This study explores how Christian educators in liberal arts universities understand the contribution of wonder-filled moments in their classrooms. As a transformative emotion, wonder and the related awe challenge education's prevailing objectification and instrumentalization, inviting students and educators to embrace an appreciative and open…

The purpose of this qualitative study was to research how to mentor new teachers in international schools to develop a framework for mentoring new teachers in the international school context. A search of the literature revealed that while studies had been conducted on international school teachers, and mentoring had been identified as a need,…

This case study examined how participating in a formal leadership development program impacted the development of leader identity for community college leaders. An examination of the program curriculum and materials, program facilitator interviews, participant surveys, focus groups, individual participant interviews, and participants' program…

This qualitative, action research study explored how practitioners' understanding of the academic impacts of sexual violence on female college students transformed. The professional development innovation called "SAAIT: Sexual Assault Academic Intervention Training" was designed using the theoretical framework of Transformative Learning…

This dissertation explores the use of temporal storytelling within an online teacher professional development to understand how engaging in archaeology of self practices (Sealey-Ruiz, 2019), radical dreaming and world building (brown & Imarisha, 2015), might offer a lever of change for teacher transformation. Asking two companion research…

Teacher beliefs have been shown to be an influential factor in student outcomes in all areas of learning. In light of the persistent achievement gap between White students and students of color, it seems important to study and understand the role of teacher beliefs in public education. This exploratory case study contributes to a deeper…

The people around us - as well as the methodical progression of education through content - often shape our relationship to the world. Currently, Earth is at a crossroads, which requires humans to act and live more sustainably with an intentional environmental ethos, whether for literal survival or for slowing Earth's resource degradation.…

Corrective experiences (CEs) in psychotherapy are important curative factors and clients who experience transformation post rapid gains and thrive as a result. Although transformations are important indicators of growth, less than half of clients experience them. This qualitative study explored the experience of transformation in graduates of a…

All modes of oppression, including psychological, political, and economic, as well as the kinds of alienation that they generate, serve and maintain a caste system of privilege. The belief systems on which the realities of structural oppression rest are especially relevant for people of color and other subordinated identities (e.g., LGBTQ…

Today's college student body reflects, among many things, the outcome of policies geared towards increasing access and diversifying the academy, efforts to recruit international students, the vast social, political, and economic disparities among marginalized populations, and the extreme cultural polarization of our times. Students on campuses…

This paper (1) draws on a review of the literature on instructional video to map onto one model of professional development the learning goals and reflective activities that are most likely to develop the potential of instructional video to change beliefs and develop critical consciousness, and (2) provides anecdotal evidence to explore the…

This study explored how avid users of "Second Life" ("SL") experience and make meaning of informal learning activities in virtual art museums and similar cultural spaces through their avatars. While recent literature has laid the groundwork for studying student engagement and formal learning, the lacuna of research bound by the…

The research studies human emotions through diverse methods and theoretical lenses. My intention in using this approach is to provide alternative ways of perceiving and interpreting emotions being experienced in the moment of arousal. Emotions are fundamental in human interactions because they are essential in the development of effective…

The professional educators of Matt Garcia Learning Center (MGLC) have undertaken a monumental task of providing education to students considered to be significantly at-risk in a public school of choice. These educators are focusing on quelling the "negative success trajectory" prevalent for each of the students of MGLC. Understanding the…

Different conceptualizations of service-learning are found in higher education, ranging from charity to social justice focused. Little is known about the lasting impact of social justice focused service-learning on undergraduate participants, especially in a global education setting. This study examined the experience and meaning making of…