In this dissertation I explore characteristics which influence the implementation of evidence-based instructional practices of six post-secondary chemistry instructors in Colorado who report current use of these practices. The purpose of this study was to identify these characteristics to recognize areas of focus for future professional…

This qualitative descriptive study focused on how high school special education teachers describe the influence of color-blindness ideology on transition plans for Black students with an intellectual disability into the workforce. Transition plans are required for all students that receive special education services at the age of 14 or 16…

Student-centered active learning strategies have been found to have a positive impact on student learning outcomes when compared to courses using traditional lecture methods in higher education. The practice of active learning is strongly linked to physical active learning classrooms (ALCs). Comprehensive studies show ALCs outperform traditional…

The problem was the impacts of the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum on Chinese teachers' self-efficacy and student-centered learning practices were unknown. The purpose of this causal-comparative study was to determine the impacts of the International Baccalaureate curriculum on Chinese teachers' reports of self-efficacy and…

The purpose of this study was to determine the challenges and successes that educators encounter when incorporating Culturally Responsive Instruction (CRI) in their classrooms. I conducted a basic qualitative study involving four teachers and two administrators in the Washington County School District to assess teachers' experiences incorporating…

The purpose of this quantitative study was to explore if teachers' five social-emotional competencies (SECs) and years of experience predict their perceived ability to implement social-emotional learning (SEL) teaching practices in the classroom. The five SECs include self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and…

This study investigated the understudied area of virtual reality (VR) creation among elementary-aged youth, exploring their engagement in VR creation and the ways in which educators can facilitate this creative process. Using an embedded case study, the researcher examined how the youth visualize writing using the VR creation tool, CoSpaces. To…

Students in the United States are not achieving in mathematics as indicated on the NAEP (2019) exams and other measurements of student achievement (NCES, 2019; OECD, 2019; O'Dwyer, et al., 2015). Mathematically gifted and promising students are especially impacted by this phenomenon, though it is not exactly known what factors contribute to…

All teachers, regardless of their backgrounds, require appropriate preparation to address the necessities of all students. A significant challenge in preparing teachers is ensuring they are familiar with the unique characteristics of the different group of students in their classrooms. According to New York State of Education (NYSED), the…

National mathematics achievement results show that elementary students in the United States are not increasing in cognitive ability or critical thinking skills (NAEP, 2020). For this increase, mathematically promising students require more opportunities for cognitively demanding mathematics instruction. As a result, this descriptive study focused…

This study provides a framework to guide educators and researchers within departments of mathematics at institutions of higher education involved in reform efforts for undergraduate mainstream calculus. It does so by using motivational constructs from Self-Determination Theory to define and measure student-centeredness within both traditional and…

The purpose of this project was to lift up the stories of Filipinx staff and their meaning-making, meanings, and enactments of decolonization. Through journaling, an online group meeting, and individual interviews with five staff in higher education in the United States, I aimed to answer the following research questions: How do Filipinx higher…

Historically, the lecture-based course delivery format has been the standard method of teaching across most college campuses. While this was once an effective approach for previous generations, it is now understood that this format creates a stale learning environment. To prevent this from happening with the Gen Z learner (1995-2012),…

The divide between those who do and those who do not excel in mathematics is patterned in problematic ways. Women and people of color are typically underrepresented in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) and other quantitative fields (ex. Finance) where mathematics plays gatekeeper. However, mathematics is not a subject these groups…

The high stop-out rate of low-SES students in higher education is a significant challenge, with these students stopping out at nearly triple the rate of their peers. Beyond financial, academic, and psychosocial hurdles, a lower sense of belonging further hinders their success, especially when they attempt to resume their educational journey. This…