The use of social media in initial teacher education offers connection to a community of learners. As teacher educators we planned to use Twitter with pre-service teachers (PSTs). But at the end of the semester it was revealed that PSTs insisted on using a different platform; offering valuable perspectives and insights into the boundaries that are…

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of the Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework on students' perspectives of an online Kinesiology course. A Health-Related Fitness and Wellness course, an introductory Kinesiology class in the California State University, was converted to an online format using the CoI framework. Results showed…

School communities are looking for new and innovative ways to educate children. One effective reform strategy that schools are using to better prepare teachers to meet these needs is the development of professional learning communities. Much of the literature presented in this area focuses on teachers and their growth as collaborative working…

Help your PLC+ group to work "wiser," not harder. This practical guide to planning and implementing PLC+ groups in a collaborative setting is designed to equip professional learning community teams with the tools they need to work effectively toward improving student learning. Designed as an accompanying resource to "PLC+: Better…

The purpose of this action research study was to examine how membership within a virtual community of practice impacted individual professional development, knowledge exchange practices, and self-efficacy. The G-3/5/7 virtual community of practice (VCoP) website was created to provide members with access to a wide range of career-related content,…

The purpose of this study was to explore ninth grade teachers' perspectives' of a small learning community and its impact on student connectivity, transition and dropout. The following overarching research question framed this study: (Given the 15-year history of this freshman academy, what are the teachers' perspectives on the impact of a small…

This chapter proposes a theoretical model of the impact of lesson study. Outcomes addressed include teacher outcomes (e.g., knowledge and beliefs), professional learning norms and routines, instructional routines and tools, and student learning outcomes. Four theoretical perspectives are used to examine lesson study impact: knowledge integration…

In this dissertation, I explored how residence life professionals are teaching social justice. Using critically informed qualitative methods, I conducted semi-structured interviews with 10 student affairs professionals who are responsible for ongoing social justice-oriented initiatives in residence life. I also analyzed documents associated with…

Teaching is a dynamic profession with many factors influencing change and growth. There are new standards every decade, new students every year, and new technology seemingly adopted before full integration of old technologies. Teachers must regularly develop to keep up with change. Unfortunately, when teachers reflect on traditional learning…

The "Scaling Teachers' Professional Development for ASSISTments: Evaluation Final Report" examines how a virtual professional learning community (vPLC) and immediate, elaborated feedback during independent math practice supported teachers in enhancing formative assessment practices, fostering sustained collaboration, and improving…

Cross-professional collaboration in schools is a prerequisite for professional teaching practice and thus for professional development in many post-industrialized societies, yet little is known about how teachers with different professional backgrounds make meaning of and internalize cross-professional collaboration and how inequities in…

Supporting and contributing to the development of each other's academic writing within a 'writing group' in a university setting has enhanced the authors' professional and personal connections. As their sense of community and commitment to collaboration evolved, their group engaged in conversations about other aspects of their academic work,…

Due to policy changes across Europe, work-based learning pedagogies are on the increase in Higher Education programmes. This paper discusses the development of a theoretical framework and conceptual model used to underpin an investigation of work-based learning in postgraduate nurse education. An original conceptual model for analyzing the…

Across the globe, the learning goals of elementary, secondary, and higher education curricula emphasize the development of the critical thinking approach. In Kenya, the curriculum mentions developing critical thinking as one of its objectives, but a critical review reveals that the education system prioritizes competitive exams and rote…

Collaboration is rapidly becoming sacrosanct in today's K-12 schools. A basis for these collaborative school experiences is the ability to share one's observations of classroom activities. The Professional Learning Community (PLC) framework described here is a pedagogically based process that provides opportunities for Early Field Experience…