This paper reports on a study concerning a MOOC designed to support Greek language teachers in secondary education schools towards designing and using collaborative writing activities with Google Docs in their classroom. The principles that determined the particular MOOC design framework were directed by three dimensions of teacher participation:…

This study describes the impact of the College Supporting Transition, Access and Retention (College STAR) project at a public university in the southeastern United States, which sought to develop faculty knowledge, skills and competencies to better meet the needs of diverse student populations, especially those with learning differences. A focus…

How can educators work together more effectively to improve professional practice in a way that enhances student performance? The answer, says author Pam Robbins, involves combining collaborative activities and peer coaching--teachers supporting teachers. This book describes how any school can implement these proven practices and experience…

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore educator collaborative inquiry in the shared workspace in professional learning communities (PLCs). Specifically, this investigation was part of an ongoing investigation of well-established PLC collaborative interactions and self-directed learning of educators as part of the shared workspace as a…

In this study we report the findings of a two-year professional development study using scaffolded lesson-study to encourage and support four teachers' desire to use discussion with increased frequency and quality. We joined a collaborative community of practice made up of one university researcher, two classroom teachers, and a political science…

Studies have not conclusively established whether teacher job satisfaction improves student achievement or whether the advantages to students from having satisfied teachers vary with the broader school culture. In this article, we investigate two research questions: (1) Is there a relationship between teacher job satisfaction and students' math…

One high-leverage strategy rooted in a strong research base--the revitalized tutoring center--provides a wealth of opportunity to students who may be otherwise underserved. This embedded, open-all-day tutoring center supports collaborative teacher teams by using peer tutors and community volunteers. By centralizing resources and providing supports…

Professional learning communities (PLCs) have been recognised as having the potential to raise the quality of teachers, teaching and student learning through structured teacher collaboration, and have been featured prominently in Singapore and Shanghai--both considered top-performing Asian societies in the Program for International Student…

In the 21st century, our students increasingly communicate, connect, collaborate, and interact with diverse cultures and traditions around the world, so they need to develop global literacy. This department column highlights research and research-to-practice at the international level to bring global best teaching practices to the forefront.…

Art teacher candidates receive too little instruction focusing on inclusive teaching practices, and special education teacher candidates receive too little instruction addressing teaching art, a content area toward which students with disabilities often gravitate. One way to provide both art education and special education teacher candidates…

Professional learning communities (PLCs) are collaborative teacher groups that focus on learning and continual improvement. Establishing PLCs can be a challenging endeavor, especially in smaller schools. Smaller schools employ fewer staff members, limiting opportunities for collaboration. This dissertation examined the implementation of PLCs in…

This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of novice nursing faculty members at one Midwestern Technical college, who were in formal mentoring relationships with seasoned nursing faculty members. A total of nine faculty members participated in a single, sixty minute, semi-structured interview exploring the lived experiences of being…

The squeeze for time to plan lessons and complete other administrative tasks shapes a school's professional environment and, ultimately, affects the quality of instruction. As teachers are largely separate from other educators during instruction, lack of time for collaboration can be very isolating. More than half of lower secondary school…

This case study is an examination of the impact of writing professional development at an urban K-5 public elementary school in a large Southern city. The purpose of this study was to investigate how university faculty can initiate and cultivate a writing community in partnership with a local urban elementary faculty, examining beliefs,…

Toms River Regional School District is located in a coastal community in New Jersey. As the largest suburban school district in the state, Toms River Regional Schools serves students in grades Kindergarten through 12. The student population is predominantly White (76%), with about 13% Hispanic, 5% Black, and 4% Asian or Pacific Islander.…