Validity is an important issue when measuring teaching quality using student evaluations. This study examined the effects of psychology students' subjective clarity about study contents and their prior interest in the subject as variables possibly biasing the evaluations of psychology courses. German students (N = 292) evaluated lectures and…

Although approach forms of achievement goals (mastery and performance goals) have been shown to predict academic achievement in college, recent research underscores that these associations are rather weak and not consistently observed. The present study tests students' social class (in the present research, generational status) as a moderator of…

This month's Safety Spotlight focuses on holding students accountable for their safety actions in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) labs and makerspaces. Most teachers should understand the importance of a proper safety program. In this article, the author describes his work permit system for safety. The work permit system…

Academic coaching is a remedial method to assist undergraduate students experiencing academic difficulties due to counterproductive behavioral patterns related to their academic skills and habits. Developing academic skills and changing academic habits requires a student's willingness to address engrained behaviors that have developed over many…

The primary purpose of this parallel mixed methods study was to discover the extent to which instructional coaches and third and fourth grade elementary teachers were impacted by participating in the instructional coaching model available on their campuses. A subsequent concern was to determine to what extent the writing practices of the teachers…

Spatial visualization--the ability to mentally imagine and manipulate objects--has frequently been measured using the Paper Folding Test (PFT). In this task, participants view diagrams of a paper being folded and a hole being punched. They then identify the resulting punch pattern. Although task instructions promote mentally unfolding the paper,…

Leaders in today's public schools must offer professional development to provide support to teachers without overwhelming them or adding more to their plates (Preciado, 2015). With ever-expanding responsibilities and accountability for teachers in the classroom, providing much-needed support is a top priority (Preciado, 2015). Teacher attrition is…

Coaching is an effective practice that affects teacher and learner outcomes; however, instructional coaches (ICs) must be trained in the fidelity of the implementation. New technology provides an opportunity for new virtual coaching methods. The purpose of this exploratory case study is to explore coaches-in-training (CITs) perspectives of their…

Former President of the International Trombone Association and Professor of Trombone at the University of Texas at Austin, Dr. Nathaniel Brickens is a highly regarded pedagogue and performer in the trombone world. He has maintained a top-notch trombone studio while producing orchestral musicians, acclaimed soloists and aspiring college professors…

The global marketplace, with its complexity, immediacy, and ubiquitous disruptions places almost impossible demands on its leaders and its leadership ranks. For many years, a top, perennial contender for the "what keeps CEOs up at night" list has been a severe lack in both the quantity and quality of effective leaders. The war for talent…

In "Systems for Instructional Improvement," Paul Cobb and his colleagues draw on their extensive research to propose a series of specific, empirically grounded recommendations that together constitute a theory of action for advancing instruction at scale. The authors outline the elements of a coherent instructional system; describe…

Strong faculty members, at any institution of higher education, are important because while educating the student body they represent institutional values and program goals in a diverse teaching and learning environment. The purpose of this study was to explore the areas of need for faculty development based on a secondary analysis of student…

Educational leaders often search for professional development opportunities that are within the context of the classroom where new research-based instructional practices can be observed and incorporated into the teachers' practices. Instructional coaching and co-teaching have been recognized as means for accomplishing this, while at the same time…

A state asked the Center on Enhancing Early Learning Outcomes (CEELO) and Child Trends to review national research on best practices that have been shown to improve results on the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS), with a specific focus on research that impacts instruction and is applicable to teachers in school and community-based…

The 1994 National Standards for Arts Education were succeeded by a new generation of standards published in 2014 by the National Coalition for Core Arts Standards (NCCAS). This iteration of voluntary standards provided a new foundation for designing curriculum for visual arts education. The design of the standards utilized the curriculum model…