Early childhood experiences set the foundations for health, well-being, and learning; quality interactions at this stage of development improve outcomes for young children. Teacher qualifications, training, and professional development (PD) are important components of best practice in early childhood education (ECE) and are frequently used as…

This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the implemented Teacher Development Program (TDP), encompassing these modern approaches, in short-term (after 1 month) and more long-term perspectives (after 1 year). Data on the perceived effectiveness of TDP were collected through a survey. The participants included higher education instructors who…

Iowa State University (ISU) is a public, four-year university in Eastern Iowa. About one-third of full-time faculty at ISU are in VITAL roles, positions they refer to as term faculty. Term faculty have promotion line opportunities that mirror tenure-line faculty; across five specialized roles (teaching, practice, clinical, research, and adjunct),…

The University of Georgia (UGA) is the flagship public research university for the state of Georgia. Located in Athens, UGA enrolls about 40,000 students across 18 colleges. UGA awards baccalaureate, master's, doctoral, and professional degrees. About 43% of full-time faculty at UGA are in VITAL faculty roles, with a majority of VITAL faculty in…

University of Denver (DU) is a private, research university in Colorado. Located in Denver, DU enrolls approximately 14,000 students across 10 colleges. About 41% of full-time faculty at DU are in non-tenure track positions, which they refer to as Term and Professional Faculty (TPF). DU has expanded promotion opportunities for TPF that mirror…

The field of faculty professional development (FPD) has been studied for many years from different point of view. Acknowledging that many factors have an impact on FPD, a deeper investigation is required to explore the (successful) elements from the perspective of the faculty. Furthermore, FPD in educational technology has been identified as…

Educational reform policies such as the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) place a significant demand on teachers regarding teacher preparation using evidence-based instruction (Phillips et al., 2016). The need for teacher training has grown in recent years as professional expectations have increased (Kraft et al., 2018). The consensus among…

The purpose of this professional practice dissertation (PPD) was to examine and provide Department of Defense Education Activity Schools practical and real-world solutions with regards to continuous improvement within its educational equity program. This process was examined and analyzed through a qualitative action research approach and design…

This case study outlines the process of designing and implementing a professional development program that is inclusive of VITAL faculty within the College of Science and Mathematics at Kennesaw State University. We begin by providing background about the institution and developments that precipitated the creation of the 2022 Faculty Learning…

Boise State University is a public doctoral research institution located in Boise, Idaho, with an enrollment of approximately 26,000 students. Of the approximately 1,400 faculty members at Boise State, 76% are in VITAL (contingent) positions, including 43% part-time and 33% full-time. The Adjunct Faculty Learning Community (AFLC) is a program…

Professional development should be linked to fostering best practice and improving student learning (Darling-Hammond, 2009). By providing ongoing opportunities for professional learning that focus on best practice, teachers are more likely to develop the knowledge and skills associated with high-quality teacher instruction and raising student…

This mixed methods study addresses special education teachers' (SETs) knowledge and beliefs about specially designed instruction for reading, individualized education program (IEP) development, and aspects of future professional development opportunities that are supportive on these topics. Special education teachers are the primary authors of the…

This scoping review explored university supervisors' roles, responsibilities, challenges, and changes over 70 years. Using the PRISMA-ScR method and 90 analyzed publications, the results yielded articles from every decade and from educator preparation programs across the United States. The findings highlight historical perspectives and…

This article focuses on professional development by exploring two faculty education programs that create opportunities for faculty to learn best practices for mentoring students in scholarly work. These programs promote the inclusion of diverse and underrepresented student populations in research experiences; help faculty develop as effective,…

Teachers in K-12 education begin their careers underprepared for the complexity and demands of teaching. The current practice of a short span of student teaching and entering classrooms as the sole educator sets teachers up for overwhelm and frustration, which can negatively affect student achievement. New teacher induction programs can support…