Learning-focussed educational models require the development of pedagogical, methodological, assessment and technological competences among the faculty community. The COVID-19 pandemic has accentuated the need for this training. This study evaluates the impact of the training project "Educate to Transform" on teacher attitudes, knowledge…

This dissertation critically examines grading practices within schools, tracing the evolution from traditional to modern approaches and highlighting the social dimensions and debates surrounding grading. Through a mixed-methods study spanning three empirical chapters, it explores students' and teachers' perceptions of grading practices, the impact…

In the United States, science education has experienced substantial shifts in the last decade. For in-service teachers, professional development programs (PDPs) play an important role in reform success. Despite well-known core features of effective PDPs, research still suggests a range of results among programs that claim to use those features. An…

Positive behavior interventions and supports (PBIS) is a three-tiered framework shown to improve student behavioral outcomes. There has been considerable investment in scaling up Tier 1 PBIS but less focus on scaling Tier 2 supports. Having greater insight into teachers,' students,' and families' perceptions regarding the social validity of Tier 2…

This qualitative case study provided insight into the effectiveness of rural school leaders' implementation practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study addressed the need for knowledge regarding school administrators' and educators' perspectives on the practice changes necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This qualitative case study aimed…

Technology has become an integral part of the teaching and learning process in the current educational landscape, revolutionizing students' learning experiences in alternative and traditional educational settings. However, despite having access to various tech tools that support student learning, an achievement gap still exists, and many students…

This qualitative study examines preparation of pre-service teachers for altering rural teaching through transformative curriculum and pedagogy. The study gathered the perspectives of 45 participants belonging to two universities in Tanzania, namely University of Dar es Salaam (Dar es Salaam University College of Education) and Sokoine University…

Professional development (PD) is crucial for enhancing teachers' pedagogical skills and impacting student learning outcomes. Despite its importance, current PD approaches often fail to achieve desired changes in instructional practices. This educational design research (EDR) project advocated developing purposeful design principles for online PD…

A skills gap from theoretical knowledge to practical application is always a critical issue in Taiwan's education field. The launch of 12-year Basic Education Curriculum and the emergence of the educational innovation industry arouse the awareness of project-based competency-oriented curriculum design. Introducing design thinking into the…

Chinese secondary school vocational education has been given increased prominence over recent years to support the country's need for a highly skilled workforce and continued economic growth. The integration of secondary vocational and higher vocational education to move towards a tertiary system embodying lifelong education with Chinese…

The universal design for learning framework aims to remove barriers from the learning environment so that as many students as possible can fully participate in it. The COVID19 pandemic has brought about additional challenges in higher education, but in many cases, it has also provided a unique opportunity to examine change. This study investigated…

Many research studies have found that faculty value collaborative professional development (PD) activities that provide practical applications. Faculty seek out PD for improved skills and career support, including advancements. To acquire promotions in higher education, these employees must complete high-stakes evaluations through annual reviews,…

This paper explores how schoolteachers in Kazakhstan engaged with the Renewed Content of Education (RCE) that has been introduced by the Government, and how changes in their beliefs and understandings influenced classroom practice. The study draws on the ecological model of teacher agency and elaborates on factors that contribute to the formation…

In this qualitative case study, we investigated how active learning strategies discussed and practiced in the face-to-face classroom context were transferred to an online modality by four faculty fellows of Indiana University's Mosaic Faculty Fellows Program. This program is intended to support faculty members' perception of how classroom space…

This study examined perceptions of teachers who implemented a comprehensive school reform, the Comprehensive, Integrated, Three-tiered (Ci3T) model of prevention. We report findings of four focus groups with a total of 18 middle and high school teachers who had implemented Ci3T for two years. We used sensemaking as a theoretical framework to…