Calculus has long been known as a "gateway course" to STEM fields in postsecondary education. To moderate this gatekeeping effect, Montclair State University researchers developed a peer-led, inquiry-based instructional support (IBIS) to run parallel to Calculus classes. The design of the IBIS model was informed by an instructional…

The most effective way to increase students' academic performance is to improve the instructional practices of their teachers. Effective, research-based instruction responsive to individual students' unique needs is imperative for quality outcomes, particularly for students with disabilities. The high-leverage practices (HLPs; Collaboration,…

In the spring of 2020, many colleges and universities had to move their classes online due to COVID-19. This move to the virtual environment highlighted a growing problem in higher education, being increase failure rates for online students. This study addressed two research questions: 1) To what extent does the use of short lectures and small…

The aim of this research was to create spaces for kindergarten writers by collaborating with kindergarten teachers through action research cycles. The inquiry's problem of practice is situated in the understanding that writing instruction within kindergarten classrooms is being sidelined due to a drive to teach in ways aligned to a sub-skills…

Collaborative Video Viewing (CVV) transforms passive video-based learning into an engaging, active process. While collaborative modes have different affordances that could potentially influence knowledge co-construction, no study has directly assessed the impact of collaborative modes in CVV activities. Therefore, this current study seeks to…

The debate between cooperative group learning and individual instruction has long been a focal point in educational discourse. This research study explored these two instructional methodologies' comparative efficacy and benefits in fostering learning outcomes and skill development. This research study was conducted using fifth-grade classes from…

This dissertation examines the development of combinatorial reasoning in high school students through an in-depth analysis of a problem-solving session involving the Pizza Problem. The study, part of the long-term Rutgers-Kenilworth longitudinal research project, focuses on four 11th-grade students as they explore and connect concepts related to…

This dissertation contributes to our comprehension of the impact of gamification on online cooperative learning, particularly in enhancing educational outcomes (behavior, cognition, and attitudes). Through explanatory mixed-method research, this study aims to answer to what extent gamification influences educational outcomes in the context of…

In recent years, the field of education has experienced major shifts characterized by a significant increase in the research of innovative instructional approaches. Project-based learning (PBL) is an educational approach that prioritizes collaborative projects and experiential learning activities, offering a unique framework for exploring the…

This practitioner inquiry dissertation is situated within the context of U.S. education policy that persists in defining literacy as print-based and privileges standardized literacy assessments as the singular measure of what students "know". Decades of literacy research have shown that such orientations to education policy and resulting…

Living and teaching in Merauke, Papua, Indonesia, the researcher discovered a problem not only with his own teaching methods, but with the methodology used by other faculty at the Bible school where he taught. When the student could not answer simple questions from the Bible, the obvious question became, "Why could they not answer these…

While the challenges of collecting multiple streams of digital trace data are diminishing with the help of the rapid development of learning technologies, the challenges of analyzing and understanding multimodal interactions remain substantial. Diverse multimodal data sources, such as digital tool use, speech, gesture, and more, can make it…

This dissertation explores the implementation of classical education in a non-classical charter high school, with a focus on science education using classical methodologies. Employing techniques like copy work, history-based science teaching (HBST), the Socratic method, and the Progymnastmata, astronomy, and chemistry were taught. To identify…

Most mathematicians state mathematics is a field of beauty, creativity, and innovation, yet what is echoed by students is not how mathematics allows students to explore, but rather the ways in which it constrains and does not necessitate creativity. In comparison, many students associate coding with freedom, and the ability to create and express…

This three-paper dissertation addresses the experience and the implementation of evidence-based learning practices in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)/biology education. Study 1 explored instructional strategies and student perceptions and preferences for various teaching practices in graduate and undergraduate classrooms…