Research has highlighted the advantages of specific practices for enhancing student learning. However, the adoption of these practices varies among teachers. This disparity raises fundamental questions: Why do certain teachers use these practices while others do not? Does the use of these practices depend on the career stage of the teachers? This…

The research for this dissertation is presented in manuscript format with an introduction, an in-depth outline of three manuscripts related to this study, and a conclusion that follows. As design-based research serving as the foundation to this work, the first manuscript used networked inquiry to uncover what teachers need in order to transform…

In this paper we put forth a model for physics course reform that uniquely uses proven, research-based active-learning strategies to help students improve their physics knowledge and problem-solving skills. In this study, we compared the exam performance of students in two sections of the same introductory physics course. One section (the…

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted various teaching and learning practices. Teachers worldwide had to adapt their instructional methods to teach from a distance, often without prior training. This abrupt transition resulted in significant alterations to their professional identities, which remain largely unexplored and uninvestigated…

This case study investigates the professional learning and changes in teaching practices and leadership of four experienced, mid-career secondary mathematics teachers as a result of participation in the Midwest Master Teacher Partnership, a professional development partnership between a research university and a large, urban school district. The…

Due to COVID-19, many school systems and teachers were required to use a new platform for instructional delivery. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the experiences of six veteran teachers who have implemented blended learning in their classrooms within the past three years in one rural Oklahoma school district. Purposeful…

The key premise of professional development (PD) is that learning to teach continues throughout teachers' careers. And yet, experienced teachers are often portrayed in media and public policy as resistant to such learning and afraid of change. This paper seeks a more nuanced understanding of why experienced teachers might resist the prospect of PD…

This article is the starting point of a longitudinal research project, The New Era of Music Education: Technology, Creativity, and Policy. This project investigates how music curricula and teachers' perspectives on technology, technological competency, and approaches will transform owing to the evolution of technology over the 2020s. Eight…

In an era of sky-high burnout, "Educating with Passion and Purpose" gives veteran teachers everything they need to thrive in their profession. This book will help you avoid the disenchantment and frustration that can come from doing the difficult work of K-12 education. You are in this field because you want to make a difference, but you…

Teacher education programs and school reform efforts are two mechanisms by which research-based reform messages reach thousands of teachers. Prior research has noted, however, that these messages are often in conflict with longstanding beliefs and norms at school sites. This paper examines teacher agency in the context of school of structure and…

Teaching experience has been identified as an important factor in pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) development. However, little is known about "how" experienced teachers may draw on their previous experience to facilitate their PCK development. This study examined how two experienced high school biology teachers approached the…

Can participation in a 4-day workshop change science teachers' beliefs about reformed science teaching? We observe a significant difference between pre- and post-workshop surveys and explore an unexpected relationship involving teaching experience. Results of this exploratory study indicate a significant correlation between high school science…

This study reports on the impact of an 'initial' certification course (ICC) for English language teachers (the Cambridge CELTA) on the self-reported classroom practices and related beliefs of experienced teacher-participants. Although many participants on such courses are experienced non-native speaker teachers of English (NNESTs), almost nothing…

As our post-secondary landscape evolves to address the needs of the next generation of learners and future educators, it is important to explore the potential conflict between the teaching methods employed by teacher educators and what we ask our pre-service teachers to enact. Amid the challenges facing many teacher preparation programs (including…

Our study contributes to understanding teacher mentoring by exploring impacts of feedback from multiple mentoring sources as teachers with varying levels of experience learned to implement student-centered instruction. Mentees in our study learned to implement a student-centered model, supported by mentoring from students and teachers experienced…