The purpose of this qualitative descriptive research was to explore how special education teachers choose curriculum to maximize learning within the special education classroom based on the external factors within the United States. The research questions as follows were answered through 12 interviews and a focus group of six participants from…

The purpose of this qualitative interpretive study was to understand the ways teachers were influenced in their curricular and instructional decision-making processes in a freshman level mathematics class. Understanding what influences teachers' decision-making processes, and how (the ways) these processes were influenced, may lead to improved…

This study explores the development and implementation of a five-day curriculum designed to enhance students' understanding of algebraic concepts through the integration of educational robotics and growth mindset principles. The study is structured around three research questions that investigate influences on decision-making in curriculum design,…

This phenomenological dissertation explores the lived experiences of secondary social studies educators situated in the Appalachian region. Hermeneutic phenomenology was used as a philosophical and methodological approach to gather insights into this phenomenon. Interviews were conducted with three educators to capture their experiences from their…

The purpose of this study was to provide recommendations to improve the practice of incorporating emotional intelligence instructional strategies at Marine Corps University (MCU) in Quantico, Virginia. The problem was that emotional intelligence needs to be consistently addressed in the curriculum at MCU since research and strategic guidance…

In the education system, the integration of student perspectives into effective pedagogical strategies is gaining momentum. This dissertation delves into the concept of 'Student Voice' and its role in shaping educational frameworks. Recognizing the growing gap in soft skill proficiency among newly recruited employees, contrasted with the emphasis…

This study examined how algebra teachers plan curriculum units when they actively design their curriculum. I used a case study (Yin, 2013) of five experienced high school mathematics teachers who came from school districts of varying sizes across the nation. More specifically, I analyzed the teachers' unit planning processes and products by…

There is a gap in educational research regarding teachers' narratives of teaching in diverse classrooms, especially in East Africa. It is essential to investigate teachers' beliefs and perspectives because these are strong indicators of their planning, instructional decisions, and classroom practices and can also frame their perception of…

This dissertation study investigated secondary mathematics teachers' designing and enacting lessons to draw on students' multiple mathematical knowledge bases. The ultimate objective of incorporating open spaces in mathematics lessons is to support students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds in developing mathematical…

Teachers have complex identities intertwined with their racial, gender, ethnic, and national backgrounds. These identities animate their decision making, value judgements, and ethics of their work as they design and implement curriculum. Teacher identities are often positioned as linked to their professional or practice of teaching (Alsup, 2006),…

This research delves into shared leadership and its impact on delivering quality education in higher educational institutions. The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between shared leadership and the delivery of quality education in a higher educational institution. The study aims to comprehensively examine faculty members'…

This dissertation makes a significant contribution to the literature for several reasons. In paper one, I argue that learning a set of useful concrete practices, in addition to CRP mindsets, can help White scholars and educators prepare to lead diverse classrooms, build culturally relevant curricula, and form strong relationships with students…

Educators of graduate cybersecurity education lack decision methodologies to aid in selecting and prioritizing cybersecurity criteria and tools to provide hands-on learning in cyber courses. Educators are challenged with keeping the cybersecurity tools in the education curriculum relevant and updated. The risk of not doing so, is possibly…

The research addresses how post-secondary education can enhance Black student participation in STEM fields, which historically lag behind their White counterparts. Through improvement science, the researchers test the effectiveness of providing scaffolded learning and awareness modules for faculty and staff to enhance curricular design efforts and…

The researchers believe that post-secondary education can provide a greater number of Black students with degrees in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). Using improvement science, this research aims to test whether providing scaffolded learning and awareness modules around success in STEM programs for faculty and staff…