Praxis development remains invisible in many discussions of professional learning because professional educators take praxis development for granted as an indissoluble part of education and educational work. This special issue provides new insights into professional learning for praxis development, and about the conditions that enable and…

Although active learning is deemed essential in education, research has shown that its implementation in teaching practice is limited, while its potential benefits are not used to their maximum. Therefore, this paper aims to examine the determinants of active learning in contemporary teaching from the perspective of students and teachers in…

This chapter explores the range of barriers that instructors, especially adjunct and other non-tenure track instructors, may face when attempting to learn new pedagogical techniques or improve their courses. The author will present concrete strategies for using a disability-informed Universal Design for Learning (UDL) approach to making faculty…

Grounded in sense-making theory, this qualitative study examines how school principals make sense of tensions while leading a teacher professional learning initiative under the broad districtwide instructional reform and the Science of Reading (SoR). This study gathered data from interviews with seven elementary school principals who were…

This dissertation presents a qualitative study investigating the challenges encountered by Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) teachers during the dynamic landscape of the COVID-19 pandemic. The participants, comprising ECSE teachers, shared their experiences, highlighting key themes such as transparent decision-making, a yearning for…

This paper examines the historical evolution of teacher preparation in India, tracing the crucial shift from skills-focused "training" to holistic "education." It analyzes the transition from ancient Gurukul traditions through colonial systematization to the transformative National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. By…

Students with disability tend to report lower levels of school engagement. To date, research has focused on building students' extrinsic motivation and self-regulation with limited consideration of the impact of instructional barriers. In this mixed-methods study, we investigated the effect of teachers' participation in the Accessible Pedagogies™…

Focusing on teachers' practices amid a national curriculum 'implementation' project for schools identified as having high enrolments of students experiencing disadvantage, this paper uses narrative methods to illustrate what we refer to as teachers' everyday work-for-change. Teacher interview data was generated via a longitudinal multi-site case…

This paper examines a professional learning (PL) program for upper elementary teachers focused on developing instructional practices to support multilingual learners (MLLs) in science. The PL sought to support teachers' praxis, which we describe as their sense of agency to critically analyze and take action against barriers to MLLs' opportunities…

This qualitative phenomenological study explored experiences of teaching sex education and identified challenges to sexuality education among 10 Vietnamese high school educators. Sexuality education high-school teachers in Vietnam participated in in-depth interviews focused on (a) experiences associated with teaching sex education in Vietnamese…

Because of the flexibility and options online courses provide, students are increasingly enrolling in university online courses. Online learning continues to lag face-to-face learning in measures of student satisfaction and success. Although the incorporation of research-based effective practices increases student satisfaction and success, they…

Context: Research has demonstrated the importance of teacher quality for student achievement above all other school-based factors (Aaronson et al., 2007; Goldhaber, 2002; Rivkin et al., 2005; Rockoff, 2004). Yet while states and districts have allocated significant resources toward professional learning (PL) aimed at improving instruction (Jacob…

The widespread digital gap significantly impacts educational achievements and fair access to resources, particularly in rural areas with limited technology and high-speed internet. This study explores strategies used by school administrators in five rural Southeast school districts to bridge the digital divide and overcome obstacles. Through…

In an effort to keep pace with an expanding knowledge-based economy, K-12 schools across the U.S. are increasingly shifting their STEM teacher professional learning programs to help teachers foster student experiences with skills such as problem solving, adaptability, and creativity. This study utilized quantitative and qualitative data to examine…

Inclusive education is crucial for integrating children with special needs into mainstream educational settings. This pilot study explores the attitudes of teachers in India toward providing inclusive education to children with disabilities, and the challenges they face. As the Indian education system continues to evolve, there are significant…