The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore how elementary school teachers in Germany described their experience with movement method with respect to students' mental health and stress levels. The theoretical framework was Ryan and Deci's self-determination theory. The two research questions were: How did elementary school…

Despite calls from national initiatives for increased STEM learning in the K-12 classroom, addressing STEM in teacher preparation programs has received minimal attention (Brown, 2012). As a result, most courses remained siloed within specific content areas, with little integration (Bergman & Morphew, 2015). This has led to many elementary…

The purpose of this narrative study was to explore professional development experiences intended to support the development and implementation of innovative teaching and learning strategies in the traditional K-12 educational setting, from the perspective and lived experience of educators. The sample of this study was four white, female educators…

This dissertation investigates the intersection of economics of innovation and human capital development to understand how to empower individuals and marginalized communities to be directed to innovation and STEM disciplines. The research focuses on three main chapters: Chapter 1 examines the effectiveness of an education program in teaching and…

The phenomenon of interest in this study was veteran K-5 English language arts (ELA) teachers' perceptions of blended learning as an educational innovation setting and how they perceived the implementation of blended learning into their instructional routine. Blended learning is normally used in higher-level education but is now also used in the…

This research project employs a case study design to examine how K-6 non-computer science (CS) trained teachers can be effectively prepared to teach CS, metaphorically unmasking hidden superheroes in the education system. Grounded in the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework, the study also integrates Bandura's Theory of…

The research literature on mobile technology integration discussed the disconnect between staff training, self-efficacy, and technology use in the classroom. This quantitative study examined elementary classroom teachers' technological, pedagogical, and content knowledge (TPACK) and self-efficacy beliefs related to mobile technology integration.…

This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of general education classroom teachers (grades 1-5) who have been highly effective in using arts integration and their perceptions of using the arts for formative assessment. The study explored the ways in which teachers with high self-efficacy integrating the arts designed and facilitated…

The study investigated users' perspectives on My Path to Learning (MPTL), an interactive cloud technology, as a tool for differentiating instruction in phonology and spelling for K-8 students. The study aimed to enhance the digital platform by incorporating and acting upon user feedback. The researcher collected qualitative data to examine the…

This study explores elementary school teachers' perceptions of emotional intelligence (EI) influence on the academic development of African American elementary students within a charter school in North Carolina. Persistent academic disparities faced by Black students, exacerbated by systemic educational inequalities and socio-cultural challenges,…

Elementary teachers continue to endure increased pressure as additional weights are pressed from state requirements and recommendations, local and national social burdens heighten, and confrontation with increased student needs persist; yet support structures devised for teachers to be able to enact transformational leaps lack. Questions guiding…

The purpose of the study was to examine the extent to which participants built meaningful culturally and linguistically responsive (CLR) relationships with students and to what extent those same participants engaged in cognitively demanding academic discourse with their students. The participatory action research (PAR) study took place in a rural…

This dissertation explores the perceptions and understandings of K-6 general education teachers regarding their role in intentionally developing students' emotional competencies. This research builds upon that which establishes the vitality of developed emotional competencies by including the perceptions of teachers who have been tasked with…

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the experiences and practices of STEM teacher leaders in elementary schools. The characteristics of the STEM teacher leaders were studied under the Teacher Leader Model Standards (2011) framework. The Teacher Leader Model Standards included: fostering collaborative culture, assessments,…

The increasingly competitive global environment has made continuous innovation vital for survival. In education, teachers' innovative behaviors have become crucial, as successful reforms depend on their effective implementation. Teachers are central to student success, but constraints on their ability to innovate can negatively impact learning…