This mixed method case study investigated student engagement at a regional technical high school. Having lagged in a variety of performance measures, the study sought to measure the current status of student engagement at Tech High, to identify engaging Tech High teachers and answer why they were considered engaging by students and administrators,…

The existing body of research presents two contrasting views of community colleges, one portraying them as a "second chance" for individuals, offering an accessible route to higher socioeconomic status. The second views community colleges as a deceptive cover designed to divert marginalized people away from prestigious colleges and to…

This research study involved the use of participatory action research to examine perspectives of a group of special education teachers regarding the feasibility of implementing inquiry-based teaching strategies with students who have disabilities in the social studies classroom. The study occurred at a therapeutic day school catering to students…

Special educators of students with reading disabilities in upper elementary are tasked with remediating large deficits in reading while ensuring attainment of grade-level curriculum. Using a qualitative approach, this study investigated the reading instruction of six teachers in three schools in one district. Through interviews, an investigation…

The purpose of this basic qualitative generic study was to explore the methods and techniques urban elementary teachers use to learn the subject matter and pedagogical skills necessary to incorporate multicultural literature into their daily lessons. The problem is that we know what multicultural literature consists of and why it is critical to…

The sweeping changes brought forth by the pandemic led me to reshape my dissertation in order to develop non-academic skills that will allow me to better meet the shifting challenges of our times. Mine is a non-traditional project focused on the application of technologies and the cognitive theory of multimedia learning (the process by which…

Despite more funds being spent on technology tools by Lovett ISD for both students and teachers, social studies teachers are not creating lessons that integrate or use technology to transform the task. Instead, students use technology devices such as tablets and Chromebooks as a substitute for paper and pencils. A 2016 curriculum audit of the…

The purpose of this convergent mixed methods study was to explore how an undergraduate educational technology course impacts preservice teachers' TPACK knowledge and how it affects the development of their technology integration repertoire. A total of 14 preservice teachers enrolled in a face-to-face section of an educational technology course in…

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in several challenges for students and teachers in the United States. The introduction of virtual instruction was a challenge for many, especially teachers. As many educators attempted to determine how to best support their students and teachers, the latter looked for ways to create lessons and connect with students…

An increasing number of high school students are enrolling in statistics courses. Hence, an increasing number of teachers are needed to plan and implement these courses. Yet, many teachers report feeling unprepared to teach statistics. When planning and implementing these courses, teachers draw upon their knowledge and beliefs when making…

Technology is an ever-changing resource that is more advanced now than it has ever been. This action research project explored how teachers intentionally plan the use of technology in their classroom based on the objectives that need to be taught. The main study that this action research explores is how can I align my objectives to integrate…

In order to prepare pre-service teachers for their roles in the classroom, it is important to examine the rigor and purpose of the mentoring experience. This study explored the aspects of co-planning conversations that helped experienced and novice teachers expand their expertise and develop a mutually beneficial mentoring relationship at the…

The purpose of this descriptive study was to examine elementary music teachers' planning times. The existing literature on planning time is scarce and the literature on elementary music teachers' planning time is nearly nonexistent. The following research questions guided the study: (a) How many minutes of planning time do elementary music…

Teaching science through inquiry-based methodologies has been advocated by several governmental and professional organizations (National Research Council [NRC], 2000; NGSS Lead States, 2013); however, their use is not widespread. Why is this? What science teachers do in their classrooms is shaped by their beliefs, especially their beliefs about…

Mathematics teachers at the local middle school located in a southeastern suburban community were struggling to implement differentiated instruction (DI) strategies in mathematics lessons as presented in professional development (PD) sessions and as directed by school administrators. The purpose of this study was to explore middle school…