Teacher Education and Professional Development Commons^™

Using Project-Based Learning As A Tool For Teaching Mathematics In Urban Elementary Schools, Bernadette Jaster

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

The purpose of this study was to investigate how the lived experiences and views of fourth- and fifth-grade math teachers who implemented project-based learning (PBL) addressed the needs of their at-risk students in urban schools. The researcher examined the use of PBL in mathematics-impacted instruction, seeking to understand teacher beliefs related to the influence of exposure to PBL experiences on students' academic outcomes. When deliberately planned and embedded into teaching, the implementation of PBL helps students retain content, improve attitudes about learning, and improve their ability to collaborate with others (Cervantes et al., 2015). A literature review was conducted to …

Disability- And Mathematics-Related Outcomes Of Adolescents Born Late-Preterm: An Examination Of Eighth-Grade Ecls-K Participants, Annette Romualdo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

To capture a snapshot of the late-preterm academic phenotype in adolescence, and to address a research gap in empirical investigation, the researcher in the present study compared disability- and mathematics-related eighth-grade age outcomes of those born late-preterm (n = 330), to full-term (n = 5434) peers. Through an analysis of Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998-99 (ECLS-K) the researcher in the present study examined the impact of late-preterm birth on disability-related school outcomes in adolescent-age, as measured by (1) presence of special education services; (2) presence of learning disability or other disability; (3) and presence of increased behavioral …

The Influence Of Ideas, Experiences, And Perceptions On Civics Teachers' Pedagogical Approaches: A Phenomenological Study, Allison Sheridan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

In order for democracies to survive, citizens need to be knowledgeable, active members of society. Schools in the United States, more importantly teachers, are often tasked with the responsibility to pass on the knowledge and skills to future generations. The purpose of this research study was to examine and describe how civics teachers' personal experiences, perceptions and ideas influence their pedagogical approaches. While past research has examined the attitudes and dispositions of students, as well as self-report measures of what teachers indicate they are doing in their classroom, no studies have actually observed civics teachers' pedagogical approaches. Five participants were …

Special Education Teacher Retention In The Early Years, Caroll Brant

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The intent of this qualitative study was to examine the impact of intrinsic motivators and extrinsic workplace experiences on the retention of beginning special education teachers of students with low incidence disabilities (LIDs). This study was designed in response to district leaders’ shared concerns of the continuous turnover experienced annually in several districts in a region of a southern state. Two research questions were developed to gain a deeper insight into the influence intrinsic and extrinsic factors have on beginning special education teachers’ decisions to stay in the self-contained, LID classroom. Ten beginning special education LID teachers participated in interviews …

Perceptions Of Administrators And Teachers As Facilitators Of Students’ Socioemotional Learning, Crystal January

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Current conditions in the United States have resulted in an increasing number of middle and high school students experiencing trauma. To improve positive learning environments and graduation rates, a Southern school district transitioned from punitive, exclusionary consequences to restorative practices such as socioemotional learning (SEL). A bounded qualitative case study was used to explore the perceptions of administrators and teachers regarding teachers’ facilitation of SEL, the most effective strategies to facilitate SEL, and teacher preparedness to facilitate SEL. The study was guided by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning framework. Data were collected from 5 teachers and 3 …

Elementary Principals’ Constraints And Considerations When Hiring And Assigning Mathematics Teachers, Kathleen Schofield

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Quality issues existed in mathematics instruction in elementary classrooms in a region in Florida. As a possible contributor to that problem, principals were hiring and assigning mathematics teachers who may have possessed insufficient content knowledge. Elementary teachers are frequently teamed in the region, with 1 teacher assigned to provide instruction in mathematics and the other to provide literacy instruction. The purpose of this study was to understand factors elementary school principals considered when hiring and assigning mathematics teachers as well as possible budgetary and other constraints that may have affected the depth of the applicant pool and related staffing decisions. …

Reviving The Rules, Roles, And Rituals Of Resiliency, Don Offutt

Theses and Dissertations--Curriculum and Instruction

This descriptive case study of a historical period in education in the Commonwealth of Kentucky identifies the resiliency factors utilized by the first class to desegregate the Bowling Green, Kentucky, public school system. The participants in the study were members of the first African-American class to integrate the Bowling Green school system in 1965.

Critical Race Theory provided the tenets undergirding the research study. The qualitative research methods included conducting semi-structured interviews with participants; studying documents and artifacts from the era; having conversations with community members and educators; and collecting, archiving, and housing Bowling Green African-American education documents, artifacts, and …

New Teacher Induction: Improving Teacher Self-Efficacy, William Jesse Bacon

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Leadership Studies

Induction programs are comprehensive initiations or introductions to a position that provides beginning teachers with the necessary tools for starting their teaching careers, as well as specific guidance aimed at helping them meet performance standards. Induction programs may include mentoring, assistance in planning, professional development, and evaluation. Other terms used for induction include support, orientation, training, internship, assistance or assessment programs, retention programs, beginning teacher program, transitional program for existing teacher, cohort program, phase-in, professional development, and workshops. School districts across the country have turned to effective induction programs in response to rising teacher attrition rates. Comprehensive induction programs that …

Bridging The Gap: Effects Of Dual Credit College Algebra On Postsecondary Education Outcomes, Karen S. Heavin

Theses and Dissertations--Education Sciences

The contraction of the blue-collar economy is slowly rendering the high school diploma obsolete as an entry-level requirement for middle class employability. Over the last 40 years, jobs requiring some sort of postsecondary education or post-high school credential increased from 28% to 62%, while lower-skilled jobs, traditionally filled by high school graduates or those without a high school diploma, decreased from 72% to 38%. As automation slowly replaces the blue-collar workforce, it is critical that our educational system provides all students the necessary tools to successfully complete a postsecondary degree or credential.

This study examined two groups of graduating high …

Diagnosis Of Misconceptions With Coherent Underlying Structure In Learning Diffusion, Man Su, J. Yohan Cho, Brandon Vanbibber, Jesse Ha, Michelene Chi

Department of Teaching and Learning Scholarship and Creative Works

This classroom study, involving 149 high school students, investigates structure, coherence and frequencies of misconceptions students have while learning diffusion via a simulation. The results show that misconceptions are not random ideas, but rather have underlying structures and can be systematically characterized by the PAIR-C framework, which aims to help students understand the nature of emergent processes embedded in their school curricula. The article concludes with a discussion of implications to foster deeper understanding of misconceptions from a systematic, structured perspective.

The Leadership Stories Of Students Of Color At Predominantly White Christian Institutions, Sharia Hays

Growth: The Journal of the Association for Christians in Student Development

Leadership has been identified as an important component of higher education and the college student experience (Dugan, 2006; Komives, Dugan, & Owen, 2011; Shertzer & Schuh, 2004; St. John, Rowley, & Hu, 2009). Although there has been an in-crease in leadership initiatives across higher education, many institutions, specifically dominantly White Christian institutions have struggled to find ways to involve students of color in leadership. Utilizing a phenomenological approach, this study explored the leadership experiences of 11 students of color from 3 dominantly White Christian institutions (DWI). This article will provide a broad overview of the study while focusing on how …

2020 Program And Abstracts For The Celebration Of Student Scholarship, Office Of Research And Sponsored Programs. Morehead State University.

Office of Research and Sponsored Programs Reports and Publications

Program and Abstracts from the Celebration of Student Scholarship held in the Spring of 2020.

A Systematic Review Of Peer-Mediated Interventions And Topic Maintenance For Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Alyssa Colston

Theses and Dissertations--Early Childhood, Special Education, and Counselor Education

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the current literature on the use of peer mediated instruction to address topic maintenance for indiviuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A literature review using the standards recommended by the What Works Clearinghouse was conducted. The studies included in the review met the following criteria: (a) use of SCRD; (b) inclusion of at least one participant with ASD as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Mental Disorders, 4th edition, Text Revision (American Psychiatric Association, 2000) or DSM-5 diagnosis of ASD; (c) examination of the use of peer instruction containing any of the …

Supporting Novice Mathematics Teacher Educators Teaching Elementary Mathematics Content Courses For The First Time, Siobahn Suppa, Joseph Dinapoli, Eva Thanheiser, Jennifer M. Tobias, Sheunghyun Yeo

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Publications and Presentations

In order to be effectively prepared by a teacher education program, prospective elementary teachers (PTs) need to experience high quality mathematics instruction in their mathematics content courses. The instructors of these courses typically consist of individuals (mathematicians and mathematics educators) with ranging experiences, from tenured faculty members to first-year assistant professors or graduate students. This paper explores how to support novice mathematics teacher educators (MTEs) who are teaching elementary content coursework for PTs for the first time. We detail and describe how to implement three systems for supporting novice MTEs: working with a mentor, being provided with educative curriculum materials, …

Performance Feedback In Teacher Preparation: Improving Preservice Teachers’ Use Of High Leverage Practices Through Mixed-Reality Simulation, Kate Zimmer, Melissa Driver, Patricia Alvarez Mchatton

Faculty Articles

Challenging classroom behaviors are a leading cause of beginning teachers’ stress and attrition. It has been a longstanding criticism that teacher preparation programs are not adequately providing preservice teachers with the proper strategies to help them deal with behavior problems effectively. This study examines the effects of performance feedback and deliberate practice using a mixed-reality simulation on preservice teachers’ use of high leverage practices. Simulators are well suited for training preservice teachers in high leverage practices because it allows for repeated practice and opportunities for performance feedback. Findings are presented from research on the use of performance feedback and deliberate …

An Investigation Of California Classroom Teachers' Beliefs And Ratings Of Creativity In Dance, Patricia R. Reedy

Doctoral Dissertations

Creativity is a fundamental aim of art education. Because classroom teachers are responsible for teaching the arts at the elementary-school level, how they perceive and recognize creativity effects the quality of art education their students receive. This study investigated California teachers' beliefs about creativity in dance and the relationship of their beliefs to their ratings of student dance compositions. It also investigated the extent of agreement in creativity ratings across teachers and between teachers and dance experts. Classroom teachers’ beliefs were collected through a research-constructed questionnaire, and classroom teachers (n=74) and dance experts (n=35) rated students’ creative-dance products using a …

Bruchlinien Der Inklusion, Justin A. Haegele, Martin Giese, Wesley J. Wilson, Felix Oldörp

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

This paper will call for action in one space that is commonly among the first to act as a testing ground for integrated education, physical education. The purposes of this article are twofold: (1) to provide a brief review of research examining integrated physical education from the viewpoints of those with disabilities and (2) to provide several points of reference for future research in this area of inquiry. In addressing these purposes, we first present a review of scholarship salient to the subjective experiences of students with disabilities in integrated physical education. Then, to illustrate and extend this research, an …

A Window, Mirror, And Wall: How Educators Use Twitter For Professional Learning, Elizabeth Sturm, Laura Quaynor

Education Department Faculty Articles

Teachers and other professionals increasingly utilize Twitter as a medium for professional expression and professional learning. These types of Twitter exchanges often take place in formal chats which are moderated by professional organizations or other knowledge brokers in the field. As moderated public online forums become more common, educators may wish to understand the benefits and limitations of this type of professional learning. This paper reports on a study of educators’ discourse in two hosted Twitter chats focused on global education and analyzes the ways in which these types of chats align with research on high-quality professional learning. Results indicate …

The Impact Of Research-Based Professional Development On Teacher Self-Efficacy And Collective Efficacy Beliefs With Respect To Applying Techniques From Teach Like A Champion 2.0, Rhonda L. Partin-Dunn

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This mixed methods research examined the impact of professional development on teacher self-efficacy and collective efficacy beliefs with respect to applying techniques from Teach Like A Champion 2.0. Increasing research shows there is a positive correlation between student achievement and high levels of teacher self-efficacy. Studies on teacher preparation acknowledge the role professional development plays on both teacher self-efficacy and collective efficacy beliefs. Additionally, research-based best practices like the techniques found in Teach Like A Champion 2.0 have been established as behaviors of highly efficacious teachers. The study assessed teacher self-efficacy and collective efficacy beliefs, provided research-based professional development, …

What Student Information Do Teachers Find Valuable Enough To Change Their Practices?, Heather Becksted

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

This Teacher Survey study follows-up my school district’s Parent Interview conducted by teachers on children’s interests, parents’ hopes and fears for their children, how the school can communicate with parents, and areas the school can improve. The intent of the district’s Parent Interview was to improve teacher awareness of student and family needs, influence the teachers to scaffold their curriculum to support student needs and become more motivated to be involved with long-term initiatives that could improve student and family support within the district. However, the Parent Interview did not ask teachers about their views of what, if any, Parent …

The Voice Of The Gods Is Crippling: Law School For Helicoptered Millennials, Katerina P. Lewinbuk, Taci Villarreal, Elena Bolonina

St. Mary's Journal on Legal Malpractice & Ethics

As millennials dominate law school classrooms, many professors are recognizing the importance of altering the traditional methods of teaching law. Millennials act, think, and learn differently. Numerous factors are linked to why this new generation of law students is distinctively different than previous generations. This article examines these factors and how they influence millennials’ learning styles. Alternative methods of teaching millennial law students are also discussed and proposed, along with a specific example of a tailored professional responsibility textbook and course to the modern law student.

The Implementation Of An Interdisciplinary Literacy Approach To Examine Effects On Writing Self-Efficacy In A Fourth Grade Classroom, Chelsea Wharin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

This qualitative action research examines the effects, if any at all, the implementation of an interdisciplinary literacy unit in a fourth-grade classroom had on students' perceived writing self-efficacy. This study aims to inform the teacher-researcher to make actionable changes to current teaching. Additionally, this study continues the research and discussion surrounding how educators and stakeholders approach instruction. This research required participants to complete a pre-writing self-efficacy survey, participate in an interdisciplinary literacy unit and then complete a post writing self-efficacy survey. The interdisciplinary literacy unit took place during the distance learning environment that was a result of the global pandemic, …

A Study Of Writing Quality Of Elementary Preservice Teachers: How Teacher Educator Instruction Impacts Writing Improvement In One Semester, Marci Clark

Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023

This explanatory sequential mixed methods study was guided by two questions: (1) does the quality of preservice teachers' writing improve over the course of one semester and (2) in what ways do two teacher educators' writing instruction affect preservice teachers' quality of writing within the timeframe of a single methods course? The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to test for statistically significant differences in the writing quality of 48 preservice teachers. Participant writing samples were collected before and after taking a single writing methods course. The criteria used to measure the writing quality was the 6 + 1 Writing traits: …

Teachers' Perspectives On The Prepared Environment As A Component Of The Toddler Curriculum, Maria Varela

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

There is insufficient research about teachers' perspectives on the prepared environment as a component of toddler program curriculum. Previous studies suggested the need to further investigate how teachers prepare toddler program environments to promote children's optimum development to meet their developmental milestones in group-based education. The conceptual framework for this study was grounded in Montessori's prepared environment and Malaguzzi's concept of environment as the third teacher. Twelve teachers with 3-19 years of experience in toddler education programs participated in semistructured interviews to answer three research questions about their perspectives on the prepared environment as a component of toddler program curriculum …

Lecture Versus Collaborative Learning Methods In Community College Classrooms, Gwendolyn A. Vaughn

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract

Educational scholars have recommended using collaborative learning in higher education classrooms to improve the learning outcomes of community college students. The problem is that many community college instructors continue to use traditional lecture methods, which might be due to instructors not being convinced of the merits of collaborative learning. The purpose of this quasi-experimental, causal-comparative, repeated measures, research study was to examine the difference between pre- and posttest change scores on the Personal Community Health assessment of students who were taught with the collaborative method and students who were taught with the lecture method. The theoretical foundation for this …

Culturally Collaborative Teaching: A Path Toward Black Student Learning, J. Love Benton

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Inservice teachers’ influence and power are vital components for academic success among Black children. Previous research has shown that when teacher/student interactions are culturally responsive, engaging, and equitable, student learning is positively impacted (Banks, 2001; Gay, 2010; Ladson-Billings, 2011; Sleeter, 2000; Warren, 2018). However, equity gaps between Black and White k-12 students continue to exist within classroom settings (Grant & Sleeter, 2012; Ladson-Billings, 2018). Using a mixed-method approach that includes Repertory Grid Technique underpinned by Personal Construct theory to identify the teaching perceptions of inservice teachers, I gathered data that indicate how k-12 teachers understand what enables Black students to …

Will The First Through Fifth Years Please Stand Up? Quantifying National Sbae Teacher Experience, Becky Haddad, Kelsey J. Knight, Josh Stewart, Johnathan Velez

Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communication: Faculty Publications

Research often references years of experience specific to participants, yet no compiled report exists for secondary school-based agricultural education (SBAE) to holistically quantify years of teaching experience. In addition, definitions accounting for experience fall short of capturing the myriad ways experience counts in the broader teaching profession. Our study addresses this missing piece of the teacher retention puzzle. Using Quiñones, Ford, and Teachout’s (1994) conceptual framework for work experience measures, our study quantified teacher experience in the National Association for Agricultural Education (NAAE). We analyzed National SBAE teacher experience through descriptive statistics, compared experience by region using an ANOVA model, …

An Investigation Of Problem-Based Learning On The Advanced Placement Exam Scores And Interest Of Ap Biology Students, Tia Hohler

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This study reports the effectiveness of problem-based learning (PBL) on the interest and Advanced Placement (AP) Biology exam scores of high school students. The experimental group was exposed to a constructivist PBL environment using an overarching unit problem, inquiry style lab investigations and white board discussions while the comparison group received direct instruction in the same curriculum. AP Biology exam scores were collected for two years with direct instruction and two years with PBL instruction. An interest survey was given to a subset of the experimental group and included students enrolled in the course during the 2019-2020 school year. Analysis …

Pandemic & Education: A Conversation Between Teacher Candidates, Jake Carlsen, Eric Jensen, Anna Krytenberg

Northwest Journal of Teacher Education

When Oregon public schools closed in March 2020 due to COVID-19, Jake, Eric, and Anna were headed into the full-time student teaching segment of their year-long teacher preparation practicum experience. While everyone has faced uncertainty during the pandemic, these beginning teachers also shared unique challenges. In April they came together for a conversation with a NWJTE editor to talk about their experiences, the obstacles and opportunities facing schools right now, and their hopes for their students and themselves. All three envision a 2020-2021 school year focused on equity, inclusivity, and the importance of access for all children.

A Study On Teacher Candidates’ Questioning Strategies For English Learners Through An Interactive Classroom Simulation, Alex P. Davies Ph.D., Donita Grissom Ph.D., Michele Regalla Ph.D.

Northwest Journal of Teacher Education

This study examines a classroom simulation workshop designed for teacher candidates (TCs) to practice questioning strategies with English learners (ELs) at various English proficiency levels, through the lens of sociocultural theory. Data was collected from an assignment in an ESOL methods course consisting of questions that TCs prepared before the simulation, revised after the simulation, and responses to an open-ended questionnaire. Findings show that TCs made their questions comprehensible for beginner level ELs, however, overextended their question modification to both the intermediate and advanced levels. Implications highlight the importance of practicing questioning strategies that are appropriate for all proficiency levels.