Other Teacher Education and Professional Development Commons^™

Connecting Through Screens: A Case Study On Student Engagement In Online Esol Classes In The Post Pandemic Era, Meral Kacar

Master's Theses

The sudden shift to emergency online education during the global pandemic affected various academic fields, including English language teaching. While many schools faced challenges, some successfully implemented online educational programs. Despite the large impact of the global pandemic on education, there is limited research that examines the effectiveness of online ESOL programs with a focus on the key factors that contribute to student engagement. This thesis explores the factors contributing to effective online ESOL instruction, focusing on fostering engagement and improving teaching practices in the post-pandemic era. The study for this thesis employs an instrumental case study methodology, focusing on …

Integrating Human Development In Teacher Training: The Role Of Mentored Blended Learning And Moocs, Sadia Batool, Mehtab Habib, Tehseen Tahir

CBER Conference

MOOCs (Massive Online Open Online Course), a recent concept in online education, are built to boost the use of open educational resources. MOOCs are believed to be a potential game-changer in educational technology, seamlessly combining with traditional teaching and learning resources demanded by the 21st century and the fourth industrial revolution (Virani et al., 2020). The pandemic forced universities worldwide to adopt online teaching through numerous internet-supported teaching tools and online learning resources, including MOOCs (Chakraborty et al., 2021; Al Kaabi, 2021). MOOCs offer free, high-quality resources from top universities globally, significantly making higher education accessible to learners of all …

Impact Of Safety Training On Employee's Perceptions Of Organizational Safety Culture, Brooke Reid-Graves

Dissertations

Workplace safety and well-being are vital for all workers, regardless of their profession (Young et al., 2022). Studies show that providing employees with training focused on recognizing hazards and implementing safety practices is essential for reducing occupational risks (Namian et al., 2020; Rose & Rae, 2017). Research underscores the importance of fostering a positive organizational safety culture for risk reduction (Berry et al., 2020; Downey, 2019). Understanding the impact of safety training on shaping an organization’s safety culture is key to promoting safe working environments (Mahjoub, 2013).

This study utilized the perspectives of high school staff regarding safety training and …

K-12 Education And The Covid-19 Pandemic, Candice Beasley

Dissertations

This quantitative study aimed to explore how schoolwide closures during the COVID-19 pandemic affected student academic performance in selected Mississippi school districts and to examine the instructional strategies schools used during these closures. While there has been global research on the pros and cons of different teaching methods during and after the pandemic, specific data for Mississippi is still limited.

The researcher collected publicly available data from the Mississippi Department of Education. Student performance results from the Mississippi Academic Assessment Program (MAAP) for the years 2019 to 2021 were analyzed to see if academic performance changed due to the pandemic …

21st Century Community Learning Centers: Program Evaluation Evidence From Texas, Rosilyn Jackson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Texas afterschool programs strive to enhance academic performance and meet students' needs, yet gaps in program quality persist. This study evaluated 21st Century Community Learning Centers’ performance in reading, math, GPA, attendance, in-school suspension, and engagement, both within these categories and against program goals and demographics. Theoretical frameworks used in this study include the logic model, social justice theory, and cultural relevance theory. This quantitative study utilized a nonexperimental and secondary data research design which utilized five statistical tests: the Pearson Product-Moment Correlation, One-Way repeated ANOVA, Spearman Correlation, the Independent Samples t-Test, and the Mann-Whitney U Test. Results showed that …

A Descriptive Case Study Of An Innovative, University-Based Coaching System For Resident Teachers, Matthew J. Wester

Dissertations

Teacher residency programs (TRPs) have emerged over the past two decades as an effective model of teacher preparation. Within this alternative pathway to teacher certification, pre-service teachers, known as resident teachers, engage in a lengthy clinical teaching experience under the guidance of a trained mentor teacher and field supervisor while concurrently completing closely aligned, graduate-level coursework.

A key element of successful teacher residency programs is the use of a structured coaching system to support resident teachers — defined in this study as the components that form the coaching framework for resident teachers within a defined educational context, operating together to …

Career And Technical Educator Transitions From Industry To Secondary Classrooms: A Narrative Study In Rural Schools, Samantha Satterfield

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Effective educators are essential to the success of career and technical education (CTE) programs, yet many schools encounter challenges in hiring and retaining qualified individuals (Peisach, 2023). CTE programs and educators provide workforce opportunities for students and rural communities. Access to evidence-based practices to support occupationally licensed teachers during the transition from industry to full-time teaching is paramount to effective professional development. Administrators play a pivotal role in supplying the guidance necessary for CTE teachers to transition successfully into the classroom. According to Bouwans et al., (2019) the inconsistency in district implementation and support has been attributed to the decline …

Parental Involvement In Early Warning System Use In A Mid To Low-Poverty School, Carrie Mccain

All Dissertations

This study examines the effectiveness of an Early Warning System (EWS) originally designed for high-poverty schools and its potential impact on improving outcomes for students living in poverty but attending a mid to low-poverty school. The focus is on reducing the graduation rate disparity between economically disadvantaged students and their more affluent peers through intentional parental involvement. The research explores how structured communication between parents, teachers, and students, combined with tailored interventions in the EWS, can enhance student engagement and academic performance. Quantitative data, including attendance, behavior, and course performance, were analyzed before and after the intervention, while qualitative data …

A Qualitative Study Of Iranian Efl Teachers’ Perceptions Of A Digital Diversified Education, Seyed Mohammad Reza Marvasti Zadeh, Azizollah Dabaghi Varnosfadrani Advarnosfadrani, Mohammad Amiryousefi

The Qualitative Report

Because Iran is a country of learners of diverse languages, socio-economic classes, genders, and ages, digital diversified education seems appropriate to address needs in English language education. However, there is a notable gap in research on teachers’ perceptions about this type of education. To fill this gap, this study aimed to investigate the perspectives of Iranian teachers of English as a foreign language (EFL) regarding a diverse digital education. Data were collected via an open-ended survey with 30 EFL teachers, both male and female, who were selected through convenience sampling. Analysis revealed several key themes, including the utilization of diverse …

Re-Imagining Professional Learning For Teachers: A Reflection On The Transformative Experience Of An Organic Inquiry., Desiree J. Gilbert Dr

Journal of Contemplative and Holistic Education

Challenged, frustrated and motivated by my observation and sense that learning experiences are often designed and facilitated with an emphasis on criticality over creativity, I engaged in PhD studies to explore the question, How can expanding my understanding of creativity and its connection to learning assist me to re-imagine professional learning for teachers so that their learning experiences are enhanced? In this article I discuss how my practice as a professional learning facilitator for teachers transformed through this study. In particular I describe my experiences and findings from my open exploration of creativity as a phenomenon and how the organic …

Secondary Teacher Perceptions And Practices Of Intercultural Communicative Competence Development In Online Intercultural Exchanges, Paige L. Roland

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Secondary level world language programs in the United States lack efficient infusion and assessment of intercultural communicative competence in the curricula. When a learner acquires a new language, they also shape their personal identity and expand their ability to successfully interact cross-culturally, thus the need for culture and language to be understood as interdependent components of the bigger whole is evident (Liontas & Siegel, 2019). While there are extensive research theories and studies regarding models of assessment for various competences underlying intercultural communicative competence (e.g., communicative competence, idiomatic competence, sociolinguistic competence) throughout the decades, little research is available which utilizes …

Landform Lessons: Applying Terrestrial Geography To Mars Landing Site, Lindsey Herlehy

Publications & Research

In this hands-on, STEM integrated workshop, educators will explore the fascinating parallels between Earth's landscapes and the Martian surface to enhance their understanding of planetary geography. Through a progressive series of activities, participants will compare environments and landforms on Earth and Mars, using actual data from spacecraft orbiting Mars to collect evidence and construct conclusions about these terrestrial planets. Then, applying this information, educators will construct multi-layer maps aimed at selecting the most advantageous landing site for a manned mission to the Red Planet. Finally, utilizing an online mapping application, participants will virtually explore their chosen landing site and examine …

Aligning Perspectives: A Comparative Analysis Of Teachers’ And School Leaders’ Perceptions Of Professional Development Efficacy, Nina Hollis

Dissertations

Professional development has become a staple in the educational landscape, with gaining importance in further education and enhancing one's career as an educator. Professional development is all about updating teachers with the latest knowledge and techniques, found by research, to effectively increase teaching skills. This study investigates the professional development experience of educators and school leaders in relation to their perceptions about professional development. These themes were created in the data analysis to include educators' roles in the classroom, school level, level of degree held, years of experience, subjects taught, and years of professional tenure to get full insight into …

Pity The Poor Reader, Charles H. Haddad

School of Communication and Journalism Faculty Publications

I conceived my book “Pity the Poor Reader” as an un-textbook, an irreverent “Elements of style.” Like Elements, it’s designed to complement textbooks. Pity is concise, memorable and portable. Under 300 pages, Pity serves as an aspiring writer’s keepsake. Concision lies at the heart of Pity. The key concepts of writing well are distilled into irreverent, memorable lines and axioms. Many of them are organized as lists that are easily printed and taped to a wall or a computer. Indeed, in testing the book with my university students, I’ve found that many of them did print out its list of …

Pity The Poor Reader, Charles H. Haddad

School of Communication and Journalism Faculty Publications

I conceived my book “Pity the Poor Reader” as an un-textbook, an irreverent “Elements of style.” Like Elements, it’s designed to complement textbooks. Pity is concise, memorable and portable. Under 300 pages, Pity serves as an aspiring writer’s keepsake. Concision lies at the heart of Pity. The key concepts of writing well are distilled into irreverent, memorable lines and axioms. Many of them are organized as lists that are easily printed and taped to a wall or a computer. Indeed, in testing the book with my university students, I’ve found that many of them did print out its list of …

Bridging Gaps. The Role Of School Leaders In Implementing The Mckinney-Vento Act For Homeless Student Success, Brian Jones

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative narrative inquiry explores the role of school leaders in implementing the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (MKVA) within a public school district in West Texas. The study addresses the challenges school leaders face in supporting homeless students and the strategies they employ to ensure academic success and socio-emotional well-being. Drawing on Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory and Bertalanffy’s general systems theory, the research examines how school leaders' personal understandings and professional experiences influence MKVA provisions' implementation. The study employs semistructured interviews and reflective journals to gather participant data, followed by a member-checking process to enhance the accuracy and credibility of …

Thank You To Our 2023/2024 Reviewers, Paul Freeman, William Miller

Optometric Clinical Practice

Reviewers

Applying Multimodal Imaging In The Evaluation Of A Rare Complication Of Retinal Cavernous Hemangioma, Mariana Ferraz Od, Julie Rodman Od, Msc, Jose Diaz Md

Optometric Clinical Practice

Abstract

Background: Retinal cavernous hemangiomas are rare, benign vascular tumors usually encountered incidentally on routine examination. Although usually asymptomatic, complications have been reported and can result in vision loss. Ancillary imaging modalities such as fundus photography, fluorescein angiography, optical coherence tomography, and optical coherence tomography angiography provide valuable information about the lesion and possible associated findings. Case Report: A 66-year-old Caucasian female presented to the clinic for a comprehensive exam with mild blurry vision in both eyes with current spectacles. Her ocular history was remarkable for a retinal cavernous hemangioma along the superior-temporal arcade of the left eye. Dilated fundus …

Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus Associated With Ipsilateral Bell's Palsy, Patricia Salazar Od

Optometric Clinical Practice

Abstract

Background: Herpes zoster is caused by reactivation of the varicella zoster virus with spread along the dorsal root ganglion and sensory nerve to a dermatome. In herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO), involvement of the ophthalmic (V₁) branch of the trigeminal nerve results in ocular sequelae and often presents with a characteristic pseudodendrite. Reactivation within cranial nerve VII can lead to the neurologic complication of facial nerve palsy on the affected side. Case Report: This case report describes a patient diagnosed with HZO and subsequent same-sided facial nerve palsy (Bell’s palsy) and discusses the potential link between the two …

Ocular Myasthenia Gravis; A Case Report, Amy Garbo Maxey Od, Kristin Wilson Od

Optometric Clinical Practice

Abstract

Background: Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease disorder that affects the skeletal muscles causing increased fatigability and weakness. When it affects the ocular muscles only, it is known as ocular myasthenia gravis (OMG). Patients with OMG will often have symptoms of diplopia and ptosis, which will be worse towards the end of the day. This case report will discuss the common symptoms of OMG as well as the appropriate treatment and management. It will also review the diagnostic tests used to aid in the diagnosis of OMG and discuss the prognosis of OMG. Case Report: A 67-year-old male …

A Most Difficult Conversation, Paul Freeman Od

Optometric Clinical Practice

Editorial

Radical Hospitality: Transforming Adjunct Care, Jennifer L. Kritsch, Rachelle Wong, Michael Corke, Ricardo Ramos, Deb Erickson

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

What would it look like to actively connect with others instead of fighting to affirm our differences? Could radical hospitality usher in a way to connect with others? What would a deep connection to adjuncts in an educational community look like? This research intended to document adjunct faculty responses to departmental efforts to better support adjunct faculty based on their expressed needs. Further, the researchers examined literature on the ethic of care, hospitality, invitational theory, and the role that leadership plays in making people feel welcome. The research team also illuminated how radical hospitality/transformative care can redefine the relationships found …

Co-Creating A Culture Circle: A Horizontal Mentoring Model For New Teachers’ Spiritual Formation, Brita E. Beitler

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

Teacher retention rates persist as a major area of concern in American schools, compounded by issues like the lack of diversity in teaching and the struggle to recruit and retain a diverse workforce of teachers. Traditional models of mentoring have some success in teacher retention; however, mentoring is not equitably employed across schools. Additionally, it often follows an expert-to-novice framework, failing to consider the unique cultural and spiritual knowledges that inform a teacher’s professional decisions. To address the gap in the research, this qualitative study narrates the ways three beginning teachers engaged in a Freirean culture circle model of mentoring, …

Storytelling As Assessment And Assessment As Storytelling: Reading And Writing Equity, Julene L. Jones, Mary K. Thompson, Co-Creating Action, Watermark

Library Presentations

Wrestling with both the language of storytelling and the language of narrative, this presentation repositions assessment work as creative and historical, giving a double responsibility to its authors. How we speak of education and how we use this information to improve it begs the questions of character and audience. In these questions is the larger consideration of equity. This presentation explores what storytelling as an art can teach us about the institutional stories we are telling.

Democratic Practices As Part Of Mathematical Modeling In Schools, Lisa Steffensen, Inger Elin Lilland, Shengtian Zhou

Democracy & Education

We focus on how democratic practices occur during the modeling activity “The Candy Bag of Dreams.” With democratic practices, we refer to approaches supporting inclusivity and active participation aimed at empowering students. We investigated one group of preservice teachers implementing an optimizing modeling activity during practicum in two fifth-grade classes, where students modeled their dream candy bags. Students engaged in mathematical modeling where mathematics was embedded in their social context, and they negotiated meanings and developed perspectives. Through this, they experienced lived democracy by actively engaging in and through democratic practices.

We found democratic practices such as students inviting peers …

Promoting Equity In Culturally Diverse Schools: A Literature Review Of Third Space Pedagogy, Sarah E. Harrison, Heidi Curtis

Northwest Journal of Teacher Education

The increasingly culturally diverse settings present within today’s P-12 schools necessitate improved pedagogical practices to develop more culturally inclusive and equitable learning environments. Third-space pedagogical practices demonstrate potential as an approach for increasing educational equity by promoting cultural hybridity among diverse students and stakeholders through negotiated sociocultural perspectives and interactions. This literature review summarizes recent scholarship surrounding third-space pedagogy, including discussions of how educators can foster third-space relationships and design third-space learning opportunities in diverse educational settings. In addition, lessons from COVID-19 third-space learning opportunities are discussed as a model for re-envisioning equitable instructional practices post-pandemic.

Where’S The Etiquette? Telehealth Etiquette In Health Professions Education And Practice: A Scoping Review, Rachel Pittmann, Bobbie Ann Adair White, Nicole Danaher-Garcia, Anne Thompson

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Background: Past research on in-office provider professionalism has shown an association between patient-provider relationship, patient satisfaction, and healthcare outcomes. Less research has been conducted on the topic of professionalism and communication in telehealth. Telehealth etiquette, or the skills that combine professionalism and communication used during a virtual healthcare visit, has recently emerged in the literature. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to map the evidence of telehealth etiquette within health professions education and practice. Method: A full search using keywords and synonyms of “webside manner” and “telehealth” was conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycInfo. Search results initially identified 263 …

Finding Language For The Experience Of Pltl, A.E. Dreyfuss, Lesley Howell, Maria Cecilia Barone, Sofia Delgado, Sally Faulkner, Ana Fraiman, Robin Frye, Redwan Shahid

Publications and Research

The purpose of this paper is to share a means of communicating why Peer-Led Team Learning (PLTL) has provided a sense of deep connection among practitioners, including Peer Leaders, faculty and administrators. To arrive at finding the qualitative language of emotions, three discussion sessions were facilitated over the course of three days during the 11th Annual Conference of the Peer-Led Team Learning International Society (June 2023, University of Houston Downtown). Facilitators’ techniques, prompts and the necessary pivots used to question assumptions are presented. We found that despite the many variations in the institutions where PLTL is practiced, we are united …

Teachers’ Perspectives On Supporting Students With Dyslexia, Kelly L. White

Doctor of Education (Ed.D)

This study explored the perspectives that teachers in Florida have about dyslexia. Researchers have found that many classroom teachers may not feel prepared to provide support for students with dyslexia. The research problem addressed in this study was to discover the degree to which teachers’ perceptions align with the misconceptions about dyslexia. A quantitative, nonexperimental research design was used to address the study’s topic using a survey adapted from an existing, standardized research instrument. Descriptive and inferential statistical techniques were used to analyze study data from 30 participants. A series of between-subjects tests of statistical significance were conducted to evaluate …

Investigating The Use Of Lesson Study As A Professional Development Model For 4-H Educators At 1890 Land Grant Universities, Cynthia Pierfax, Travella Free, Tiffany Franklin, Manola Erby, Lynn Schmitt-Mcquitty, C L. Meehan, Martin H. Smith

Journal of Extension

There is a defined need to provide accessible and effective professional development for 4-H educators. Lesson study is a Community of Practice-based approach to educator professional development. Prior research has shown lesson study to be effective with 4-H staff, adult volunteers, and teen volunteers. This inquiry, a multi-site case study, was designed to investigate the application of lesson study in authentic contexts with 4-H county agents from 1890 land-grant universities. Quantitative and qualitative measures revealed improved preparedness, participation, and camaraderie among participating educators. Other benefits to participants included improved lesson planning and implementation.