Amidst the tapestry of public education lie the stories of early college high school (ECHS) students, students with valuable insights into the transformative nature of juggling secondary and postsecondary education. Their experiences are somewhat unknown to the education community at large. ECHS programs are designed to bridge the gap between high…

The purpose of this study was to comprehend the motivations and learning experiences of Chinese Heritage Language Learners (CHLLs) who study in Chinese programs in California public high schools where Chinese American students are under-studied and their voices are not heard. The study used Gardner's Socio-educational Model, Fishman's Reversing…

In this qualitative case study, I examined how teacher instructional practices and beliefs around teaching literature were impacted after self-selecting into a sustained professional development opportunity called Bard Core. Specifically, I ask, 1. What are the perspectives of secondary ELA teachers as to how a self-selected, year-long,…

The Education Center serves many adult learners that have the goal of receiving their high school equivalency. Adult learners face many barriers when pursuing this goal. The research in adult education focuses on the barriers that learners face and what drives them to succeed. There is limited research on what learners' perception of knowledge is.…

This study examines the impact of gamification elements, in particular leaderboards, badges, and eBucks, on the cognitive engagement (CE), intrinsic motivation (IM), and self-efficacy (SE) of English Language Learners (ELLs) at a high school in the Southeastern United States. The investigation, conducted during optional weekly readings, utilizes a…

Pathway programs provide early exposure to various health careers. Positive program outcomes have been conveyed from the student's perspective. Previous studies yet to demonstrate a focus on the experiences of high school teachers who instruct in pathway programs. The primary research question for this study is: How do high school teachers…

The problem for this qualitative study was how educators experience professional development using podcast listening combined with independent jot journals and collegial discussions. The research questions aimed to discover whether teachers would accept or reject this professional development as well as potential lesson plan designs or…

This narrative study investigated the experiences of three Hispanic students in South Texas who participated in after-school robotics programs in secondary school and discover the role these experiences had on their academic and life skills. Data were collected through individual semi-structured interviews with one female participant and two male…

Urban middle school students in the United States have shown a declining interest in science and poorer science learning outcomes compared to the past. Museum learning experiences can potentially improve these students' interest and learning in science through interactive, personalized exhibits. This qualitative action research study asked the…

The need for quality science education has long been established, but despite reform after reform, it remains a current concern. What we know as good teaching is not happening, perhaps because there is an increase in science teachers using alternative certification programs to enter the field. This lack of formal training causes teachers to have a…

Culturally Relevant Pedagogy is a method of education that promotes an inclusive and empowered learning environment by acknowledging and valuing students varied cultural origins. CRP is especially important for tackling the ongoing achievement discrepancies encountered by high school Black Male students in the context of mathematics instruction.…

This study seeks to illuminate and describe the experience of students engaging in mathematical portfolios. In particular, this study reveals key insights into how students demonstrate their mathematical identity and metacognition. Portfolio assessment has been described as an intentional collection of evidence that captures student…

The COVID-19 global pandemic had a profound impact on all industries globally, and significantly affected K-12 education. The impact was so severe that schools were forced to close abruptly, therefore, requiring teachers to find alternative learning modalities for their students in the wake of the crisis. Teachers, students, parents, and school…

Interest is a unique internal motivator of learning that can be sustained and developed by outside influences. A challenge in rural areas is instilling interest in young adults to pursue careers local industries demand in order to mitigate rural out-migration. The purpose of this mixed methods intervention study was to determine if and explain how…

The more students read, the better they read, and students are more inclined to read when they are motivated to read. Students' interests and their confidence as readers contribute to their motivation. Confidence is impacted by how students view themselves as readers, an identity which can be influenced by the environment surrounding them. The…