This dissertation is aimed at articulating and empirically characterizing an expansive orientation to field-based socio-ecological systems learning that elevates participatory and ethically-engaged approaches to teaching and learning. Grounded in relational ways of knowing, this dissertation works to expand and transform normative educational…

This teacher-action research project explores using critical contemplative pedagogy in an upper elementary classroom setting to determine how youth media practices can be informed with combined critical media literacy instruction and contemplative exercises. Analysis of students' media production and deconstructions reveal promising outcomes for…

Adolescents today need mental health support (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2024), and schools are a place where a universal approach to positive well-being can be promoted (Weissberg, 2019). While programs exist for social and emotional learning (SEL), there is a call for teachers to find a way for daily SEL integration into the…

One of the most significant barriers to changing instructional practices is teachers' mindsets and beliefs about teaching and learning mathematics. This study identifies a promising new type of video club professional development that supports teachers in examining their instructional practices and mindsets. This form of professional learning is…

Critical peace education sets forth a process-oriented pedagogy with key tenets that include inquiry, reflection, dialogue, critical value-assessment, and empowerment. Empowerment as tenet is unique because, when viewed comprehensively, it is recognized as an integral element required for the actualization of all other tenets within CPE. Although…

The purpose of this study was to explore the formative role of personal and professional discipleship experiences on exemplar faith-integrating professors at a Christian university in the Southeast. Wenger's (1998) social theory of learning was the theoretical framework for the case study, and Mason's (1925/1989) instruments of education were the…

Many educators are committed to democratic education. However, practitioners who have experienced hierarchical learning structures may unconsciously replicate these norms in their own teaching methods. Through honest reflection, teachers can reckon with their formative experiences and use the resulting insights to transcend ingrained behaviors or…

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore how elementary STEM teachers describe their use of engaging activities and strategies to help students learn from their mistakes during STEM instruction in the Southeast region of the United States. The theoretical foundation was Bruner's Social Constructivist Theory. Two research…

Using Q methodology, this study examined the patterns of how counselor educators prioritized the use of flipped learning tenets when teaching counseling courses. Participants ranked flipped learning tenets resulting in the development of two teaching profiles. One teaching profile prioritized the co-creation of a learning culture centered on…

High school students often complain of boredom and are disengaged from learning. This qualitative action research study sought to make improvements in teachers' understanding of Kolb's experiential learning cycle, in particular, opportunities for student reflection, and how to increase usage of both constructs in high school classrooms to engage…

In today's context of schooling, most teaching is aimed at output, coverage, and high scores which is in direct contrast to what pre-service teachers are taught to cherish -- differentiation, academic choice, and student autonomy. However, there is an approach that shows promise in counteracting the tendency to over stress scores and undermine a…

Modern classrooms are increasingly diverse. Students vary in their academic abilities, personal interests, cultural and linguistic backgrounds, and previous experiences (Allen et al., 2013). To meet the varied needs of students, educators must adapt their instruction so all are able to find success. Modifying lesson plans and changing instruction…

This study investigated how three fifth-grade students' understanding of fraction and decimal magnitude evolved over the course of a five-week teaching experiment. Students participated in teaching and learning sessions focused on developing concepts of fraction and decimal magnitude. The following questions guided this study: (1) How do fifth…

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore how rural North Carolina teachers, after completing the National Board Certification process, describe how they apply systematic thinking to their teaching practice, reflect on the experience, and learn from experience. Grounded in David Kolb's Experiential Learning Model and The…

This research study aimed to achieve five objectives. The first objective was to explore the pedagogical content knowledge of nurse educators who teach pharmacology. The second objective was to reflect upon the experiences of nurse educators who teach pharmacology. The third objective was to understand which pedagogical content knowledge informs…