This dissertation presents the results and outcomes of an effort to design educational tools and curriculum to improve student learning in introductory programming courses. The work was conducted at the University of California, Merced (UC Merced), situated in the Central Valley of California, and home to a diverse student population. The findings…

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive case study was to examine teachers' perceptions on how their engagement and satisfaction in professional development opportunities influence their efficacy in applying the skills learned. Three research questions guided the study: How do teachers describe their efficacy in applying skills learned from…

This qualitative study explored, from a case study perspective, early college high school principals' viewpoints on leadership characteristics and best practices that influence a school culture and school climate. Through an analysis of participant interviews and data collection, themes were identified regarding best practices and characteristics…

Engagement unites the home and school as a partnership, elevating parents' roles as vital voices in the school and mitigating barriers to engagement. This current research aimed to fill a gap in the literature by investigating parent engagement from the perspective of the administrators as well as the parent in the context of their…

The current increase in demand for post-secondary educators, coupled with other labor issues, is exasperating faculty shortages. Noting a gap within current research, it was not known how intrinsic and extrinsic job characteristics influence commitment of full and part-time faculty. Therefore, the purpose of this qualitative case study was to…

Despite the widespread availability and frequency of use of technological tools in the classrooms, there is little empirical research on examining the teaching practices and how teachers use technology to support scientific inquiry. This multi-case study examined the teaching practices of two science teachers and how they used the technology to…

China's rising economy has increased the popularity of learning the Chinese language. Chinese immersion programs have gained popularity in K-12 education, particularly for younger learners. However, research on the optimal instruction design for Chinese and English biliteracy development in one-way Chinese immersion programs is scarce. This…

The purpose of this qualitative single-subject case study was to identify the elements critical to crisis management professional development for school principals; the factors influencing the implementation of the National Incident Management System Phases of Emergency Management (2010) for principals; and the necessary elements for fostering…

Latinx students with limited or interrupted formal education (SLIFE; ages 18-20), not enrolled in school, often do not fully employ mobile-assisted language learning (MALL) strategies to acquire English and may experience barriers to using MALL strategies. The purpose of this study was to explore what MALL strategies Latinx SLIFE (ages 18-20), not…

Using a qualitative, multiple case study research approach, the personal stories of eight K-12 educators who retired within the past six years were gathered and analyzed. The goal of the study was to understand how educators struggle, or do not struggle, with the life changing event of bringing closure to a career after spending decades in the…

This study examines the mathematical questioning of undergraduate Calculus I instructors for the purpose of detailing the ways in which instructors are using their questions. The emphasis is on verbal questions because of their in-the-moment value and ability to get students engaged in discourse. Calculus I is of particular interest because of its…

Community colleges have a greater portion of students at-risk for college completion than four-year schools and faculty at these institutions are overwhelmingly and increasingly part-time. Learning communities have been identified as a high-impact practice with numerous benefits documented for community college instructors and students: a primary…

Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) are a best practice that has been around for decades; however, due to organizational structuring in elementary schools, teachers are allowed 30 minutes of planning time. During this time little planning or collaboration with peers is achieved. Previous research has proven that professional learning by way…

Despite a shortage of Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs), only half of applicants currently match with a dietetic internship. A key reason is a shortage of preceptors. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to better understand RDNs' views of the preceptor role. An online survey was sent to a randomly selected sample of 10% of RDNs.…

Collaborating teachers need common planning time to plan instruction to teach students with diverse needs in their classroom. Teachers usually have limited common planning time or no time. It therefore became incumbent upon collaborating teachers to be mindful of how productively they use the limited planning time. This qualitative case study…