Apple's iPad and other forms of tablet are reportedly gaining increasing popularity within the academic premises. Most of the published research on this topic has highly admired the positive role and impact of iPads on teaching and learning practices, as if an exogenous technological induction in any local context would essentially revolutionize…

The purpose of this study was to reveal the pattern in a structure of teachers' instructional performance. Specifically,seven teachers' performances (Standards and Objectives, Presenting Instructional Content, Lesson Structure and Pacing, Activities and Materials,Academic Feedback, Grouping Students, and Teacher Content Knowledge) were…

Research has shown that lack of motivation on either students or teachers' part negatively influences language learning. The latter case is a serious problem in this regard, since an unmotivated teacher will extinguish his learners' enthusiasm and energy for learning. This study employed a mixed-method approach to investigate the demotivating…

In this exploratory study we examined the alignment of Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) middle school engineering design standards with lesson ideas from middle school teachers, science education faculty, and engineering faculty (4-6 members per group). Respondents were prompted to provide plain language interpretations of two middle…

We examined experiences of participants in "Do the Write Thing" national violence prevention program for middle-level students. Using mixed methods, we conducted surveys and focus groups with students, parents, and teachers who attended the program's National Recognition Week in Washington, DC. Results revealed important affective,…

The purpose of this article is to describe and report on how a group of teacher candidates used technology to create multicultural texts which integrated literacy and social studies. To meet this purpose, the authors briefly describe the objectives of the assignment, examine 41 teacher candidates' perceptions of the assignment, and discuss media…

In this study, U.S. middle school teachers' perceptions of Common Core State Standards for Mathematics (CCSSM), CCSSM-related assessments, teacher evaluation processes, and resources for implementing CCSSM were investigated. Using a mixed methods design, a national sample of 366 teachers was surveyed, and 24 teachers were interviewed. Findings…

This research examined how a teacher's discussion of the strands of scientific proficiencies changed over the course of an inquiry cycle as students engaged in a complex, technology-enhanced inquiry learning environment called "PlantingScience" (PS). Our research is descriptive in nature and attempts to deconstruct the complexity of…

Teacher performance evaluation currently is receiving unprecedented attention from policy makers, scholars, and practitioners worldwide. This study is one of the few studies of teacher perceptions regarding teacher performance measures that focus on China. We employed a quantitative dominant mixed research design to investigate Chinese teachers'…

The exploration of proportional relationships is foundational to the mathematics studied in the middle grades and beyond. Research has shown that an early emphasis on procedures often leaves students with a shallow understanding of the important underlying mathematical concepts of proportional relationships. One approach that addresses the needs…

This paper illustrates the use of simulation-based performance assessment (PA) methodology in a recent study of eighth-grade students' understanding of physical science concepts. A set of four simulation-based PA tasks were iteratively developed to assess student understanding of an array of physical science concepts, including net force,…

Why conduct education research? To answer questions that we have about our students, add to our knowledge of good teaching, and investigate new theories based on observations we have made in our classrooms, schools, or communities. This qualitative research methods case illustrates a study we undertook to better understand how teachers use close…

New York State is in the midst of vast education reform. This Education reform has produced an environment in which the traditional roles of school personnel have been restructured and standards of accountability have been increased. Teacher leadership has become a vital force in the success of many organizations. Additionally, the rigorous…

In recent years, much research has shown that the first language (L1) is being used in the majority of foreign language classrooms. However, these findings have often failed to include secondary foreign language teachers and their teaching context. The current mixed-methods study explores Spanish teachers' use of and beliefs about first and target…

As computers and the Internet are increasingly employed in language teaching and learning, preparing teachers for the impending reality of online teaching is of paramount importance. This study investigated 10 in-service teachers participating in an online role-play as part of a digital education methods course to acquire an understanding of the…