The authors posit that sustained, broad adoption of applied learning is essential to the continued viability of higher education. They define applied learning, delineate research-proven benefits, and illustrate applied learning in practice. In addition, they consider facets to catalyze movement toward leveraging applied learning: leadership for…

This study explored the dynamic interplay of social constructivism, game-based learning, and communities of practice in the context of teachers using Minecraft as an educational tool. This study used a teacher survey to collect insights from teachers who use Minecraft and are members of the Minecraft Teachers' Lounge. The research investigated how…

This qualitative study examined how seven graduate students became prepared to teach in an unfamiliar online PBL environment through an experiential professional development program. During the 75-hour preparation program, graduate instructors completed readings and practice activities, immersed themselves in the student perspective, and completed…

French-as-a-second-language (FSL) teacher candidates' French proficiency and confidence are key indicators of recruitment and retention of FSL teachers. This paper outlines a pilot project, the Conversation Club, that was used to address linguistic insecurity and proficiency in FSL teacher candidates at one university. The Conversation Club was a…

While faculty are subject matter experts in their fields of research, they are often lacking the pedagogical training to support student academic success. Additionally, career readiness skills are increasingly a focus in higher education through the intentional inclusion of soft skills or "21st-century skills" in the classroom.…

From a social constructivist perspective, learning happens by way of engagement with other people and with objects in the environment, often through a process of play and exploration. The notion of tinkering illustrates this mode of creative play, which is relevant not only to youth learning but also to educators' professional learning. In this…

Fewer than 10% of private and public school teachers implement instructional innovation following professional development sessions (Spelman et al., 2016). This qualitative interpretive phenomenological study addressed the problem of private school teachers' desires for effective professional development to improve student learning outcomes. The…

In this article, we explore the process of creating spaces for the practice and inquiry of transformative listening through the development of the Transformative Listening Protocol (TLP). Our premise is that embodied listening opens doors to transformations via a process to improve listening and safe spaces where people may engage with each other…

This paper focuses on the plural uses of pedagogical documentation, particularly the uses in the development of processes of Context-Based Participatory Professional Development for continuous professional development. It sits in the realm of participatory pedagogies, specifically the Pedagogy-in-Participation approach (Oliveira-Formosinho and…

This study investigated whether the Key Concepts in Science Project influenced the pedagogical development of Natural Science teachers. Grounded in social constructivism, emphasising collaborative learning and hands-on interaction, the study employed qualitative methods to collect empirical data. Through photographic evidence, field notes, and…

The shift from traditional education to maker-centered learning calls for an analysis and evaluation of the current studies on professional development in maker-centered learning. The current systematic literature review was conducted to examine existing literature on teacher professional development for maker-centered learning. It aligns the…

Recent global events pushed in-person learning to online formats. As K-12 teachers struggled with shifting from in-person to online teaching while adapting and adjusting instruction, and higher education prepared to do the same, two faculty members in a TESOL teacher preparation program joined forces to question assumptions about online teaching,…

This study investigates the transition of pre-service English teachers from university to high-school teaching, focusing on the challenges of applying theoretical knowledge in practical classroom settings. The research highlights how the integration of experiential learning and mentorship can effectively bridge the gap between theory and practice.…

This qualitative phenomenological study researched the perceptions of job embedded professional development (JEPD) facilitated by instructional coaches at a secondary high school in southeast Texas. Five research questions guided the study of ten teacher's JEPD perceptions experienced the previous school year either weekly/biweekly and whole day.…

This dissertation seeks to understand how a work-based learning project develops the skills, attitudes, behaviors, and Jewish sense of self for three Jewish Federation professionals participating in a larger, 18-month professional development initiative focused on experiential Jewish education. Using case study methodology, this research also…