This dissertation closely examines the model of a suburban northern Delaware alternative program. The researcher determined how well this program successfully prepared 52 scholars to successfully transition forward into a comprehensive school. Each student in the study was removed from the comprehensive school and enrolled into the alternative…

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of one online PD in PBL. Researchers want to investigate if a five-day international online PBL training will prepare teachers to implement PBL in their classrooms. Secondly, the researchers aim to determine if the training provides teachers with sufficient knowledge and support…

This study investigated the impact of a year-long professional development (PD) program on mathematics teachers' knowledge, beliefs, and practice. The PD program of the study was designed to connect mathematics teachers' learning and teaching practice through integrating situated aspects of the teaching profession and teachers' reflections. Data…

Participating in effective professional development (PD) is beneficial in many ways for teachers themselves, but also for improving school systems. "Effective" PD differs from "traditional" PD in that it employs elements known to support changes in teaching practices and in student learning. Characteristics of effective PD…

Teacher technology professional development (PD) is seen as an important component of meeting the vision for technology use in schools. This study continues Lawless and Pellegrino's (2007) work by examining which characteristics of teacher technology PD were associated with growth in teachers' technology practices and student outcomes. The…

There has been an increase in trauma sensitive children who experience socio-emotional and behavioral delays in the general education classroom. The purpose of this action research study was to investigate and develop classroom interventions for trauma sensitive children in early childhood and primary classrooms. Participants and data collection…

This professional practice dissertation examined the application of Program Transition Points implemented in a K-12 Special Education Initial Licensure Program to ensure effective teacher preparation and successful program completion. Feedback from educational stakeholders, data results from program and internship evaluation outcomes, and the…

Veteran secondary teachers are becoming complacent and isolating themselves because of changes in teacher professional development; however, continuing to learn and update instructional practices is part of teacher professional development. To better understand veteran secondary teachers, their views and experiences must be understood. The problem…

This study examines the influences of a one-year life skills-oriented continuing professional development (CPD) programme on PE teachers' teaching practice. Based on Ball's (2009) generative change model, the programme was designed to facilitate pedagogical connections between programme knowledge and teachers' practices. Eight participants (4…

The purpose of this quantitative causal-comparative research study was to determine what differences existed, if any, in teacher sense of efficacy scores between teachers who completed Literacy Design Collaborative training and those who did not. Bandura's self-efficacy theory guided the study. Four research questions were addressed: What…

Professional development should be linked to fostering best practice and improving student learning (Darling-Hammond, 2009). By providing ongoing opportunities for professional learning that focus on best practice, teachers are more likely to develop the knowledge and skills associated with high-quality teacher instruction and raising student…

The scalability and accessibility of quality professional development (PD) is an ongoing concern in the teacher education community, yet little research has been conducted on potential solutions. We aimed to address this gap by developing an interactive, virtual PD program that uses intelligent tutoring systems and provides instant feedback to…

Throughout agricultural education's 100+ year history, teacher effectiveness/confidence has remained a consistent factor in student achievement. Furthermore, targeted professional development has commonly been used to improve teacher effectiveness/confidence. With 50% of educators exiting the profession within five years, finding ways to improve…

This action research study examines the use of professional development to build the self-efficacy of secondary math teachers in culturally responsive mathematics teaching (CRMT), with the hope to address achievement gaps of Black and Hispanic students. Seven math teachers from a school division in Southwest Virginia participated in a 9-week…

The purpose of this mixed-methods research study was to analyze to what extent an hour-long professional learning module can increase self-awareness about educators' emotional regulation, and to determine what key features in a professional development module increase understanding of a teacher's own social-emotional competence (SEC). The goal was…