This research aimed to investigate elements of professional development that can positively impact the conduct of educators through professional development. Professional development is needed to address a problem in the field of education with educators' mindsets negatively impacting students' achievement and school experience. Some educators'…

Researchers have shown that aesthetic design has a positive effect on viewers of web pages. The problem is that the aesthetic design of e-learning courses is understudied, especially concerning nondisabled students in accessibly designed online classes. Thus, administrators, course designers, instructional technologists, faculty, and students may…

Reading aloud to students is a common practice among teachers of young children. While reading aloud is a research-based instructional strategy with many potential benefits, studies show that not all teachers read aloud to their students, and read-aloud use tends to decline as students age. The purpose of this study was to explore the current…

The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically impacted the world of education. Schools were forced to rapidly adapt to new modes of teaching, learning, and assessment to continue providing education to students safely and effectively. This study examines the experiences of schools during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on their challenges, responses, and…

The role of lecturers at the University of Guyana has always included research. However, the productivity of these lecturers has historically been low. This dissertation examines the reasons for low research productivity among lecturers and attempts to understand the underlying concerns. Through a series of action research cycles, the researcher…

This autoethnography explored my experiences in designing a nature-based literacy unit in Hawai'i. Whereas a small body of research highlights a positive relationship between nature-based experiences and literacy outcomes, there is minimal research on the planning process. I wanted to understand the experience of planning for nature-based literacy…

Three categories of work orientation -- job, career and calling -- have been widely used to characterise how people perceive and behave towards their work. While this typology has been generative, this paper adopts a different perspective (based on Discursive Psychology) by prioritising what and how teachers talk about their work on their own…

Fifty-two strongly committed, first-generation Latina women attending a predominantly white institution (PWI) were asked how their first-generation status has had an impact on their college experience and where they see themselves in five years. Written responses to these questions were analyzed from the lens of "attribution theory" and…

This study asks, "How do instructors successfully engage students in learning about controversial issues of race without hitting the common tripwires of low trust, stereotyping or racial microaggressions?" To address this question, I conducted a study of two courses on race that were focussed on difficult issues, yet were consistently…

Young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience a variety of unique challenges that may be compounded for individuals pursuing postsecondary education. Particular difficulties identified for college students with ASD include variability in social skills, social isolation, and reduced access to appropriate support and services. Research…

The academic achievement of first-year university students continues to be a concern and priority for higher education institutions in South Africa. The mandated lockdown in 2020, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, compelled first-year students to adapt from face-to-face lecturers to emergency remote teaching. This study explored what has kept…

The increase in usage of Online Learning systems has provided a challenge to deliver e-contents based on user needs. This study uses learning style data to determine the learning profile and provide the content based on the user's needs, whereas gamified elements are used to increase user engagement. The combination of these two approaches would…

This study examines the effects of Motivational Enhancement Training on male preservice preschool teachers' motivation and vocational-outcome expectations, using a randomized pretest-posttest control group design. Of the 34 participants, 17 formed the experimental group and the other 17, the control group. A Personal Information Form, Adult…

Becoming a researcher not only involves the acts of contributing to the body of knowledge in a field, but it also involves constructing the image or identity of a researcher. Doctoral students who aim for positions within academia upon graduation see doctoral education as a phase where they develop their research skills and prepare for…

Research focusing on retention is vital for addressing the shortage of qualified special educators. In this phenomenological study, therefore, 21 early career special educators in Wisconsin were interviewed to investigate what factors most motivated them to continue in their profession. The study also examined how early career special educators…