The three articles included in this dissertation are connected through theory and practice. Study one identifies the factors influencing Extension agents' participation in supplemental professional development opportunities using Ajzen's (1985) theory of planned behavior. Study two was a systematic investigation of Extension personnel's…

In the United States (U.S.), the heart of public education lies in the commitment to providing every child with the necessary resources for their learning and development. Today, in 2024, principals are responsible for ensuring all students have equitable access to education by integrating technological advancements, maintaining a rigorous…

This is an exploratory study on returning migrants as adult learners preparing to return to their home countries. We examined the educational needs and learning experiences of nine Mongolian migrants returning from South Korea who participated in vocational education programs for imminent returnees. Our qualitative analysis found that returning…

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the collaborative needs amongst novice and experienced educators. Specifically, the researcher studied the personal and professional needs of novice and experienced educators to understand how these two groups can best collaborate. Semistructured interviews with 10…

Coaching is increasingly being used as a mechanism to improve the quality of early childhood education. Yet, for coaching outside of researcher-controlled interventions, limited information details coaches' reports of their practices' professional learning needs. We addressed this gap via an exploratory study utilizing online questionnaires of 91…

Instructional coaching is a widely accepted form of job-embedded professional development in schools across the United States. The problem is that many new instructional coaches have limited experience facilitating professional growth or working with adult learners. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the perceptions coaches…

Access to higher education is often limited to adults because of their location. This is particularly challenging for adults who live in rural communities and small towns and can lead to unmet expectations. While policy makers have long recognised the potential impact of lifelong education for adults, the educational needs of adults have received…

Research has shown that early adoption of innovations often converges with the need for knowledge. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was understanding what types of instruction small business owners and their employees required to fill a gap in learning necessary skills to launch and maintain social media marketing campaigns. The…

Refugees suddenly face life transitions and challenges such as the need to learn a new language, learn the rules of a new culture, endure traumatic situations, and loss; all of these are factors that impact their integration. This article describes the language and culture learning needs of adult refugees resettling in the United States suggests…

This case study explored Spanish-speaking educators' perceptions and experiences of dual-language immersion (DLI) professional learning (PL). The study aimed to understand how PL offerings could best support and meet the needs of DLI Spanish teachers' best practices in the target language. The perceptions and experiences of seven Spanish DLI…

Many schools struggle to provide appropriate training for paraeducators to ensure the necessary knowledge and skills required to support students with challenging behaviors. This article provides a collaborative approach to paraeducator training. Included is a description of a four-step strategy to clarify paraeducator responsibilities and define…

Purpose: Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) encounter many challenges in the school environment. We sought to identify school-based SLPs' needs in the areas of training and research to support school-based practice. Method: We collected surveys from 145 school-based SLPs practicing in Wisconsin. Respondents were asked to describe aspects of…

Given changes in the 21st century workplace and expectations of employers, the notion that a bachelor's degree is the sole pathway to sustainable employment and a middle-class life in the United States has become obsolete. Many (e.g., Fleming, 2016) have argued that employers are now seeking employees with technical skills, digital literacy, and…

eLearning can be a powerful tool for state education agencies (SEAs) to effectively meet their training goals and support the diverse needs of busy educators. When designed, developed, and implemented effectively, eLearning can transform training content into engaging, impactful learning experiences. By considering various delivery methods,…

Competent adult learning facilitators play a vital role in improving the quality of adult learning programmes. This article thus explores common and core competences of adult learning facilitators from the perspective of key stakeholders, such as facilitators, adult learners and administrators. By synthesising previous international studies, we…