Image Theses and Dissertations A Professional Learning Community Approach to Improving English/Language Arts Instructional Planning Simply defined, effective English Language Arts (ELA) instruction is cohesive, integrated, and requires students to think deeply. Creating such instruction is difficult, however, because of insufficient training in instructional planning and the numerous types of curricula teachers must navigate that may not align well. Therefore, new secondary ELA teachers could benefit from high quality professional development focused on effective ELA planning practices. View Item
Image Theses and Dissertations Teacher Efficacy & Institutional Change with 1:1 Technology Initiatives in East Asia The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between teachers' sense of efficacy and a change initiative that challenged teachers' current classroom practice. This study focused on 1:1 technology implementations in international schools from the East Asia Regional Council of Overseas Schools (EARCOS). The study also explored the relationship between teachers' sense of efficacy and their perceptions of the effectiveness of certain professional development formats. View Item
Image Theses and Dissertations Transformational Leadership and Transfer of Teacher Professional Development to the Classroom in the Kuwait Public High School Context The purpose of this study was to examine how teachers' perceptions of transformational leadership behavior of head of department (HOD) as instructional leader related to their motivation to transfer learning through professional development in public high schools in Kuwait. View Item
Image Theses and Dissertations Developing Equity Literacy: A Collaborative Approach Historically, students of color, learners with special needs, non-English speakers, etc. are at risk for underperforming academically and behaviorally in school. To meet the needs of these marginalized populations and ensure academic and behavioral success for all students, it is necessary for teachers to develop equity literacy (EL). Equity literacy is the knowledge, skills, and awareness needed to provide equitable opportunities in the school setting. A great body of research has linked teacher efficacy with improved student performance. View Item
Image Theses and Dissertations M-Learning: A Psychometric Study of the Mobile Learning Perception Scale The purpose of this research was to evaluate the psychometric properties of Uzunboylu and Ozdamli (2011) Mobile Learning Perception Scale (MLPS) in order to determine whether it was an acceptable instrument to measure U.S. teachers' perception of mobile learning (m-learning) in the classroom. A second purpose was to determine if relationships existed between teachers' perceptions of m-learning in comparison to school level and the teachers self-reported technology skill level. View Item
Image Theses and Dissertations Assessing the Status of Professional Learning Opportunities in EARCOS Member Schools The purpose of this study was to assess the extent to which professional development programs within EARCOS member schools are consistent with research-based principles of effective practice. In addition, this study sought to identify the professional development opportunities that are being provided to EARCOS teachers. Finally, this study determined which professional development experiences teachers believe are most and least effective for their development. View Item
Image Theses and Dissertations Knowledge, Practice, and Self-Efficacy of Public Library Storytime Providers: A Mixed-Methods Study The importance of early literacy to later academic achievement has been well documented, as has the positive impact of high-quality early literacy environments. One stumbling block to achieving improvements in literacy skills for school-aged children appears to be inequities in access to high-quality early literacy environments. Public libraries, recognizing their unique position to support early literacy in their communities, have embarked on efforts to develop more robust early literacy-based storytime programming. View Item
Image Theses and Dissertations Preparing Pre-Service and In-Service Special Educators to Write High-Quality Individualized Education Programs through Online Professional Development Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) are the legal documents guiding the education of students with disabilities served under IDEA. Despite the importance of these documents, noncompliance and lack of quality remain in the present levels of academic and functional performance, annual goals and objectives, and supplementary aids and services sections. Using a one-group pre-post design, this study examined the effectiveness of online professional development for 29 pre-service and in-service special educators to increase IEP quality in these three sections. View Item
