Despite continuous efforts to develop teacher observation and evaluation frameworks, one-size-fits-all evaluation tools may not be adequate for an instrumental music classroom. Since implementing the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) in 2015, teacher evaluation has shifted from a high-stakes accountability model to models focused on feedback and…

This quantitative study examined teachers' self-efficacy in teaching multilingual learners (MLL) and implementing the Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP) to support MLL instruction in classrooms. The problem is that teachers' self-efficacy when teaching MLLs may affect them not utilizing the best research-based Tier 1 instructional…

The professional learning experiences of K-12 educators are a critical and complex part of continuously improving teaching and learning within a school. This case study brings to light the experiences of three teams of middle school teachers participating in a professional learning model called instructional rounds. The purpose of this research is…

The current study examined teacher classroom responses to the Classroom Strategies Coaching (CSC) Model in 14 high-poverty elementary schools. Coaches used observational data to identify practice needs, goals, and monitor progress regarding instructional and behavioral management strategies. The sample included 53 teachers that received the CSC…

The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) have invigorated a large push towards the expectation that students should engage in science as scientists do. This requires teachers to have the skills necessary to able to hear and engage with their students' science ideas. The current study draws from two constructs, teacher professional noticing and…

This study determined the teacher-perceived experiences within the blended learning environment to fill a void in previous data. The three research questions defined blended learning, explained strengths and challenges, and provided feedback on teaching programs. This qualitative case study used an ethnographic framework through interviews,…

The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) have invigorated a large push towards the expectation that students should engage in science as scientists do. This requires teachers to have the skills necessary to able to hear and engage with their students' science ideas. The current study draws from two constructs, teacher professional noticing and…

The Center for Immigration Studies reported in October 2016 that immigration to the U.S. had reached historic numbers. According to the U.S. Census estimates, 59.1 million immigrants live in the U.S.; this numbers includes 16.7 million American-born children who are under the age of 18. Thus, approximately one in five U.S. residents is an…

The purpose of this action research study was to implement a peer walkthrough model so teachers at Blenny Elementary (a pseudonym) could develop a common, deeper understanding about school improvement instructional strategies, and to increase the frequency that school improvement instructional strategies were being used in classrooms. The…

A number of theories exist to explain why people gesture when speaking, when they produce gesture, and the origin of their gestures. This dissertation focuses on four individual variables that can influence gesture: (i) familiarity, (ii) imageability, (iii) codability, and (iv) motor experience. Four experiments were designed to determine how each…

The practice of using teacher leaders to support and develop teachers from within the educational organization is gaining support from research. The Trainer of Trainers (TOT) model of professional development is one practice used to develop educators. This study focused on the perceptions of teacher leaders within the TOT model. Teachers'…

Educator evaluation is described in the literature as those systems in place used to supervise educator excellence as well as to maximize and foster teacher capacity. There have been many changes within the last five years in the Massachusetts educator evaluation model, now called the Massachusetts Model System for Educator Evaluation. Once…

Environmental stewardship is an underlying theme in outdoor education (OE) and environmental education (EE), but maintaining natural areas in a sustainable balance between conservation and preservation requires knowledge about how natural areas respond to anthropogenic disturbance. My five-part study investigated the effects of disturbance on…

Patient falls are an ongoing concern for health systems in the US and in the setting where this project took place. Inpatient falls affect consumers and health providers because falls often result in patient morbidity and mortality, legal risk, increased length of stay, and increased costs. The purpose of this project was to evaluate the existing…

Many important real-world decision-making problems involve group interactions among individuals with purely informational interactions. Such situations arise for example in jury deliberations, expert committees, medical diagnoses, etc. We model the purely informational interactions of group members, where they receive private information and act…