Teacher Education and Professional Development Commons^™

Volunteer Teachers’ Experience In Hospitality In Church-Based Esl Ministries, Susan M. Russo

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In adult ESL empirical studies addressing a variety of problems of practice, the concepts of welcome, hospitality, or inclusion are frequently mentioned as important by teachers and learners. An absence of empirical studies on the experience of hospitality has been noted by researchers, hence the need for exploratory studies. Additionally, this study served to contribute to the limited body of research on church-based ESL ministries, and more future studies are needed to provide a better research-driven picture of their challenges and impacts.

The purpose of this mixed methods, constructivist grounded theory study was to develop a grounded theory consistent …

Pre-Service Teacher Preparation In Over-/Underrepresentation Of Students From Culturally Linguistically Diverse Backgrounds In Special Education: A Systematic Review Of State-Level Policies, Enos Yushu Liu

Honors Theses

Students from culturally linguistically diverse (CLD) backgrounds require equitable access to special education services to support success in school. Overrepresentation and underrepresentation of students from CLD backgrounds are two issues that policymakers and school leaders need to address, and having teachers knowledgeable in these issues is essential. To determine if pre-service teachers are being trained in understanding over-/ underrepresentation issues, researchers conducted a systematic review of state-level teacher competency policies. Pre-service teacher competencies were coded for the presence of nine key elements related to culturally responsive special education identification practices. The results show that relatively few states require comprehensive pre-service …

Addressing Economic Instability And Workforce Turnover In Early Childhood Education: The Role Of Stipends, Wage Supplements, And Professional Development, Lucinda J. Leffler

Endeavors: Mississippi State Undergraduate Research Journal

Child care workers are vital to early childhood education, yet they face persistent economic instability, low wages, and high turnover rates. To address these challenges, states and policymakers have implemented stipends, wage supplements, and professional development programs aimed at improving financial security, job satisfaction, and workforce retention. This literature review examines the effectiveness of these initiatives across the United States, drawing on theoretical frameworks such as Vroom’s Expectancy Theory and Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory to contextualize their impact. Research indicates that financial incentives significantly reduce turnover, while professional development fosters job satisfaction and career advancement. However, sustainability concerns remain, particularly with …

Online Inclusivity: Mission And Best Practice, Colin P. Marks, Zoe Niesel

Faculty Works

This essay examines the role of inclusivity as a foundational principle in online legal education, arguing that it is essential to fulfilling institutional missions, aligning with established pedagogical best practices, and enhancing the overall learning experience. Drawing on the development of a fully online J.D. program, the piece outlines how inclusivity can be embedded at both the institutional and classroom levels. It highlights strategies for fostering a sense of community among geographically dispersed students, including integrating online learners into broader academic and co-curricular activities, designing courses that balance synchronous and asynchronous instruction, and implementing consistent instructional standards. The essay further …

Language And Literacy In Childhood Education, Ele203, Spring 2022 Syllabus, Natalie Willens

Open Educational Resources

Language and Literacy in Childhood Education is a designated capstone course. This writing intensive course provides a comprehensive overview of the development, learning, and teaching of literacy from grades one through six.

This course is designed to promote students’ understanding of the importance of issues concerning language and literacy in childhood education and their relevance to classroom practices. Topics covered throughout the semester include the relationship between written and spoken language and oral language development in children in culturally, academically, and linguistically diverse groups; literacy assessment; emergent literacy; phonemic awareness; fluency; reading comprehension; and literacy across the curriculum. We …

Advancing Digital Teaching Literacy: The M-Prae Model For Large-Scale Enhancement Of Primary And Secondary School Teachers, Youru Xie, Wan Xia, Caoyin Li, Yi Qiu

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

High-quality teachers are essential to building a strong educational system, with digital teaching literacy being crucial to their professional development. This study, informed by a review of existing research, addressed the need for enhancing the digital teaching literacy among primary and secondary school teachers. Utilizing the MOOC construction concept (Concept), MOOC teaching content (Content), and MOOC design and development (Development)CCD model and the large-scale capabilities of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), this study developed the M-PRAE model, which encompasses five components: building a MOOC, clarifying improvement problems, supplying digital and non-digital resources, implementing collaborative activities, and conducting multi-dimensional evidence-based evaluations. …

Effectiveness Of Multimodal Communicative Practices In Higher Artistic Education: An Analysis Of Contemporary Approaches, Mariia Tkach, Alla Kozyr, Mykhailo Mymryk, Nadiia Holubytska, Iryna Khomych

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

The relevance of the study is driven by the fact that in today’s world, higher education is increasingly oriented towards interactivity and the utilization of various resources. The aim of this article is to explore various aspects of multimodality and formulate key communicative practices in higher artistic education. Addressing the stated problem is based on theoretical methodology, including methods such as surveys, analytical approaches including historical and hermeneutic analysis, comparative methods, and systematization. Research findings demonstrate that multimodality effectively enriches the learning process, fosters critical thinking, and deepens understanding of subjects. Digital technologies contribute to enhancing students’ technological literacy, preparing …

Vol 18(1) List Of Reviewers

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

N/A

Evaluation Of Ste(A)M Education: An Analysis Of Research And Practices From 2014 To 2023, Billy T.M. Wong, Kam Cheong Li, Mengjin Liu

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and STEAM (by including Arts) education (hereafter STE(A)M education) has been widely studied and practiced. Evaluation plays an important role in assessing and improving the effectiveness of relevant initiatives. Although there has been extensive research on evaluating STE(A)M education, little attention has been paid to examining the patterns of said evaluations. To address the research gap, this paper analyses relevant work on the evaluation of STE(A)M education practices with respect to their countries/regions, levels of education, discipline domains, pedagogical approaches, objectives of evaluation, evaluation areas, as well as data collection and analysis methods. It …

Assessing Middle School Teachers' Digital Innovation Skills In Bisha Province: A Comprehensive Study, Ahmad Mohammad Aldaleel

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

This study aims to assess the digital innovation skills of 400 middle school teachers in the Bisha Province and evaluate their significance in the educational process. The survey reveals that instructors exhibit a high level of technological expertise and proficiency, namely in utilising search engines and databases to locate information. Nevertheless, their proficiency in using artificial intelligence applications in school is deficient. In terms of digital security, instructors are competent at generating strong passwords, but they lack understanding of cybercrimes and prevention solutions. Teachers have exceptional communication and cooperation abilities, emphasising ongoing learning and active involvement in professional development programs. …

Enhancing Key Digital Competence In Pre-Service Kindergarten Teachers: A Design-Centered Spoc Blended Learning Model, Lingming Lu, Jirarat Sitthiworachart, Sirirat Petsangsri

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

As our world becomes increasingly digital, educators must possess strong digital skills to effectively prepare their students for the future. However, traditional teacher education programs often neglect the cultivation of digital competence. To address this gap, this study developed a Design-Centered SPOC Blended Learning (DCSBL) model to enhance the digital competence of pre-service kindergarten teachers. The DCSBL model integrates elements of blended learning, design-based learning, and digital competency training strategies. A quasi-experimental study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of this model. The results indicated that the experimental group, which received DCSBL instruction, significantly outperformed the control group in terms …

Analyzing The Effectiveness Of The Readi System In Helping Non-Native English-Speaking Preschoolers In Sarawak Learn The Alphabet: A Pilot Study., Yen Vee Tan, Julia Ai Cheng Lee, Rehman Ullah Khan, Chwen Jen Chen, Kartini Abdul Ghani, Sarah Flora Samson Juan, Brian Chung Shiong Loh

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

In Sarawak, Malaysia, many children come from multicultural backgrounds and are predominantly non-native English speakers making preschool education essential for developing early literacy skills in English. However, high teacher-child ratios can impede effective learning. The READi system—a module-based, multisensory, web-based early literacy intervention—was introduced as a supplementary classroom tool to address this challenge. This pilot study specifically evaluated the effectiveness of the "Alphabet Adventure" module within the READi system on enhancing alphabet knowledge, with a focus on letter recognition and letter name knowledge. The research design employed a pretest-posttest control group approach grounded in the positivist paradigm. [YT1] Participants were …

A Study Of Image Editing Ai Awareness In Children: Can Ai That Lets Still Images Speak Capture The Interest Of Young Children?, Hidemichi Okamoto, Hironori Tachizaki

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

This study explores the application of image and video editing Artificial Intelligence (AI) in early childhood education, with a particular focus on “image-speaking AI”. We investigated whether using AI could effectively capture children’s attention. The results showed that, under certain settings, the longest attention span was achieved when a character spoke by means of AI(*p<0.05). Rather than adding sound to a still image, using AI to move the mouth of the still image captured the children’s attention. However, the parents from the survey indicated that the realism of the mouth movements seemed unnatural and could distract the viewers from understanding the contents.

Development Of E-Module Based On Game-Based Learning To Enhance Students' Conceptual Understanding And Interest In Vibration And Wave Concept, Suci Indah Wulandari, Arif Widiyatmoko, Tiara Dwi Wulandari

Journal of Educational Technology Development and Exchange (JETDE)

This study aims to determine the effect of using a Game-Based Learning e-module on improving students' conceptual understanding and learning interest. The research employed the Research and Development (R&D) method using the ADDIE development model (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, Evaluation). The developed e-module was tested on eighth-grade students. Conceptual understanding was measured based on seven indicators: interpreting, exemplifying, classifying, summarizing, inferring, comparing, and explaining. Learning interest was analyzed through four indicators: interest and enjoyment in the material, motivation to learn, focus and attention during the learning process, and the level of participation, enthusiasm, and involvement of students. Data were collected …

Seizing The Moment: Post-Covid-19 Enrollment Trends Among Nontraditional Honors Students, Solomon Aleph

Anthós

This article investigates the motivations behind the rising enrollment of nontraditional students at Portland State University’s Honors College, which nearly doubled from 2019 to 2022 following the COVID-19 pandemic. Aleph argues that nontraditional students viewed education as a means of reclaiming agency and reshaping their futures. Through interviews and a focus group with four nontraditional students, Aleph explores how the pandemic created disruption and opportunities. The study finds that while economic instability and isolation were factors, intrinsic motivations—especially a desire for self-improvement, intellectual challenge, and rewriting personal narratives—were more prominent factors shaping enrollment decisions. Drawing from this qualitative analysis, Aleph …

Relevance And Reciprocity: Fostering Meaningful Inquiry In The Social Studies Classroom, Christy Cartner

Theses and Dissertations--Curriculum and Instruction

This dissertation investigates the factors contributing to students' perceptions of meaningful inquiry. After using the C3 Framework and designing instruction using the Inquiry Design Model for a decade, I wanted to better understand the students' experience to fine-tune how I implement inquiry in the classroom.

Article 1 was written for Social Education and describes the year of IDM blueprints that I designed to loop the concept of equality through units spanning the social studies disciplines of sociology, history, civics, geography, and economics. Through designing and facilitating these inquiries, I discovered my problem of practice, which was how to better engage …

Leadership Vision For Technology Use Post Covid-19, David J. Lucian

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Leadership Studies

The integration of 1:1 devices in K–12 education has been widely debated for over two decades, yet few studies have addressed the rapid implementation that occurred post–COVID-19. This study examined a K–8 school in an urban Title I district that, prior to the pandemic, lacked the funding and infrastructure for a 1:1 model. Federal relief funding enabled a swift transition to virtual learning, catalyzing long-term shifts toward 21st-century instructional practices. Using a Mixed-Methods Action Research (MMAR) design, this study explored teacher experiences, challenges, and support needs during the transition. Data collection included interviews with middle school teachers and an analysis …

The Use Of Peer-To-Peer Observation And Feedback Cycles To Address Factors Impacting Perceived Professional Self-Efficacy Of School Librarians In A Kentucky School District: A Mixed Methods Action Research Study, Kelli D. Reno

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Leadership Studies

Research has shown that the school librarian occupies a unique and singular role in school settings. As such, their belief in their ability to master professional competencies is often self-referential and subject to negative influence from external organizational forces. This Mixed-Methods Action Research study explored the effect targeted institutional support for professional practice, via Peer-to-Peer Observation and Feedback cycles, has on perceptions of professional self-efficacy among the school librarians in one district.

A literature review focused on self-efficacy theory and school library research relating to role perception, organizational positioning, professional competencies, and job satisfaction anchored the diagnosis phase of this …

Who Belongs And Why It Matters: Belonging At An Oregon Elementary School, Kelly Smith

Educational Leadership Professional Doctorate Dissertations

Student sense of belonging is at the foundation of student outcomes with impacts reaching far beyond the walls of the elementary school classroom. This study investigates factors that shape students’ sense of belonging at an Oregon elementary school where Youth Truth survey data over the past three years have revealed a lack of sense of belonging amongst students. Correlates to the low sense of student belonging were identified via a root cause analysis process with students, staff and families. As a result of the root cause analysis, a theory of improvement was developed with input from students, staff and families. …

Growing Together: Strategies For Attracting And Retaining Community-Reflective Early Learning Professionals, Tonya Jo Coker

Educational Leadership Professional Doctorate Dissertations

The recruitment and retention of a diverse early learning workforce remains a critical challenge in special education. This study explores the multifaceted issues of workforce shortages, turnover rates, and the disparity between the demographics of educators and students in the Department of Early Learning within an education service district in Oregon. Through a detailed analysis of historical and current data, this study identifies systemic challenges contributing to the difficulty in attracting and retaining qualified staff, especially those who are representative of the communities they serve. Using improvement science as a methodological framework, the study tested change ideas focused on recruitment, …

Teacher Perceptions Of A Mindful-Based Social Emotional Group Drumming Curriculum: A Collective Case Study, Kristin Lewis

Theses and Dissertations--Music

Educational researchers have discovered a connection between educator and student well-being. Educators need to cultivate these skills to effectively model social emotional learning (SEL). However, there is a shortage of resources for elementary general music educators that intentionally embed social emotional competencies in tandem with adhering to the National Core Arts Standards.

Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine elementary music educators’ perceptions of a Mindfulness-Based Social Emotional Learning (MBSEL) group drumming curriculum and its impact on their own and their students’ social emotional competencies (SECs). The research questions were: (1) What are elementary music educators’ perceptions of …

The Impact Of The Implementation Of The Interconnected Systems Framework (Isf) On Educators, Kayla Jones

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Amid growing concerns around teacher retention and educator job satisfaction, this study explored how system-level frameworks, particularly the Interconnected System Framework (ISF), could influence key teacher outcomes. While the ISF has been widely associated with improved student outcomes, this research investigated its potential to enhance educator experiences, focusing on working conditions, retention rates, and school climate. Quantitative analysis revealed that schools implementing the ISF or PBIS reported significantly more favorable working conditions and school climate compared to non-implementing schools. Although teacher retention rates did not significantly differ across implementation types, notable variability within the non-implementing group suggests a need for …

The Role Of Faith-Based Adult Education In Black And Marginalized Communities, Brian Jones

Murray State Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine how faith-based and strengths-based adult education programs impact the cognitive well-being, life purpose, and socioeconomic outcomes of Black, and marginalized adult learners. The research seeks to understand the lived experiences of participants, motivations, and barriers to inform more inclusive and effective adult education practices. Additionally, the study aims to understand what impact these organizations are having on the self-efficacy, socioeconomic outcomes of Black and marginalized students, while looking to align areas for improvement. While the study uses quantitative methods to answer research question, the focus of questions bring insight that would …

Explorations Of Social-Emotional Learning In The Arts, Lydia Boyer

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The purpose of this Honors Research Project was to explore social-emotional learning as a practice, to find effective applications for schools, to highlight the connections between the arts and social-emotional learning, and to provide useful methods for the actual implementation. There is a focus on the five main competencies of social-emotional learning which are self- awareness, social-awareness, self-management, relationship-building, and responsible decision- making skills which are translated into various class practices and art projects. Social-emotional learning is a mindset rather than merely a practice and has been practiced latently in education. Art education and social-emotional learning share congruencies in standards, …

An Examination Of Preservice Teacher Knowledge Of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (Adhd) In The Elementary Classroom, Breana K. E. Webb

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This study examines the knowledge of preservice teachers with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and how well prepared they might be when supporting students in elementary classrooms. ADHD is a diagnosed neurodevelopmental disorder in children and has been increasingly diagnosed over the past several years. Teachers play a crucial role in providing effective instruction to each and every student in the classroom. Managing classroom instruction with diverse learning capabilities and behaviors requires teachers to understand the characteristics of ADHD, as well as instructional adaptations and behavioral interventions, among preservice teachers. Findings indicate that while most preservice teachers recognize the basic …

Including Conscientiously: How Charter School Educators Experience Inclusion Education Implementation, Joe A. Petty

Dissertations

This narrative inquiry examined how charter school educators experience inclusive education implementation while confronting ableist systems that maintain exclusion through seemingly neutral practices. This research emerged from my lived experience of how educational structures systematically marginalize disabled students while appearing progressive. The study investigated two research questions: how support structures and leadership practices either perpetuate or dismantle ableist assumptions embedded in educational practice, and how educators negotiate tensions between implementing evidence-based inclusive strategies and addressing environmental factors that create the need for those strategies.

Data collection employed semistructured interviews with eight credentialed educators across two Southern California charter school sites, …

Experiencing The Shift: How Experiential Blended Learning Professional Development Enhances Teacher Self-Efficacy, Shannon N. Tabaldo, Ashley L. Ireland

Journal of Catholic Education

This qualitative study examines how participation in a multi-year, experiential professional development program—the Academy of Blended Learning (ABL)—shaped teachers’ perceived self-efficacy in implementing blended learning. Grounded in Bandura’s self-efficacy theory, Bruner’s constructivism, and Knowles’ adult learning principles, the study drew on semi-structured interviews and instructional artifacts from eight teachers in Catholic schools serving historically marginalized communities in California. Findings suggest that ABL participation was associated with increased instructional confidence, a stronger sense of professional purpose, and greater enthusiasm for student-centered, technology-enhanced learning. Teachers attributed these shifts to ABL’s design, which emphasized active participation, collaborative inquiry, differentiated instruction, and development of …

The Impact Of Coaching On Teachers' Implementation Fidelity Of Goal Setting Strategy, Brandi M. Greene

Theses and Dissertations

Educational settings are filled with educators who have varying experiences in working with students who have disabilities and students who are considered at-risk. Typically, students who have disabilities or are considered at-risk struggle with self-regulation skills and require interventions to improve. However, literature has shown that there is very little training for teachers that will help them implement evidence-based strategies with fidelity. One of the strategies that can be used to improve self-regulation is goal setting, however, within the literature for the goal setting strategy, teachers are not well equipped to implement the strategy. Coaching has been deemed an effective …

How Latine College Students Experience, Maneuver, And Navigate Within The Colonizing Notion Of Smartness, Jasmine Jetton-Gonzales

Theses and Dissertations

This study explores how Latine college students, particularly those who are the first in their family to attend college, navigate and maneuver within the dominating colonizing notion of smartness in academia. Rooted in an Anglo-centric educational framework, the American education system often marginalizes Latine students by devaluing their cultural and linguistic knowledge while upholding Eurocentric standards of intelligence. Using a qualitative critical research approach, this study employs testimonios to examine the lived experiences of Latine college graduates in Illinois. Findings reveal that Latine students frequently encounter systemic barriers that challenge their academic identity, including racialized perceptions of intelligence, institutionalized deficit …

Supporting The Professional Development Of Mentor Teachers: A School-Based Community Approach, Tenishia Ann Amos

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study explored how implementing a practical, school-based professional learning community (PLC) in which mentor teachers examined mentoring practices influenced mentor teachers’ understanding of mentoring, their mentoring practices, and mentor identity. Findings suggest TE and schools alike should provide professional learning communities (PLCs) for mentor teachers to examine practices for its benefits on mentor learning. Nuanced conceptions of mentoring can help teacher education (TE) and schools better support mentor teachers in their learning (Clarke et al., 2014). Conceptions of mentoring as well as interacting discourses, such as school, teacher education, and neoliberal discourses, influenced the mentor teachers’ practices and identities. …