This study is an extension of Slutsky's (2016) dissertation about technology self-efficacy. The purpose of this study was to extend the generalization of the original study, considering the knowledge of teacher technology self-efficacy as it relates to integrating technology in the classroom. I built on previous research and added related…

Educational leaders are increasingly required to have knowledge over a wide range of topics. They are seeking ways to engage with colleagues and other educational leaders by connecting in meaningful learning and collaboration. Online communities are offering networking opportunities to educational leaders by turning social media platforms into…

Despite the fact that professional learning is the main means for maintaining quality educators and improving school instruction, professional learning does not guarantee teacher implementation of professional learning or increased student achievement. The inconsistency reflects the complexity of implementing professional learning with teachers…

In 2012, Northern Kentucky University began offering a Best Practices in College Teaching (BPCT) course. Prior to this program evaluation, the course had not been assessed in any formal manner. The gap in knowledge lies in understanding the unique aspects that the BPCT course offers. The Utilization-Focused Evaluation (UFE) developed by Michael…

Herein I present a comprehensive view of mentoring and professional development programs in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) undergraduate education. In CHAPTER 1 I describe a brief outline of this dissertation. In CHAPTER 2 I present a meta-analysis and systematic review of undergraduate mentor programs, where I find an…

Educator professional development has the power to affect day-to-day educational practice. Every school district wrestles with planning professional development for improving educators professionally to better student achievement. With the largest portion of the budget being spent on personnel, developing educators and staff professionally should…

This study contributes to the knowledge and planning that impacts the efforts and staffing of instructional specialists. This investigation contributes to having a better understanding of what an instructional specialist possesses in terms of qualities when interacting with teachers. Further implications can help determine how to shape and develop…

Educators become content experts and often learn how to teach their content through higher education schooling, hands-on training, and professional development. There is currently a lack of advising professional development and literature-based knowledge that develops pedagogical knowledge and identity-building skills in academic advisors. If…

Faculty development continues to be a significant component of higher education institutions. The purpose of this phenomenological case study was to understand the faculty experience surrounding participation in online professional development, thereby discovering the complex structures that influence participation and impact completion of formal…

This qualitative study examines the previous leadership experiences and professional training that helped prepare women faculty to become engineering department chairs. Colleges of engineering and institutions of higher education must better understand the professional development experiences of women who are department chairs to identify how to…

The time is now for educational leaders and policy makers to accept the responsibility of hiring, developing, and retaining a highly qualified, diverse, and committed teaching force in special education. Recommendations from research identify the need to involve key stakeholders at various levels to orchestrate a systematic effort in assisting…

Competency-based education (CBE) is essentially an online approach to teaching and learning featuring flexible pacing, robust competencies, and an emphasis on student completion. CBE's differs from traditional education that focuses on seat time, credit hours, and academic objectives. Though CBE has existed on college campuses in many forms,…

Social emotional learning (SEL) is becoming more recognized as a need to be implemented in the classroom more regularly to help students deal with childhood trauma. However, the professional development that helps teachers to know how to implement SEL in their daily lessons has not been a priority in the education system. In this phenomenological…

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact that targeted technology professional development would have on teachers' technological self-efficacy, perceptions and beliefs, and frequency of integrating technology into the classroom. The researcher used a mixed method approach to measure the results of three professional development sessions…

The design and implementation of secondary teacher professional development (PD) has been a focus of researchers for decades. Often viewed as the way to increase the quality of teaching and to improve student achievement, billions of dollars are invested in PD within the United Stated every year. As such, researchers continue to seek new avenues…