Teacher Education and Professional Development Commons^™

The Impacts Of Mentoring On Mentor Teachers In A Teacher Residency Program, Eric J. Lindley

Theses and Dissertations

Teacher shortages across the United States have made educational researchers consider strategies for teacher retention. Teacher Residency Programs (TRPs) are a compelling focal area in which to study mentorship as it relates to teacher shortages and teacher retention because of their intentional preparation, development, and support for participating mentor teachers. For my dissertation study, I was interested in exploring mentors’ perceptions of their roles, relationships, and preparation as well as the impacts that mentoring had on them beyond what has already been reported in the literature. Using a qualitative interview design study approach, I conducted semi-structured interviews with 13 experienced …

Examining Explicit Professional Development As A Means To Change Inclusive Mindsets, Mitchell E. Elatkin

Theses and Dissertations

Inclusive education requires educators to hold beliefs that support the participation and success of students with disabilities in general education settings. Although federal policy mandates access to the least restrictive environment, educator attitudes toward inclusion continue to influence the implementation of inclusive practices. The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to examine whether explicit professional development (PD) focused on inclusive mindsets influenced school stakeholders’ attitudes toward inclusion across a school year. Participants included representatives from various roles within a charter school organization in the Midwest. The researcher collected data through two administrations of the Adapted Teacher Attitudes Toward Inclusion Survey …

Generative Artificial Intelligence Application In Occupational Therapy Education, James Wersal, Justin Mason, Mary Shotwell

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) is a developing technology within Higher Education Institutions with substantial potential to transform teaching pedagogy, improve individualized learning experiences, and automate administrative functions. GenAI has the potential to bring significant enhancements by advancing adaptive learning interfaces, customized learning materials, and automate administrative support. Despite these benefits, ethical considerations, data privacy, and the risk of over-reliance should be considered prior to using GenAI. The authors highlight how GenAI is supported by adult learning theory and provide practical strategies for incorporating GenAI in the occupational therapy curricula and to support the faculty role. The impact of GenAI on …

Effective Teaching Behaviors Of Adjunct Faculty In Occupational Therapy Education: Perspectives Of Students, Adjuncts, And Core Faculty, Kayla Collins, Marian Gillard, Christine Davis, Kirsten Davin, Barbara M. Doucet, Bridget Scheidler

Journal of Occupational Therapy Education

Adjunct faculty constitute nearly half of the higher education workforce in the United States, yet they often receive limited preparation and institutional support for their teaching responsibilities. In occupational therapy education, where rapid program expansion has heightened reliance on adjunct instructors, understanding which teaching behaviors are most valued is critical to ensuring instructional quality, student success, and professional readiness. This study examined perceptions of effective adjunct teaching behaviors in a doctoral occupational therapy program using the Teaching Behavior Checklist (TBC), a validated 28-item measure of teaching effectiveness. Participants included students (n = 33), adjunct faculty (n = 19), and core …

Leveraging Funds Of Knowledge And Funds Of Identity: Exploring Equitable Strategies For Diverse Classroom Settings, Evana Nusrat Dooty

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

This study explores how elementary teachers in the U.S. perceive and incorporate students’ Funds of Knowledge (FoK) and Funds of Identity (FoI) to promote equity in diverse classroom settings. A review of literature highlights the significance of culturally responsive pedagogy, FoK & FoI frameworks, and equity-oriented teaching practices. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect participants’ perspectives on leveraging students’ home and community knowledge in instructional planning and classroom interactions. Lesson plans were collected from all participants to get idea about how they could utilize  FoK and FoI approach in their classroom instruction. The findings highlight the need for teacher preparation …

Gamification For Learning At Wvu Tech: Examples From Engineering And Biology, Tamara Floyd-Smith, Aida Elisabet Jiménez-Esquilín

2026 Scholarly Teaching Conference: Poster Session Papers

At WVU Tech, gamification is intentionally implemented by many faculty as a broad, multi-modal instructional approach rather than a single tool or activity. Faculty employ a range of gamification strategies, including the digital platform Kahoot but also analog, hands-on games (e.g., discipline-specific board games). These approaches are used for multiple instructional purposes, including supporting students in checking their understanding, practicing recall, working through challenging concepts, and developing problem-solving skills. Here we present applications of gamification for learning in engineering and biology courses at WVU Tech. Student feedback was collected regarding the use of Kahoot quizzes as a valuable and enjoyable …

Rethinking Student Feedback: Separating Instructor And Course Evaluation To Improve Teaching Practice, Cameron Rusnak

2026 Scholarly Teaching Conference: Poster Session Papers

Student evaluations of teaching are commonly used to inform instructional improvement, personnel decisions, and course development. At many institutions, including those using the Student Perceptions of Teaching (SPOT) instrument, instructor effectiveness and course structure are evaluated within a single, unified survey. While efficient, this approach can unintentionally conflate student perceptions of course difficulty, content sequencing, or assessment design with perceptions of instructor performance. As a result, feedback intended to support reflective teaching practice may become ambiguous or difficult to interpret.

This poster proposes an effective teaching practice centered on distinguishing between instructor-focused and course-focused feedback within traditional SPOT reviews. Rather …

From Prompt To Practice: Designing Custom Ai Bots For Interpersonal Skill Development, Alaina Michelle Schrader

2026 Scholarly Teaching Conference: Concurrent Session Papers

Developing strong interpersonal, leadership, and professional communication skills is foundational in counselor and education preparation programs (Fecke et al., 2023; Lateef, 2010; Stamer et al., 2023). Despite this reality, students often have limited opportunities for repeated, low-stakes practice before engaging with real clients, students, families, administrators, and other stakeholders (Lateef, 2010; Maurya, 2024; Stamer et al., 2023). This session describes a teaching practice that uses custom AI bots as simulated clients, parents, group members, and school administrators to create realistic, structured practice environments where students can rehearse counseling skills, consultation conversations, advocacy, boundary-setting, and professional decision-making without the pressure or …

Research In Progress: Using Pdsa Cycles To Support Faculty Teaching Development, Aida Elisabet Jimenez Esquilin

2026 Scholarly Teaching Conference: Poster Session Papers

Primarily undergraduate institutions (PUIs) are rich environments for faculty-driven instructional innovation where instructors routinely engage in informal, embedded formative assessment as part of everyday teaching practice. In these settings, faculty may notice recurring themes in student explanations, misconceptions, and questions as instruction unfolds and make in-the-moment instructional adjustments. Faculty also frequently implement active learning strategies; however, the evidence generated through these practices is not always systematically captured, analyzed, or documented to inform subsequent instructional decisions. This project builds on these existing practices by applying an improvement science framework using Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles-to support faculty by providing a structured approach to …

Research In Progress. Why Physiology Feels Hard: Supporting The Transition To Self-Directed Learning In Post-Secondary Physiology, Jaelyn Zoe Rohrbaugh, Mark Paternostro

2026 Scholarly Teaching Conference: Poster Session Papers

Physiology is widely recognized as one of the most challenging courses for STEM students. Contributing factors include the discipline’s inherent complexity, instructional methods, and student preparedness, with both faculty and students identifying the nature of the discipline as the primary challenge. Many undergraduates enter college having experienced predominantly teacher-directed, pedagogical instruction, whereas success in college-level physiology requires self-directed, andragogical learning strategies. We hypothesize that students’ difficulties arise more from a lack of self-directed learning skills than from content complexity alone. To investigate this, we administered an anonymous survey to 340 students spanning freshman to professional levels, achieving a 93% completion …

Bringing Real Research Into Large-Enrollment Biology Labs, Katrina Klugh Stewart, Mathilda Corbett

2026 Scholarly Teaching Conference: Poster Session Papers

Hundreds of WVU students in a large-enrollment introductory biology laboratory course (BIOL 115L) participated in an authentic research experience through the Prevalence of Antibiotic Resistance in the Environment (PARE) Project. This national crowdsourced research initiative engages students in generating environmental DNA data to identify potential antibiotic resistance hotspots. For the Fall 2025 semester, we designed a multi-week lab module to implement a cost-effective, scalable version of the PARE model suitable for a course serving approximately 900 students annually.

The three-week sequence integrates core scientific practices, including hypothesis generation, field sampling, DNA extraction, PCR amplification of antibiotic resistance genes, gel electrophoresis, …

Techniques For Inclusive College Mathematics Classrooms, Christopher Anderson Davis, Josh Hiller, Anil Venkatesh

Journal of Mathematics and Science: Collaborative Explorations

Creating a welcoming and inclusive mathematics classroom is an important responsibility for all college mathematics faculty. But where do we begin? In this paper we present several techniques based on White’s (2024) building inclusive classrooms strategies framework, which the authors have found to be successful in making their own classrooms more inclusive. The techniques include the inclusion of contemporary diverse voices, exploring the history of applications of mathematical concepts, elevating the diverse intellectual history of mathematics, bringing diverse guest speakers into the classroom, and mentoring students as they engage in doing research. For each strategy we provide narrative comments based …

Exploring Recruitment And Retention Of Mathematics Teachers In Southwest And South-Central Virginia, Anthony Dove

Journal of Mathematics and Science: Collaborative Explorations

This study examines the recruitment and retention of secondary mathematics teachers in rural southwest and south-central Virginia public schools from the perspectives of school principals. Guided by three research questions focused on retention, recruitment, and opportunities for improvement, the study employed a constant comparative analysis of semi-structured interviews conducted with principals from 10 rural middle and high schools. Findings indicate that many schools have historically benefited from long-term teacher retention reinforced by strong community ties and supportive school environments. However, anticipated retirements, salary competition within the region, and increasing challenges in recruitment are beginning to place strains on schools. Principals …

Full Issue

Journal of Mathematics and Science: Collaborative Explorations

No abstract provided.

Practicing Professionalism Framework: A Coherent Course Structure Aligned With Effective Practices For Physics Programs (Ep3) Guidelines, Martha-Elizabeth Baylor, Suzanne White Brahmia

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Work

Many physics educators seek to improve their courses but feel constrained by traditional post-secondary structures and norms. Instructors often perceive a false tension between fostering inclusive learning environments and maintaining the rigor central to the discipline. The Effective Practices for Physics Programs (EP3) Guide synthesizes decades of research-based recommendations for improving physics education. However, it offers limited guidance on how to integrate these diverse recommendations into a coherent, course-level approach—a responsibility that falls to individual instructors, whose graduate training prepared them primarily as researchers rather than as educators. This paper begins by motivating and introducing the Practicing Professionalism Framework (PPF), …

Generative Ai Peer Tutoring To Support Peer-Reviewed Source Identification And Evaluation, Rae Mair, Michelle Kelley, Taylar Wenzel, Andrea C. Borowczak, Yuqing Li, Mike Borowczak

Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

This chapter explores the design and evaluation of a generative artificial intelligence peer tutor prompt to support college students in identifying and evaluating peer-reviewed sources for academic research. Grounded in literature on peer tutoring, Socratic dialogue, and AI-supported learning, the authors describe an iterative prompt engineering process designed to transform large language models (LLMs) into Socratic-style peer tutors capable of scaffolding student reasoning without completing tasks for them. Five guiding criteria for an effective peer tutor shaped development and evaluation: cognitive congruence, step-by-step guidance, avoiding giving answers, adaptability to student level, metacognitive transparency, and following assignment directions. Across multiple human-centered …

Interrupting Inequity: A Systems Change Approach To Reducing Discipline Disproportionality, Jesse Raymond Ault, Jacqueline Theresa Barber, Tara Alexis Hodges, Brittnei Nicole Mckeithen-Barnes, Marleny Perdomo

Doctor of Education Capstones

Disproportionate discipline in public schools remains a persistent and complex challenge, particularly for Black and Hispanic students, male students, and students with disabilities. This capstone project examined patterns of racial discipline disproportionality within a large, suburban school division, referred to throughout the project as Polaris County Schools (PCS), to better understand the systemic conditions contributing to these disparities. Using a mixed-methods approach grounded in the Public Education Leadership Project (PELP) framework, the research team conducted document and literature analysis, school board observations, partner consultations, and a review of disaggregated discipline data. The team also engaged in external interviews with experts …

The Role Of Growth Mindset As A Mitigating Factor On Teacher Burnout In The Secondary Math Classroom, Grant Butler

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

This mixed methods sequential explanatory study examined how secondary mathematics teachers’ mindsets relate to burnout tendencies, and how schools can support staff mindset to prevent burnout. Using a two-phase design, Phase 1 gathered survey data from 94 secondary math teachers, measuring mindset and burnout with descriptive statistics, correlations, chi-square tests, and regression analysis to quantify associations between mindset orientation and burnout risk. Phase 2 employed semi-structured interviews with a subsample of teachers and open and axial coding to explain and contextualize the quantitative patterns. Quantitative analyses revealed that teachers with more fixed mindset tendencies reported significantly higher burnout scores across …

Say Gay: Increasing Preservice Teacher Confidence Using Participatory Theatre, Sarah Maxime Hyson

West Chester University Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Final Projects

Research Design: Research shows a lack of LGBTQ+ instruction in teacher preparation programs. This social justice mixed methods study evaluates effectiveness of participatory theatre for increasing confidence in preservice teachers. Research Questions: RQ 1: How does student self-rating of confidence change after participatory theatre experiences that examine issues concerning LGBTQ+ individuals and materials? RQ 2: What do preservice teachers’ writing, sketching, and discussion about their participatory theatre experience reveal about their evolving confidence regarding LGBTQ+ individuals and issues? RQ 3: What do the instructor’s experiences and reflections reveal about the effectiveness ofparticipatory theatre pedagogy to increase confidence in preservice teachers …

The Impact Of High-Quality Phonological Awareness Professional Learning On In-Service Teachers' Content Knowledge And Pedagogical Content Knowledge, Roberta S. Thomas

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This convergent mixed-method study examined the impact of high-quality phonological awareness professional learning on Montessori primary lead, associate, and team associate teachers’ content knowledge and pedagogical content knowledge of phonological awareness. Eleven teachers (4 lead, 4 associates, and 2 team associates) from a private school in northeast Florida participated in four professional sessions with a content focus on the levels of phonological awareness, including word, syllable, onset and rime, and phoneme awareness. In contrast to previous studies that reported low levels of teacher content knowledge prior to professional learning, participants in this study demonstrated relatively high levels of content knowledge. …

What They Learn, What They Use:  A Narrative Inquiry Into Teacher Candidates’ Application And Perceptions Of Their Professional Learning Experiences, Shaundricka Medlock

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The landscape of teacher preparation is shifting toward clinically rich, practice-based models designed to bridge the longstanding gap between theoretical coursework and the realities of classroom teaching. Despite these reforms, many teacher candidates continue to face challenges in transferring what they learn in teacher preparation programs into effective instructional practice. This disconnect raises concerns about the coherence, responsiveness, and equity of current clinical preparation models, particularly in their ability to prepare future educators for diverse and high-need learning environments. This narrative inquiry study explores how elementary teacher candidates experience and apply professional learning experiences during a year-long internship in a …

Navigating Mental Wellness: A Peer-Led Journey Into Adult Services, Kristin G. Haberek

DSW Capstone Projects

Students with severe emotional disturbances (SED) occupy one of the most underserved intersections in American education and mental health care. As they age out of children’s services, they face abrupt service discontinuation, disrupted therapeutic relationships, and adult systems ill-equipped to meet their needs. These vulnerabilities, including heightened risks of crisis, hospitalization, homelessness, and justice involvement, constitute a central practice problem. This capstone addresses these transitions across three scholarly products: a systematic literature review, a theoretical concept paper, and a practical application paper, tracing a unified arc from diagnosing structural failures to proposing an evidence-informed, equity-oriented clinical response. Synthesizing key findings …

Ai Policy In Virginia Public Schools: A Comparative Analysis, Jesse Senechal, Jamelle Simmons, Jonathan D. Becker, Melissa Ware, Michael Broda, Kindy Anderson, Eric Byers, Kiana Bradford, Thea Racelis, Meleah Ellison

MERC Publications

This MERC research and policy review explores policy implications of artificial intelligence (AI) in Virginia public schools. It is part of a two part series with a companion report focused on AI implications for PK-12 teaching and learning. The report has two parts:

1. A review of the AI policy landscape around PK-12 education
2. Virginia AI policy analysis

It concludes with a series of key takeaways and recommendations for PK-12 policy and practice.

Ai In Pk-12 Education: Implications For Teaching And Learning, David Naff, Meleah Ellison, Casey Bailey, Tzu-Wei Wang, Kiana Bradford

MERC Publications

This research and policy review from the Metropolitan Educational Research Consortium (MERC) explores the implications of artificial intelligence (AI) for teaching and learning in public PK-12 education. It is part of a two part series with a companion report focused on AI implications for PK-12 policy. The report explores two questions:

1. How is AI shaping teaching and instructional practice?
2. How is AI shaping student learning and development?

It concludes with a series of key takeaways and recommendations for PK-12 policy and practice.

Exploring Phonics Intervention For Elementary Students, Hallee Thomas

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

Course Portfolio For A New Course On Data Analysis And Visualization In Animal Research, Jessie C. Morrill

UNL Faculty Course Portfolios

This course portfolio describes the design and development of a new course focused on data analysis and visualization in animal research at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. The course was developed to meet the needs of students enrolled in Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy graduate programs in the Department of Animal Science as well as those in the Master of Applied Science in Beef Cattle Production program. The new course was taught on an exploratory basis in Fall 2024 and Fall 2025; the perspectives of both students and the instructor are contained within this portfolio. The reflections …

Assessing Global Citizenship Pathways In A Communication, Advocacy, And Global Citizenship Classroom In The Midwest, Satveer Kaur-Gill

UNL Faculty Course Portfolios

To assess instruction in an undergraduate communication course titled Communication, Advocacy, and Global Citizenship, this qualitative inquiry examined how undergraduate students at a Midwest university engaged with global citizenship as a communicative process by conducting a content analysis of student assignments, guided by three key research questions formulated from four course objectives. The assessment found that place-based learning on global issues enhanced students' understanding of the meaning of global citizenship in a globalized world. Based on a qualitative evaluation of their key assignments, students successfully articulated threads and connections between local community concerns and issues as globally situated communicative phenomena. …

First Portfolio – Mngt 475: Business Strategies, Lisa Tschauner

UNL Faculty Course Portfolios

MNGT 475: Business Strategies serves as the undergraduate strategic management capstone course in the University of Nebraska–Lincoln College of Business. The course integrates knowledge from accounting, finance, economics, marketing, management, supply chain management, analytics, and entrepreneurship while providing students with opportunities to apply strategic frameworks to authentic business challenges. This portfolio documents the design, implementation, assessment, and continuous improvement of the course, with particular attention given to experiential learning and the comparison of two instructional models: a traditional case-study project and a real-world industry-partner consulting project. Drawing upon Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory, self-reflection, self-efficacy, and teamwork constructs, the portfolio examines …

The Impact Of Culturally Diverse Student Populations On High School Mathematics Teachers’ Preparations And Practices In Southern Union Conference Of Seventh-Day Adventists, Carla Thrower

Dissertations

The Problem

Across the United States and within faith-based schools recent social and political currents have amplified tensions around culture and belonging in classrooms, particularly for students from racially, ethnically, linguistically, and socioeconomically diverse communities. Evidence indicates that when schooling practices overlook students’ cultural identities or normalize a single cultural frame, students can experience marginalization and reduced access to equitable opportunities to learn (Gay, 2018; Ladson-Billings, 1995; Milner, 2010). In mathematics, a subject often perceived as culture-neutral these dynamics may surface through curriculum choices, participation norms, and expectations that do not meaningfully connect to students’ lived experiences (Aguirre, Mayfield-Ingram, & …

When Play Fades And Screens Rise: Teachers' And Parents' Lived Experiences Of The Push-Down Of Academics In Kindergarten, Rachel L. Hunter

Doctor of Education

In the span of a single generation federal mandates have transformed kindergarten from a place of play into an academic pressure zone. This study is grounded in early childhood education, child development, and educational policy, with a focus on heightened academic expectations in kindergarten alongside the rising influence of digital technology in young children’s lives. It addresses two questions: (1) How has the reduction or elimination of play in kindergarten impacted children’s peer-to-peer engagement? and (2) What role, if any, does digital technology play in compounding this shift? This phenomenological study employs qualitative, transformative action-research methods to examine the lived …