The systematic identification of evaluator competency training needs is crucial for the development of evaluators and the establishment of evaluation as a profession. Insight into essential competencies could help align training programs with field-specific needs, therefore clarifying expectations between evaluators, educators, and employers. This…

This study addresses the contribution of applying qualitative research methods for identifying the educational activities planned for adults. The paper is based on the experience gained during in-depth interviews with 39 elderly and 33 middle-aged participants, by purposive sampling method and maximum variation technique, within a needs analysis…

Autism continues to be an intriguing condition, and perhaps the most efficiently researched of all child psychiatric disorders (Wolff, 2004). Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are multifaceted neurodevelopmental disorders that entail vital social focused deficiency and behavioral obstinacy. Autism is the ultimate form of ASD and includes substantial…

This research methods case (more accurately, cases) discusses the use of online questionnaires. We focus on two projects that help us showcase the range of considerations and many decision points involved with using online questionnaires to collect data. Our cases--the conduct of course evaluations in a community college and a regional educational…

This paper reports on a study that investigated the range of institutional support needs of international students at one Australian university with a view to increasing understanding of their needs and the ways in which support was provided. The study involved a number of data collection methods including focus groups, key informant interviews…

Recent developments in genomic-based knowledge is challenging educators to learn more about the early precursors of various difficulties children experience in learning and how they can use this information to identify preventative strategies or strategies that minimise their effect. The purpose of this article is to provide a brief outline of…

Teacher support for students in ubiquitous learning environments is challenging owing to physical distance and a lack of reliable real-time multimedia-rich communication. This is further complicated because the learning process is dynamic and problems need quick resolution. Given these challenges, this study proposes an architecture for a teacher…

Although much research has examined the professional development (PD) of science teachers, questions remain about what aspects of PD contribute to teacher change. It is important to continue to examine the nuanced ways in which PD can support in-service science teachers as they seek to hone their craft. This study used silhouettes constructed from…

In this interview, Beverly Daniel Tatum, President Emerita of Spelman College, shares her views of higher education. She notes the historical importance of historically black colleges and universities to our current leadership in all areas of society, their importance in rural areas or other places with limited educational options, and their need…

This study examined the impact of instructional support of fourth-grade students' basic psychological needs (autonomy, competence, relatedness) on their motivation to participate in asynchronous online discussions and their argumentation skills. An instructional intervention called Need Supportive Blended Learning (NSBL) was developed and tested…

Current research has shown that children with disabilities often felt that their physical education teacher was not prepared to provide them with quality physical education experiences. Over 50% of physical education teachers did not feel prepared to teach children with disabilities. The purpose of this article is to share a "Needs Assessment…

What can over a million teachers tell funders about the needs of schools? No one has greater insight into the needs of students and schools than teachers. Increasingly, teachers are using their voice in identifying what American classrooms lack via crowdfunding websites like DonorsChoose. These requests uncover interesting patterns among…

In 2016, the Louisiana Department of Education selected Learning Forward to design and facilitate a mentor teacher training program that provided expert teachers across the state with tools and skills to more effectively support teachers in their systems through their first three years of teaching. This three-year partnership was completed in…

The purpose of this article was to compile a general map of existing research on digital education from the Self-determination theory (SDT) perspective, in order to understand SDT's contribution to the emerging field of research on digital technologies in education, the methods used to advance this research, the gaps in existing research, and the…

Purpose: To develop a framework for conceptualizing and managing integration in STEM learning, that can help address key issues in its research and implementation worldwide. Design/methodology/approach: Integration in learning is a complicated but not a well-defined concept and therefore it is difficult to illustrate in theory and practice how to…