In most middle schools, learning is segregated by discipline. Yet interdisciplinary approaches have been shown to cultivate creative thinking, support problem solving, and develop interest while supporting knowledge gains (NAE & NRC in STEM Integration in K-12 Education: Status, Prospects, and an Agenda for Research. National Academies Press,…

Throughout the history of public education in the United States of America, the teaching of mathematics and its focus have been topics of reform and calls for change. Students need a balanced and intentional approach to learning mathematics, which supports each student in understanding and applying mathematical concepts. The purpose of this study…

While existing research has well-recognized educational plan as an important predictor of students' educational achievement, the alignment of educational plan and achievement should not be taken for granted. As plan-achievement misalignment is liable to negative psychological and social consequences, this study aims to examine the extent to which…

In recent decades civil services worldwide have experienced exogenous forces that are transforming their work and workplace. In turn, these changes are altering the skills set associated with civil service employment. As professional degrees oriented towards careers in civil service these changes can have important ramifications on the curriculum.…

This study takes advantage of natural variation in alignment and accountability to analyze educator sensemaking of a complex policy environment. It describes how educators in two large, high-accountability districts in New York and Florida made sense of multiple policy changes, including new standards, curriculum, assessments, and teacher…

Online learning platforms, such as MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses), continue to expand, and some academics are taking advantage of these resources by integrating them into their teaching. The literature shows that there are many different ways that MOOCS are being blended into on-campus university teaching, and it would be helpful to have a…

Through continuing education, educators improve their skills and become more proficient at their jobs. However, some educational leaders are unaware of the perception of teachers regarding professional development. Grounded in Desimone and Garet's framework of best practices in teachers' professional development, the purpose of this interpretive…

Instructional coaching is a widely accepted form of job-embedded professional development in schools across the United States. The problem is that many new instructional coaches have limited experience facilitating professional growth or working with adult learners. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the perceptions coaches…

Amidst the vast amount of research that measures, evaluates, and suggests best practices for social and emotional learning (SEL), less attention has been given to the underlying cultural values, emotional investments, and relational patterns that shape and uphold SEL at a "root level." The purpose of this dissertation was to create a…

There is a gap in the empirical and conceptual literature that connects transformational leaders to relevant frameworks assisting with within-district racial and socioeconomic integration. Current studies focus on the collective decisions taken by district personnel to ease the process of integration but not through the lens of the superintendent…

The purpose of the qualitative narrative inquiry study was to explore factors that influence online learning designs while maintaining quality and promoting innovation in online learning design practices. Subject matter experts (SMEs) and instructional designers (IDs) were asked to participate in a one-to-one semi-structured interview facilitated…

Problem and Purpose: Without time for preparation, COVID-19 caused a wave of operational and structural changes that encumbered much of the time and energy educational leaders previously spent on moving the district forward. The ripple effect of the pandemic exposed new challenges in teaching and learning, requiring superintendents and principals…

Competency-based education (CBE) has been widely adopted in various educational contexts although research discussing how CBE is implemented in local contexts and how it shifts (or not) teaching practices is limited. This study explores how Vietnamese secondary teachers made sense of general competencies and adapted their teaching towards…

The integration of digital technology into education offers new avenues to enhance Ecology education by addressing resource limitations and fostering student engagement. This study examines the potential of smartphone applications as didactic tools for teaching Ecology in Brazilian basic education. Through a targeted search on the Google Play…

AI advancements are likely to have a profound impact on all aspects of society and every sector of the economy in the coming years, with changes already well underway. In this context, postsecondary institutions have a dual role: (1) to strategically leverage AI to help catalyze greater access and success into postsecondary education for all…