This single embedded case study utilized a content analysis of syllabi and other documents, along with interviews and observations, of two California teacher education programs to explore how social justice-oriented and transformative practices were conceptualized. The courses - topics, text, assignments, and instructional practices - were…

Computational thinking (CT) has great potential for enhancing mathematics and science lessons in K-12 education. Numerous studies demonstrate that under the right circumstances, CT integration in math and science can improve student learning and promote deeper understanding. However, teacher education currently does not include preparation for…

Using Self Study in Teach Education (S-STEP), this research examined the ways in which my utilization of Linguistic Landscape (LL) as a pedagogical tool contributed to developing teacher candidates as future educators. In doing so, this study aims to highlight the use of LL as an effective pedagogical tool for developing Critical Multilingual…

Social studies education has traditionally aimed to foster productive citizens. However, recent societal polarizations have added complexity to this objective (Levy et al., 2023). Amid these challenges, understanding remains limited regarding how teacher preparation programs are adapting their social studies methods curriculum. Grounded in…

This study seeks to examine how core practices pedagogy is being developed and refined for use in world language teaching methods classes. It analyzes how one teacher educator (TE) approaches teaching core practices in three iterations of her methods class, offering a close view of how this work is being carried out and what adaptations the TE…

Leveraging the effectiveness of Concept-Based Language Instruction (C-BLI) in language teaching and learning, including in the teaching of specific linguistic features of target languages (Negueruela, 2003; Van Compernolle, 2012), pragmatic elements such as sarcasm (Kim & Lantolf, 2018), and even discipline-specific concepts (e.g., Casal,…

Over the last few decades, the United States of America (USA) has experienced an increase in the number of K-12 students due to increasing waves of immigrants and the high birth rate of immigrant families. Most of today's K-12 classes reflect a diversity of non-English speaking (NES) students whose English proficiency challenges their academic…

To examine to what extent current general education pre-service teachers within a teacher preparation program at a private institution of higher education know and understand the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL), expert focus groups were conducted. General education program syllabi were examined for UDL content and found to be…

Many teacher candidates who enter teacher education programs have received altered curricula that addressed the new common core of reading, writing, and mathematics (Beveridge 2010). This new common core curriculum neglects the importance of arts education. These students who have not been exposed to arts education, are reluctant to engage in the…

The UTeach program, a national model for undergraduate teacher preparation, includes "Perspectives on Science and Mathematics," a class designed to share content about the History of Science (HOS) with preservice teachers. UTeach provides a model curriculum as a sample for instructors teaching "Perspectives." The purpose of…

This study shares the perspectives of current elementary education teacher candidates with field and/or internship experiences in Title I schools. It provides some insight into the points of view of these teacher candidates who are able to inform teacher preparation programs about working with students from impoverished backgrounds. There is value…

In an era when markers of "diversity" (race, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, nationality, language, etc.) are generally common sense, societies ignore the histories of how these markers became possible and the crucial implications these histories have in the present of educational aspirations and people's lives. This dissertation addresses…

This mixed method study investigated the overarching question "how global education is understood and implemented in an educator preparation program in a Colorado university". The sub-questions used to answer the research question are: (1) How is global education/perspective understood and implemented by the faculty; (2) How do students…

This study focused on the 28 institutions that are members of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and offer Master's in Teacher Leadership programs that they describe on their websites. Those programs were researched looking for similarities and differences across programs, specifically researching their…

Increasingly, graduate teaching "assistants" (GTAs) are not "assisting" faculty instructors, but finding themselves in the role of lead instructor, particularly in physical activity courses. Despite this responsibility, GTAs receive little or no pedagogical training and often feel unprepared to teach. Conversely, college and…