Reading difficulties are common among middle school students in the US, especially among those with disabilities. Unfortunately, there is a significant shortage of professionals (e.g., special educators) who can provide high-quality reading interventions. Small group (SG) intervention is a group instruction that helps more students in need per…

There is a large body of research on how to improve student learning through active learning and metacognition. However, without well-structured guidelines, students do not tend to actively engage with the taught material, peers, and the instructor at a desirable metacognitive level (Deslauriers et al., 2019). To address this problem, a…

This paper examines how kaiako (teachers) view professional learning and development training (PLD) in structured literacy (SL) in a Maori-medium immersion context. Through interviews with kaiako in a kura kaupapa Maori (Maori-medium educational setting) who teach students in Years 1-6, and images of the literacy environment to capture some of the…

The Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework has the potential to enhance the inclusive practices of teachers with autistic learners in their classes. This study examines the extent to which the UDL framework is currently being used as a model for the inclusion of autistic learners in New Zealand primary schools. This study gathered data from…

Developing design concepts is crucial in architectural engineering education, yet helping students to develop these concepts is a challenging task. Despite previous research exploring design concepts, statistical analysis is scarce to evaluate their effectiveness. This study used the body movement methods from existing literature, combined with…

This research brief comprises three articles published in the three-article dissertation at the University of Missouri (MU) in February 2023. The three-article dissertation, "An Exploration of Online Information Spaces That Support Instructional Design and Teacher Professional Development," examined three online communities of practice…

This paper examines different layers of participation while conducting Participatory Action Research (PAR). In the journey of three years of fieldwork with teachers, many realizations were made about becoming co-researchers and engaging in a collaborative knowledge-building process for developing an engaged pedagogical approach. The paper had two…

This practice report outlines the application of culture change methodology to co-design a whole-of-university health and wellbeing strategy. We outline considerations that necessitate a change in the way higher education contributes to student and staff mental health and wellbeing. We provide an overview of an Appreciative Inquiry culture change…

This study aimed to explore and document language teachers' beliefs and perceptions of journal writing as a tool for improving their practice and enhancing their professional growth. The significance of reflective journals in improving professional practice has been widely reported in pre-service teacher education research. However, research on…

Utilizing the Symbolic Cultural Theory as espoused by Deal and Kennedy (1982), Deal and Peterson (1999, 2016), Bolman and Deal (2003, 2013) and Harris (2005, 2015), this qualitative study explored how cultural symbols support academic and social needs of at-risk students in a selected alternative education setting. The study focused on the…

Learning to read is essential, especially for our youngest learners, as the foundational skills for learning to read can determine the future success of our students. The disruptions to learning from the COVID-19 pandemic have affected education. Researchers are still working to understand the depth of learning loss students have experienced.…

This study explored how adopting an empathy education framework and strategies for teacher empathy modeling and student-centered learning experiences cultivates more empathy in middle school classrooms. This study extended the work of Snead et al. (2016) entitled "Challenge Course Work around Teaching Empathy in the Classroom."…

This study focuses on enhancing science education through improved instructional strategies and professional development for educators. It assesses current instructional practices, analyzes past professional development participation, and reviews student achievement data. A notable gap is the lack of tailored follow-up support for educators,…

As part of the National Survey of Schools project, part of NZCER's Te Pae Tawhiti programme of research, we collaborated with the New Zealand Area Schools Association (NZASA) to survey area school teachers between 15 June and 21 July 2023. A total of 652 area teachers across 64 area schools completed the survey, with questions focusing on: (1)…

Decades of student achievement data reveal that schools in the United States do not adequately equip students with the skills needed for success in college. The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which the AP Capstone program, an Advanced Placement (AP) diploma program launched by the College Board in 2014, promoted specific…