Teacher Education and Professional Development Commons^™

Herding Cats: The Benefits And Challenges Of A Large Research And Development Team, Xin Bai, Leslie Keiler

Publications and Research

We explore the journey of a nine-member-and-growing research team that is collaborating to develop, implement, and study a Computer Integrated Teacher Education (CITE) program at an urban commuter college. Team members have a range of subject area expertise and research training, as well as full-time jobs in the education field. The multi-member team has learned from each other and enriched the final products while facing challenges resulting from the composition of the team.

Pisa Capacity Needs Assessment: Ecuador, Ian Teo

OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA)

This report presents detailed findings of a Capacity Needs Assessment (CNA) for Ecuador, carried out to gain information about Ecuador’s capacity assets and needs to implement the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2025 successfully. The capacity assets and needs are structured into three dimensions: the enabling environment, the organisational level, and the individual level. Questionnaires for each level are included.

Lesson Observation Record Classroom Observation Training Package, Hilary Hollingsworth, Debbie Wong, Elizabeth Cassity

Education Analytics Service

This Lesson Observation Record is part of a classroom observation training package developed by the Australian Council of Educational Research to enable those observing early primary classes to make consistent and reliable observations. It is based on a purpose-built classroom observation tool developed to collect data on changes to teaching practice and a training program for local researchers. Observers use the Lesson Observation Record to note their observations.

Annual Report Of Undergraduate Research Fellows From August 2023 To May 2024, Office Of Research And Sponsored Programs. Morehead State University.

Office of Research and Sponsored Programs Reports and Publications

Annual Report of Undergraduate Research Fellows from August 2023 to May 2024.

Content Area Language And Literacy, Saadia Ali, Margaret A. Berg

Open Textbooks & Reviews

Content Area Literacy courses have long been a requirement in teacher education programs for pre-service teachers for the secondary level and, sometimes, for the elementary level. The 2020 World-class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA) Framework takes a genre approach that aligns well with the traditional Content Area Literacy courses in teacher preparation programs. WIDA argues for an educational approach that fosters (a) equity of opportunity and access, (b) integration of content and language, (c) collaboration among stakeholders, and (d) a functional approach to language development. This textbook examines the elements that make up the Simple View of Reading with adjustments …

Sparking Pre-Service Teachers’ Self-Awareness Through A Strengths-Based Psychometric Tool: A Pilot Study In A Christian University, Lisa Devall-Martin Dr.

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

The pilot study outlined in this article aimed to explore the relevance and value of a strengths-based psychometric tool, Lumina Spark©, in a teachers’ education program. The study involved pre-service teachers from a Christian university and was conducted over a six-week winter teaching practicum. The psychometric assessment and workshop were designed to help pre-service teachers explore their personality and develop self-knowledge, social awareness, and stress management skills. The study found that the Lumina Spark© tool was effective in helping pre-service teachers understand their strengths and weaknesses and how they relate to others. The study also found that the tool helped …

Understanding Humans As Imago Dei: Implications For Curriculum And Pedagogical Choices, Beverley Elizabeth Norsworthy

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

After 15 years as a Christian school principal and 30 years in Christian teacher education, both initial and in-service, I have come to the conviction that a critical component of effective transformative Christian Education is a rich, biblically rooted understanding of humans as imago Dei which intentionally shapes curriculum and pedagogical choices. Rather than ‘having’, ‘bearing’ or ‘being made in’ the image of God, recent scholarship positions imago Dei as one’s vocation. We are being the image of God, it is our identity “rather than a capability or function” and therefore “we cannot lose it” (Imes, 2023, p. 54). When …

Flannery O'Connor And Storytelling Unit Of Study, Caroline Lacksen, Natalie Puckett, Keith Pruett, Erin Smith, Nathan Pearson, Lashonda Hurst, Jessica Mcquain, Timothy Connors

Writing for Success

The Writing for Success grant sponsored by the federal Department of Education pioneered the creation of a standards-based fifth grade unit of study focused on Flannery O’Connor and the theme of local storytelling. This project utilizes an author study, digital humanities, and intensive writing instruction to engage students with an important Georgia writer and boost their interest and engagement with various forms of written and oral expression.

Through exposure to a variety of communication forms, including narrative, informational, and opinion writing in addition to oral history, poetry, song, and podcasting, students gain confidence in evaluating the context and audience of …

The Kids Are Not Alright: Teachers’ Perspectives On Social And Emotional Learning In Diverse Populations, Siobhan Dalrymple

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

This dissertation was inspired by the researcher’s own experiences as a K-8 teacher. Reflecting on her struggles with classroom management and meeting the social and emotional needs of students who had experienced trauma, the researcher chose to take a hermeneutic phenomenological approach to studying Illinois elementary school teachers’ self-efficacy and motivation with regard to social and emotional learning (SEL) as influenced by community, district, and school level factors as well as the teachers’ own beliefs and practices. Five teachers in four different Illinois school districts were interviewed for this paper; the researcher also includes data from a pilot study with …

Teachers And Technology In The Pacific, Anna Dabrowski, Yung Nietschke, Elizabeth Cassity

International Education Research

Although digital literacy is increasing in the Pacific region, access to educational technologies within the education sector remains inconsistent for both teachers and their students. This report presents an analysis of current practices that support technology integration in the classroom, with a particular focus on the work of teachers in the Pacific Island states of Palau, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu. Based on an analysis of academic and grey literature, and interviews with key stakeholders involved in the implementation of educational technologies in the region, several key findings emerge. Education policies and practices designed to improve the digital literacy …

Codebook For Classroom Observation Training Package, Hilary Hollingsworth, Debbie Wong, Elizabeth Cassity

Education Analytics Service

This Codebook is part of a classroom observation training package developed by the Australian Council of Educational Research to enable those observing early primary classes to make consistent and reliable observations. It is based on a purpose-built classroom observation tool developed to collect data on changes to teaching practice and a training program for local researchers. The Codebook offers detailed descriptions of the items to be observed during a lesson, including examples of relevant actions or activities. Observers use the Codebook to make decisions when coding.

Teacher Perception On Role Strain, Self-Efficacy, And Class Composition: A Closer Look At The Impact On K-5 Teachers’ Remote Teaching Experiences During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Suzana Ts Thomas Peterson

Dissertations of Practice

TEACHER PERCEPTION ON ROLE STRAIN, SELF-EFFICACY, AND CLASS COMPOSITION: A CLOSER LOOK AT THE IMPACT ON K-5 TEACHERS’

REMOTE TEACHING EXPERIENCES DURING THE

COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Suzana Tyler Stojovic Thomas Peterson, Ed.D.

Department of Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations

Northern Illinois University, 2024 Tiffany Puckett, Director

This mixed methods causal-comparative study addresses the significant gap in understanding the impact of class composition on the self-efficacy of K-5 teachers in remote settings during the COVID-19 pandemic while exploring the mediating role of role strain in the relationship between class composition and teacher self-efficacy. The COVID-19 pandemic precipitated an unprecedented shift to remote …

Postgraduate Supervision In A Chatgpt World: What’S Next?, Angela Wright

Conference Materials

This study explores the considerable challenges for research supervisors of postgraduate students in Higher Education. For experienced academics, the responsibility of assessing theses and dissertations has never been more critical. With the advent of ample search engine opportunities, Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) technology, and adhering to proper academic integrity processes, how can supervisors navigate these complexities, unsupported by solid procedures, due to the rapidly changing nature of AI? If a supervisor is concerned as to the integrity of the presented work during the supervisory process, what options are available to the supervisor to address concerns with the student in an …

Designing Authentic Assessment To Improve Academic Integrity, Sharon Lehane, Angela Wright

Conference Materials

The use of AI chatbots has sparked worldwide debate regarding assessment practices in higher education. Early indications on the use of AI chatbots, signal significant disruption to the higher education system in relation to academic misconduct concern. In terms of the research approach, initially, a systematic literature review was conducted to examine the association between academic integrity and authentic assessment with 32 focused publications from 2019 to 2023 analysed. This led to the development of a robust ‘Model for Practice’ to guide the implementation of authentic assessment in a way that simultaneously improved academic integrity. This paper presents the main …

Reflecting On Addressing Academic Integrity Through Authentic Assessment, Sharon Lehane, Angela Wright

Conference Materials

With the advancement of Artificial Intelligence and chatbot technologies such as ChatGPT, little else is discussed currently by colleagues in Higher Education. Why? – because their potential disruption for assessment practices in higher education are so uncertain. Advances in these artificial intelligence technologies threaten the legitimacy of assessment and academic integrity, calling conventional assessment methods into question. The widespread utilisation of ChatGPT emphasizes the need for sustainable educational practices such as authentic assessments that focus on higher-order critical thinking and problem-solving skills. In terms of the methodology for this study, a critical examination of the association between authentic assessment design …

Diminishing The Researcher Imposter Syndrome Among Teacher Education Faculty, David Wolff, Donna Zerr, Carissa Gober

Open Educational Resources - Teaching and Learning

We will share our journey of moving beyond our one-hit wonder of the dissertation and the imposter syndrome of being academic researchers. We developed a professional learning community to collaborate, support, lament, and celebrate scholarship. Attendees will learn our intentional processes and resources to progress in your writing journey.

Responding To Disruptive Behaviors In The Classroom, Tatum Bernet

ENGS 15.11: Design and Education

This lesson is designed to prepare Teaching Assistants to effectively respond to disruptive behaviors in the classroom with a 3-step evidence-based framework. It is centered around the overarching idea that all behaviors are a form of communication. The role of an educator is to create an environment that supports learning for all types of students and to teach children how to appropriately communicate their emotions/needs. The 3-step Behavioral Support framework is as follows: 1) Identify behavior 2) Identify the why 3) Identify intervention.

Understanding The Virginia Literacy Act, Candace Bechtold, Kimberly Bridges, David Naff, Joan A. Rhodes, Valerie Robnolt, Tara Davison, Suzanne Alexandre, Michael Crusco, Karli Johansen, Amber Butler, Allison Yandle, Jennifer Askue-Collins, Jean Samuel, Sharrie Merritte, Regina Frazier

MERC Publications

This research and policy brief from the Metropolitan Educational Research Consortium (MERC) offers an overview of the Virginia Literacy Act. It is structured to explore the following questions: 1) What are the recent trends in reading achievement in Virginia? 2) What are the policy implications of the VLA for Virginia school divisions? 3) What does the research say about Science of Reading (SoR)? 4) What core instructional programs are approved to meet the VLA? It concludes with a series of key takeaways and recommendations.

Click here to listen to our podcast episode on the Virginia Literacy Act and click here …

Select The Right Tools: Composition In A Restricted Environment, Harrison T. L. Stone, Lesia Lennex

Department of Middle Grades and Secondary Education Research & Publication Archives

Alphasmart devices are keyboards with some word processing ability such as spell check (Simpkins, 2023). The bare bones device thwarts students’ ability to browse for games or mismanage the default settings in Word. Alphasmart products can be used to assist with typing skills for the GED or ever-increasing technology-conversant jobs. The Alphasmart can either store information or via USB so an instructor can review student writings. Importantly, student work, such as a resume, may be printed from the device. Where it can only display a few lines of text at a time it would work well with students who get …

A Call To Serve: Novice Urban Catholic School Teachers' Sense Of Purpose In Life, Compassion, Faith, And Justice, Ella Anghel, Kierstin M. Giunco, Audrey A. Friedman, Myra Rosen-Reynoso, Charles T. Cownie Iii, Cristina J. Hunter

Journal of Catholic Education

Educators are instrumental in nurturing students’ sense of purpose, particularly in urban schools. Consequently, these educators must not only have a strong sense of purpose but also possess other key virtues. This mixed-methods study explores these virtues among a group of 30 urban Catholic school teachers. They responded to scales measuring purpose, compassion, faith, moral development and agency, and completed a modified Youth Purpose Interview online. Scores were compared to those of the original samples upon which these scales were validated as they were also emerging adults. Participants scored significantly higher on almost all scales than the original samples. These …

Equipping Early Childhood Educators To Identify And Support Students With Sensory Processing Disorder: Recommendations From Occupational Therapists, Linda Schueler

Teaching and Learning (MA) Theses

The prevalence of sensory processing disorder among children, its negative effect on learning, and the benefits of early identification and intervention require action on the part of early childhood educators. Prompt identification of students with sensory processing issues and implementation of occupational therapy strategies to support these students within the school setting will optimize their learning potential. Using an iterative approach, this qualitative study collected data from semi-structured, respondent interviews with five qualified occupational therapists who practice sensory integration therapy with children who experience sensory processing disorder. The information gained answered the research question, “What assessment tool and therapeutic strategies …

Measuring Mobility: A Quantitative Description Of Sbae Teacher Mobility In Minnesota, Becky Haddad, Lavyne L. Rada, Amy R. Smith

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

Considerations around teacher attrition, supply and demand, and retention are incomplete without including teacher mobility. The problem, as it currently stands, finds SBAE ill-equipped, at the professional level, to support mobile teachers. Providing support, however, starts with understanding the population; in this case, mobile teachers. The purpose of our study was to quantitatively describe teacher mobility in [State] over the last 20 years (1999-2021). To describe SBAE teacher mobility in our state, we utilized teacher retention data compiled from state teacher directories over the last 20 years (1999-2021). We corroborated previous findings noting heightened attrition after year one in a …

Behind The Scenes: Instructional Coaches’ Perceptions Of Curriculum Leadership Development, Cora C. Garner

Educational Leadership & Policy Studies Dissertations - Archive

Since the 20th century, instructional coaching has influenced curricular and pedagogical practices that impact student achievement in K-12 schools; however, the existing literature provides minimal evidence of their experiences in curriculum leadership development. To fill the research gap, this study explores instructional coaches’ perceptions of their professional learning related to curriculum development and leadership. The research questions included (1) How do ICs perceive professional learning opportunities for curriculum leadership? and (2) How do instructional coaches describe the development of their curriculum coaching knowledge and practices? Upon applying the conceptual framework, which included the Saylor et al. (1981) curriculum development model …

An Investigation Of Toddler Risky Play Informed By The Voices Of Parents And Teachers Of Toddlers In One School Setting, Megan Kybartas, Mary Jane Moran, Tyler J. Kybartas

Graduate Research - College of Education

This qualitative study explored the perceptions of teachers and parents within the context of toddlerhood risky play at a university laboratory school. Sociocultural and bioecological theories informed the study and the developmental niche framework guided the data analysis. Video-stimulated recall interviews were analyzed using the constant comparative method. Findings include: (1) parents’ and teachers’ perceptions of risky play are comprised of (a) their psychology as the caregiver, (b)knowing the child, and (c) cultural influences, (2) parent and teacher descriptions of risky play include that it happens outdoors, away from adults, and encompasses developmental benefits, and (3) the development of perceptions …

Exploring Etymology Assignment Description, David Wolff

Open Educational Resources - Teaching and Learning

The English language is a borrowed language, a blend of words from many languages from around the world. We see this in the various ways sounds are represented by letters and letter combinations. In transparent or shallow orthographies, there is high predictability and consistent letter-sound correspondence whereas in opaque or deep orthographies, there are many ways to spell the same sound as well as there are many sounds for the same spellings (Burkins & Yates, 2021; Moats, 2020). This assignment description is a guided inquiry for preservice teachers to explore the concept of etymology by watching and reflecting on six …

Home Of The Brave Book Study Assignment Description, David Wolff

Open Educational Resources - Teaching and Learning

Individuals lead storied lives, and everyone has a story to tell. Our stories can be shared orally and documented in print. Often, learners are exposed to stories through novels and other trade books. Teacher educators may benefit from using the stories in novels and trade books as case studies in preservice teacher preparation course. This assignment description outlines how to use the novel, Home of the Brave by Katherine Applegate, as a case study to contextualize and understand the lived story of an individual learning a second language and living in a new country. Through the novel, preservice teachers experience …

Fish In A Tree Book Study Assignment Description, David Wolff

Open Educational Resources - Teaching and Learning

Individuals lead storied lives, and everyone has a story to tell. Our stories can be shared orally and documented in print. Often, learners are exposed to stories through novels and other trade books. Teacher educators may benefit from using the stories in novels and trade books as case studies in preservice teacher preparation course. This assignment description outlines how to use the novel, Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt, as a case study to contextualize and understand the lived story of an individual living and learning with dyslexia. Through the novel, preservice teachers experience the dilemmas faced and …

Moving Through: Supporting Preservice Teachers’ Transition Through College To The Profession Using Homerooms, David Wolff, Mark Diacopoulos, Alexis Durman, Alexis Monks, Madison Adamson, Kim Ballew

Open Educational Resources - Teaching and Learning

Preservice Teachers at Pitt State undergo a significant transition from student to professional. Faculty in the College of Education created a weekly Homeroom to support this shift, covering topics like goal setting, power dynamics, generational differences, self-care, identity charts, and time management. Preservice Teachers’ experiences will be shared.

Intentional Planning To Differentiate, David Wolff

Open Educational Resources - Teaching and Learning

The proficiency model expects all students to meet the same standards, regardless of their readiness nor ability. The essay discusses how Gentry’s (2014) 2 P’s, 2 C’s, and 2 F’s of Differentiation framework may help teachers plan lessons to meet the array of learning needs in their classroom.

Collaborative Leadership For Research Investigating Stem Teacher Preparation Across Many Institutions, Dana P. Franz, Keith Hubbard, Devon Brenner

Journal of Mathematics and Science: Collaborative Explorations

This paper describes the creation of a collaborative research team investigating the impacts of education preparation on the recruitment and retention of science and mathematics teacher candidates in rural settings. Our collaborative research includes a core leadership team across 3 institutions and with collaboration across 14 total universities. We discuss the process from the inception through year two of this program, including the structure of leadership, communication techniques with the large group, and efforts to translate this research into scalable action. Using a framework for transdisciplinary research (Hall et al., 2012), we describe the processes and challenges that we encountered …