The purpose of this qualitative descriptive case study was to examine teachers' perceptions on how their engagement and satisfaction in professional development opportunities influence their efficacy in applying the skills learned. Three research questions guided the study: How do teachers describe their efficacy in applying skills learned from…

Educators need to determine innovative ways to increase student achievement and enhance teaching skills. Online learning management systems are an innovative way to differentiate facilitation and increase student learning. Teachers should explore and learn new skill sets to meet today's technology demands. Online learning management systems are…

When hired to teach courses online, traditionally trained teachers may struggle to transition from non-online instructional delivery skills to research-based best practice strategies designed for the online classroom. The purpose of this qualitative exploratory case study was to examine how online K-12 charter school administrators perceived the…

In his 2011 book "The highly qualified teacher: What is teacher quality and how do we measure it?" Strong argues that as a profession, education has struggled to measure teacher quality and therefore cannot provide a proven system to consistently develop high-quality teachers. In order to move toward an operational definition of teacher…

This study harvested and synthesized information on K-12 online educators within the State of Pennsylvania through structured interviews and artifact evaluations. As parents, students, and the greater K-12 educational community look for innovative ways to increase rigor and student achievement in the 21st century, educational technology is viewed…

Quality early childhood programs have come into focus as public policy and research have suggested that school readiness is directly associated with quality early education. With this focus, the early care and education workforce is gradually transforming from a field with low education requirement for teachers to one that requires them to hold an…

As a nation, we face a critical need to expand and enhance the STEM workforce and to improve the quantitative literacy of our populace. Doing so requires effective instruction in mathematics at all levels, from pre-kindergarten through post-graduate studies. However, while much work has been done to improve K-12 teacher preparation in mathematics,…

Student achievement is rooted in a teacher's ability to identify and assess student understanding of material. This is particularly challenging in classroom settings, which are dynamic and full of distractions, especially in science classrooms where discussion and inquiry are paramount. In mathematics education, the concept of "professional…

Recruitment of quality teachers has become difficult in today's educational turmoil. Failing schools, disruptive classrooms, stringent testing goals, teacher evaluations and more have created a demanding work environment for new teachers entering the workforce. This study will analyze administrator and teacher beliefs and perspectives of with the…

In an urban Georgia school district, teacher satisfaction surveys revealed that technology-based professional development was not equipping teachers with the skills or support needed to implement technology into their teaching practices. The purpose of this mixed-methods case study was to explore teachers' experiences and perceptions of…

The purpose of this qualitative collective case study was to understand how first-career skills were utilized by highly effective second-career elementary school teachers in northeast Tennessee. The guiding research question for the study was: How do the skills acquired in a first career affect second-career elementary school teachers? The…

The postsecondary landscape has changed drastically in the past 40 years, with one of the most obvious changes being the increased reliance on adjunct or part-time faculty. Approximately 50% of the current faculty employed by postsecondary institutions are categorized as part-time faculty, up from approximately 25% in 1975 (American Association of…

Preschool teachers are expected to engage young children in challenging and supportive mathematics learning. Rich and responsive language experiences in mathematics support children's language acquisition and engagement related to mathematics, however, such engaging experiences may be minimally available to many young children. Professional…

The professional preparation of teachers is essential because of their critical role in developing students' learning. Preparing quality teachers is a complex process, as they matriculate through the programs that prepare them for the classroom. The problem addressed by this study is teachers' lack of effective strategies and skills in…

Leading a whole-class discussion is a complex and critical skill, and pivotal to learning and achievement. Classroom teachers have been challenged to engage students in meaningful dialogue, and successfully meet educational standards and requirements. Teacher education programs are responsible for preparing future candidates--preservice…