The literature identifies three main types of peer associations: cliques, crowds, and dyadic friendships. When schools create learning communities, an additional type of peer association may emerge that is not based on interactions but instead is based on membership in a shared community. The aim of this study is to qualitatively explore the…

English Language Arts has historically been tied to the civic purposes of schools, and this qualitative study of a social design-based project (Gutierrez & Vossoughi, 2010) examines the intersection of language and literacy learning and youth civic engagement, a problem space I call "Civics English." In this dissertation, I describe…

Together with Teach to Lead, a project guided by teacher leaders at the U.S. Department of Education and ASCD, we took a look at the first-ever family engagement summit, which provided a structured model for actively engaging families alongside educators, administrators, and community partners. This report highlights the voices of summit…

In Chicago's Altgeld-Riverdale neighborhood, the Pre-Kindergarten to Kindergarten Transitions Project (PKTP) promotes an intentional approach to early educational transitions through the implementation of classroom and community transition practices. PKTP brings together teachers and families from across all schools and early childhood centers…

In Chicago's Altgeld-Riverdale neighborhood, the Pre-Kindergarten to Kindergarten Transitions Project (PKTP) promotes an intentional approach to early educational transitions through the implementation of classroom and community transition practices. PKTP brings together teachers and families from across all schools and early childhood centers…

Social capital, in the form of relationships among teachers, results in sharing information and resources, which leads to improved student academic achievement. However, school librarians in secondary schools often face challenges when it comes to collaboration. Not surprisingly, collaboration between teachers and librarians is a major focus of…

The purpose of this quantitative investigation was to examine specific factors of teacher leadership qualities to determine if a difference exists between one's teacher leadership and longevity in the teaching profession. The research study focused on the differences of six teacher leadership qualities and teacher perspectives and understanding on…

Knowledgebase and information management systems have existed for many years within academics and professional organizations. These technologies have greater importance within academic's programs due to the need and responsibility of creating and transferring knowledge and reliable information to their communities. In today's global, digital, and…

Over 200 municipalities from 48 countries belong to a global network of localities working independently and collectively to realize a robust concept of cities, towns and regions as ecosystems of lifelong learning for the well-being of individuals, communities, nations and the planet. What is the number of U.S. localities participating? Zero. This…

This paper argues that work based learning has primarily addressed and rewarded the individual learner and that the 'workplace' which has provided the context for the learning receives scant attention. The author begins by speculating on how to reframe the way that organisations are thought of from a work based learning perspective and reviews…

Douglas Martin (an editor) wrote a memoir in New York Times about Matthew Lipman, the founder of philosophy for children, today's classic thinker. Lipman's death brought attention again for the philosophy for children's status among professionals. Later one of the most prestigious international educational periodical review, the "Journal of…

Professional learning is intended to improve teaching, benefit student learning and in the longer term improve achievement of targets in schools. When teachers take responsibility not only for their own learning but also for their colleagues', it can lead to a shift in attitudes towards collaborative learning. This study presents an example of a…

How do we confront entrenched educational practices in higher education that lead to student demotivation, poor retention, and low persistence? This article argues that project-based learning that situates student voice and capacity at the center of culturally-responsive curriculum has the potential to spark student passion for problem-solving…

This article considers how knowledge, education and research interact as the institutional structures that support them change. Many efforts at large-scale education reform depend upon the proposition that what counts as useful knowledge can be easily defined, without reference to the specific contexts in which that knowledge will be set to work.…

Teachers are constantly being evaluated based upon their ability to provide the best education for their students. These evaluations are done at a macro level, where teachers must meet state and national mandates that deem them highly qualified, and at a micro level, where teachers must display proficiency as effective teachers through teacher…