Teacher Education and Professional Development Commons^™

Fall 2022 Project Intersect Learning Showcase Program, Jamey Burns

Project InTERSECT Materials

This program highlights the inquiry presentations of our Inservice and Preservice teachers. The teachers came together to celebrate their STEM+C learning and share lessons learned from implementation. This showcase was a partnership between University of North Florida and Duval County Public Schools.

Calculate The Pattern, Danielle Felicien

STEM Teacher Leaders in Action

Third grade math students demonstrated their mathematical understanding and critical thinking skills by engaging in conversations about patterns and by actively exploring, analyzing, and making connections within patterns.

High-leverage math routines and pattern exploration engaged students in mathematical thinking and fostered their ability to recognize, describe, extend, and make predictions based on patterns.

Summary Of Effects: Impact Of Intersect On Student Math Achievement And Teacher Perceptions, Natalie Wright

STEM Research

This summary of project evaluation findings was presented to the InTERSECT team and DCPS leaders in February 2023 as a supplement to the Year 2 Summative Evaluation Report. The evaluation examined effects of Project InTERSECT on Cohorts 1 and 2, including student mathematics achievement and teacher perceptions. The project has had significant impacts on students’ mathematics achievement. Compared to a business-as-usual group (which was matched to the treatment group based on pretest scores, demographics, and grade level), students in Project InTERSECT classrooms performed significantly higher on iReady Math assessments. Treatment effects were particularly large for kindergarten (Hedges’ g = .34) …

Unf Stars 2023 Poster Presentation: “Fostering Student Motivation In Urban Title I Elementary Schools: Integrated Stem For Equitable Learning Experiences”, Raven Robinson-Wilson, Meghan Parkinson, Rui Wang

STEM Research

This poster was presented at UNF STARS 2023 to share our research based on data from Project InTERSECT teachers’ classroom videos (and teacher reflections), focusing on showcasing equitable integrated STEM instructional practices. As the instructional process is undergirded by a myriad of psychological processes, a focus on integrated STEM instructional practices can provide better understanding about the facilitation of students’ learning experiences. Our research examines teachers’ integrated STEM instructional practices for fostering student motivation for learning in urban, Title I elementary schools through need supportive teaching and culturally responsive pedagogy frameworks. The observations of teachers’ integrated STEM classroom instruction yielded …

Theorizing Cultural (Mis)Recognition In Rural School Staffing: Implementing A Social Justice Frame To Understand Challenges To Attract Rural Teachers, Hernan Cuervo

The Rural Educator

Attracting teachers to rural schools continues to be a problem in Australian education. Debates on how to remedy staff shortages are based on a better distribution of financial and material resources. This emphasis on distribution has sidelined the role of recognition theory in understanding the challenges of rural staffing. I draw on the social justice frameworks of Nancy Fraser and Axel Honneth to argue that rural staffing challenges are anchored not just on matters of distribution but on issues that lead to the cultural misrecognition and disrespect of teaching and learning in rural places. Using data from a qualitative research …

Exploring Collaborative Professionalism As A Means Of Virtually Supporting Rural Teachers, Martha Inouye, Ana K. Houseal, Clare Gunshenan, Angus Mcreynolds, Mark Perkins

The Rural Educator

Thirty percent of US teachers work in rural schools where geographic isolation and lack of peers can make it difficult for them to engage in collaborative professional relationships with colleagues. Facilitated professional development can be used as a way to build these networks. Using a situative perspective in which teachers are viewed as experts and agents in their own professional learning and by capitalizing on the rapid increase in understanding and use of video conferencing in 2021, the research team developed an open-enrollment, co-designed series of workshops for rural teachers in the intermountain West. The team was interested in how …

Early Childhood Teachers’ Perspectives On Professional Development Activities, Gordia A. Ross

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

AbstractEarly childhood teachers are an essential part of the education system in the United States, and professional development is a key means of ensuring that they have the required skills and education to meet the developmental needs of their young students. Although researchers have examined the professional development of kindergarten to Grade 12 teachers, they have not adequately explored early childhood practitioners' perspectives of professional development activities that support implementation of best practices. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore early childhood educators' perspectives of professional development activities, using Knowles’s adult learning theory(andragogy) as the theoretical framework. …

Teachers' Perspectives Of Implementing Language Modeling In Pre-Kindergarten Classrooms, Gena R. Puckett

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Teachers’ language modeling skills are important for children’s language development and school readiness. However, 34% of pre-kindergarten (pre-K) classrooms score in the low range on the language modeling dimension of the CLassroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) observation tool within the instructional support domain in a southern state. For this basic qualitative study, the purpose and research questions explored pre-K teachers’ perspectives on the challenges of implementing language modeling and the type of support they need to improve language modeling skills in a southern state. The conceptual framework that guided the study was Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory, specifically the concepts of the …

Junior High Teachers’ Perceptions Of Differentiating Instruction For Students With Trauma, Olawanle Victoria Lawson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem for this study was that junior high school teachers faced challenges involving differentiating their pedagogy to meet academic needs of students with trauma. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore junior high school teachers’ perceptions of this topic. The conceptual framework for this study was the trauma-informed care and practice framework that is influenced by six key principles and four elements of trauma-informed care approach. Two research questions were focused on perceptions of junior high school teachers regarding differentiating instruction to meet needs of students with trauma, and supports needed to address their pedagogical challenges involved …

Wakanda: Opening The High School Classroom To Afrofuturism, Carrie M. Mattern

Language Arts Journal of Michigan

Afrofuturism has a solid place in high school classrooms thanks to the current work of Ryan Coogler, but also to those who have been in this work for decades including the Mother of Afrofuturism herself, Octavia Butler, adrienne maree brown, dream hampton, and a litany of Black poets and artists. This article leaps inside an Afrofuturistic unit curated for high school seniors with feedback and insight from their teachers and also the students who buckled up for a journey through time, space, and place.

Theory-Driven Approach To Developing Socially Responsible Leadership Among College Students Who Mentor: Congruence, Hannah M. Sunderman, Lindsay J. Hastings

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

The Social Change Model of Leadership (SCM) is the most widely used student leadership development model in higher education. Therefore, the purpose of the current paper is to share a theory-driven approach to developing Congruence, an individual value of the SCM. We discuss the development and implementation of a two-part virtual leader development intervention focused on college students who mentor K-12 youth. Part One was a virtual, twohour content block in the fall with interactive activities. Part Two was a small-group, virtual meeting in the spring with in-depth discussions. The intervention focused on recognizing congruent leadership and considering a situation …

Generativity Development Among College Students Who Mentor: A Sequential Multi-Method Quantitative Study., Hannah Sunderman, Lindsay J. Hastings

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

Purpose Generativity, defined as care for the next generation, is a hallmark of developmental theory (Erikson, 1950). Mentoring is an antecedent to generativity (Doerwald et al., 2021), with college students who mentor demonstrating higher generativity than their peers (Hastings et al., 2015). Yet, no research has studied generativity development longitudinally among college students who mentor.

Design/methodology/approach Using MANCOVA analyses, Study One (N = 91) cross-sectionally examined the influence of years spent mentoring on generativity levels among college students who mentor in the United States. Study Two (N = 44) employed growth curve analyses (GCA) in multilevel modeling (MLM) …

Rethinking ‘Responsibility’ In Precision Agriculture Innovation: Lessons From An Interdisciplinary Research Team, Edward Prutzer, Maaz Gardezi, Donna M. Rizzo, Mary Emery, Scott Merrill, Benjamin E.K. Ryan, Panagiotis D. Oikonomou, Juan P. Alvez, Damilola T. Adereti, Rubaina Anjum, Appala R. Badireddy, Dwarika Bhattarai, Skye Brugler, Nicholas Cheney, David Clay, Sharon Clay, Ali Dadkhah, Joshua W. Faulkner, Deepak R. Joshi, Christopher Koliba, John Mcmaine, Semhar Michael, Sardorbek Musayev, Jarlath O’Neil-Dunne, George Pinder, Taylor Ricketts, Andrew W. Schroth, Scott Turnbull, Asim Zia

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

We examine the interactions, decisions, and evaluations of an interdisciplinary team of researchers tasked with developing an artificial intelligence-based agricultural decision support system that can provide farmers site-specific information about managing nutrients on their land. We answer the following research questions: (1) How does a relational perspective help an interdisciplinary team conceptualize ‘responsibility’ in a project that develops precision agriculture (PA)? and (2) What are some lessons for a research team embarking on a similar interdisciplinary technology development project? We show that how RI is materialized in practice within an interdisciplinary research team can produce different understandings of responsibility, notions …

We’Ve Crossed A Line: A Philosophical Examination Of Systemic Implications Surrounding Sbae Teachers’ Attempts At Boundary Setting, Becky Haddad, Haley Q. Traini, Aaron Mckim

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

This philosophical paper situates the system of School-Based Agricultural Education (SBAE) in light of teachers’ attempts at boundary work. We define the system of SBAE through a Social Ecological Resilience approach, particularly by examining publications in the Journal of Agricultural Education (JAE) from 2021 to explore what SBAE demands of its teachers. Having worked with SBAE teachers over the last three years as they have struggled with attempts at boundary ownership, we question what this personal struggle indicates about a broader system. We argue for a bounded system by which respect for boundary ownership is reciprocated as an expected norm. …

Primary Teachers’ Perceptions Of The Wilson Reading Fundations Program For Struggling Readers, Kianga Tene Mckinney

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Despite 3 years of implementation, educators at McKinnley Elementary School (pseudonym) did not know teachers’ perceptions about whether the Wilson Reading Fundations Program (WRFP) was helping K-3rd grade teachers assist struggling readers with becoming proficient in reading in the elementary grades. The purpose of this qualitative single case study was to obtain primary teachers’ perceptions regarding how instructional components of the WRFP challenged or strengthened their instructional practices with assisting struggling readers gaining proficiency. Engelmann’s theory of instruction, Orton-Gillingham’s approach, and Engestrom’s activity theory were the theoretical frameworks that guided this study. Fifteen K-3rd grade teachers who implemented WRFP and …

Reading Teachers’ Perspectives On Professional Development In Phonological Methods And Implementation Of Instructional Strategies, Lisa M. Toole

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem addressed through this research study was although kindergarten through Grade 3 (K–3) reading teachers have received specific professional development in phonological methods, a gap in practice exists with the implementation of instructional strategies. The purpose of this study was to explore K–3 reading teachers' perspectives regarding their professional development in phonological methods and what further professional development is needed for consistent and effective implementation of instructional strategies to support student achievement in phonemic awareness and phonics. Flavell's theory of thinking about thinking, otherwise known as metacognition, was the grounding conceptual framework. The research questions guided the study by …

K-3 Teacher Perspectives Regarding Herzberg’S Factors That Affect Teacher Retention, Leann Laury

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Abstract In the United States teacher retention in K-3 classrooms has declined, and so has the retention rate for the charter elementary school located in the study state. The problem is teacher retention rates in K-3 schools have declined in the U.S. The purpose of this basic qualitative research study was to explore teachers’ perspectives regarding factors that affect teacher retention. Factors were Herzberg et al.’s motivation (satisfaction) and hygiene (dissatisfaction), which was used as the conceptual framework to address teachers’ perspectives about why they choose to remain in a school with low retention rates. This study involved using semistructured …

Policy Analysis: School Clustering Policy, Sajid Ali, Aisha Naz Ansari

Institute for Educational Development, Karachi

No abstract provided.

Securing Global Health: Global Citizenship And Covid-19 Awareness, Birol Bulut, Muhammed Kursat Oksuzoglu

Georgia Educational Researcher

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between prospective social studies teachers' global citizenship levels and their COVID-19 awareness levels. To do that, Relational survey model, one of the quantitative research methods, was used. The sample consisted of 409 prospective social studies teachers selected by simple random sampling method from six universities in Turkey. Global Citizenship Scale (GCS), The Coronavirus (COVID-19) Awareness Scale (CAS), and the Personal Information Form developed by the researchers were used in data collection. The t-test, Pearson Correlation Analysis and Multiple Regression Analysis were per-formed to analyze data. A positive and significant relationship …

Divergent Representations Of Africa: A Qualitative Analysis Of Georgia Social Studies Textbooks, Bailey A. Brown, Amber R. Reed

Georgia Educational Researcher

The Georgia Department of Education has clearly defined standards for learning about Africa in the seventh grade. However, there exists great variation in how textbooks present this material and address these standards. Using a qualitative content analysis approach, we assess the presentation of Africa in three widely used Georgia social studies textbooks. We document and analyze coverage of Africa across Georgia’s seventh grade world studies learning domains. Our research demonstrates: 1) that, despite widespread calls for decolonization of education and strengthening of multicultural education, Euro-American perspectives on Africa are still prevalent; 2) textbooks vary widely on how they choose to …

Evaluating The Differential Effects Of Using A Technology-Based Antecedent Intervention In Comparison To A Technology-Based Treatment Package, Rachel Fosnaught

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

This study investigated the differential effects of using non-contingent reinforcement in the form of attention as an antecedent intervention in comparison to using non-contingent reinforcement in addition to self-monitoring as a treatment package. A multi treatment single case research design was utilized in this study. Levels of student’s on-task behavior were measured to evaluate the differential effects of an antecedent intervention in comparison to the combination of an antecedent and consequent intervention. This study also only used treatments that were technologically delivered to the participants.

Unmasking Microaggressions On The Homefront: Exploring Faculty And Staff Perceptions After Attending An Online Workshop On Microaggressions In Higher Education, Andrea N. Crenshaw, Natasha N. Ramsay-Jordan, Allyson Deskins

Georgia Educational Researcher

Microaggressions are brief and everyday slights, insults, indignities, and denigrating messages sent to people of color and/or marginalized groups (women, LGBTQ+, etc.) by well-intentioned [people] who are unaware of the hidden messages being communicated (Sue et al., 2007). Microaggressions are connected to broader conceptualizations of the impact of implicit bias and systems of inequity. Specifically, in K-12 and higher education, microaggressions impact the physical, social, and emotional well-being of those who experience them. Growing research posits the need for more discussions in education about racism, sexism, and other bias prevalent in the field of education (Bergerson, 2003). As such, some …

Arts-Based Interdisciplinary Music And Mathematics Tasks: Exploring Conceptualizations Of Equitable Creative Learning In Teacher Education, Alesia Mickle Moldavan, Graham Johnson

Georgia Educational Researcher

Preservice teachers need opportunities in teacher education courses to explore arts-based interdisciplinary learning that can inspire connections between communities of practice and allow learners to integrate concepts and imagine creative possibilities. This study reports on preservice teachers engaged in a workshop on arts-based interdisciplinary music and mathematics tasks. Data included surveys, task-related artifacts, and participant observations to examine how preservice teachers conceptualize and engage in such tasks. Three resonating themes were identified, revealing that preservice teachers generally thought (a) music and mathematics are more engaging and relatable in interdisciplinary contexts than when taught alone, (b) interdisciplinary music and mathematics tasks …

Pre-Service Elementary Teachers' Framing Of Mathematical Discussions After Problem-Solving Through Mursion™ Simulation, Sezai Kocabas, Melva Grant, Signe Kastberg, Hanan Alyami

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

Research on pre-service teachers' discussion practices has focused on decompositions of practice into subskills, while acknowledging the importance of the role of context, identity, and relationships between interactive moves. We focused on 66 elementary preservice teachers' (PSTs') framing-launching moves in discussions after problem-solving in a MursionTM custom simulation. PSTs used five moves: gathering information about student processes, focusing on problem features, task and non-task oriented social interactions, and partner talk. Empirical findings of PSTs' intentions and tacit actions coupled with study findings of the diversity in PSTs' framing moves, highlight the complexity of teacher decision making involved in discussion subsills …

Integrating Social Emotional Learning In The Elementary Music Classroom, Nicole Evans

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

Coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, many students demonstrated a need for further social emotional learning (SEL) support. The work of this project focuses on how to help support students’ SEL development through SEL integration into the elementary music classroom. An increased focus on integrating SEL throughout educational settings is relatively new, and thus the research into how to do this effectively is still emerging. Based on the principle of collective teacher efficacy, this project explores how to integrate SEL specifically aligned with the Second Step Elementary Curriculum into the kindergarten through fifth grade general music classroom. Utilizing the existing …

Open To All: Administrators’ And Teachers’ Perceptions Of Issues Of Equity And Diversity In Teacher Leadership, Jori S. Beck, Kaavonia Hinton, Brandon M. Butler, Peter D. Wiens

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

This study is a response to calls for more research on diversity in teacher leadership (TL), particularly in urban schools. Critical race theory illuminated the role race and racism can play in determining who gets access to TL positions and how that access is characterized using liberal discourse and ideology. We used a component mixed methods design to explore whether administrators and teachers perceived that teacher leadership positions were open to everyone. Beliefs that TL opportunities are “open to all” allow the field to accept the status quo, making it difficult to see (or do anything about) racial inequities.

What Is Active Learning? Perspectives From Five Stem Professors' Teaching Practices In Their Classrooms, Iliana Correa

Capstone Showcase

This senior thesis investigated what ways, if any, STEM professors incorporated active learning pedagogy in their undergraduate classroom in a small private university in the northeast USA. STEM pedagogy was investigated because of the increasing prominence of active learning methods in the classroom compared to the didactic type of teaching that was prominent in the past (Eichler, 2020). A qualitative case study of five STEM professors was conducted and involved collecting data from biographical questions, a one-hour interview, and the analysis of a document provided by the professor that could have been a lesson plan, an assignment, or an activity …

Bibliography, Aaron W. Hughey

Faculty/Staff Personal Papers

Bibliography of publications by Aaron W. Hughey.

Professional Learning Communities Effectiveness On Teacher Learning As Perceived By Title I Elementary Teachers: A Case Study, Tiffany Nicole Baisden

Theses and Dissertations

Professional learning communities (PLCs) have undergone decades of research as an improvement strategy for schools. PLCs are known to foster a collaborative culture among educators through shared learning. Teachers can improve their effectiveness by strengthening their pedagogical practices, which will have a positive impact on student achievement. The purpose of this bounded case study was to examine how Title I elementary school teachers who participated in a PLC perceived PLCs and their effectiveness on improving teacher learning. The goal was to gather teachers’ insights and experiences of PLCs to provide state, district, and school leaders with an understanding of how …

Dancing Through The Harlem Renaissance: An Inquiry-Based Unit Plan Exploring Movement And Culture, Marina Tsirambidis

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Incorporating movement and physical activity into the K-12, general education classroom has been on the rise. In a study done in 2019, Chloe Bedard deemed physical activity successful within the primary school setting and was determined to examine the benefits of movement integration into the secondary school setting (Bedard et al 2019, as cited in Romar, 2023). Additionally, dance scholars have researched the positive effects of incorporating dance history and movement into the classroom. With these two major advancements in mind, this study will provide a social studies unit that integrates dance movement. This unit aims to teach students about …