teacher Agency Influencing Power Relationships With Teacher Educators: A Multiple Case Study, Steve Hayden

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Teacher agency is the temporal and ecological understanding of a teacher’s capacity to make choices, take principled action, and enact positive change. A teacher’s agency relies on context and is measured on a continuum, with agency contingent on the reciprocal relationship between the individual and the structural environment. Structure influences teachers’ professional practice, but teachers must reciprocally influence power relationships within the structural school context to be successful and active contributors to the education process. Teacher agency is an essential dimension of effective professional practice because of its ability to highlight the required skillset of successful teachers. Because preservice teachers …