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This dissertation explores curriculum and instruction in the world history classroom through two manuscripts. These manuscripts describe the effects of educational policy and environmental contexts on the work of world history teachers. The first study analyzes the world history curriculum, and the second study looks at how curriculum was enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, these studies make visible trends of continuity and change in the world history curriculum and teacher decision-making. The first manuscript is a qualitative analysis of the representation of women and gender in Virginia's world history curriculum. This study examines the representation of women and gender in the curriculum by analyzing curricular choices and discourse within the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOLs) and the Curriculum Frameworks. Through content analysis and critical discourse analysis, the study identifies a lack of inclusivity in the world history curriculum and addresses how language reproduces gender stereotypes and negates the contributions of women in comparison to their male counterparts. This study is important for two reasons. First, it adds to the literature on teaching world history which is a lesser researched content area in social studies. Second, it examines how curriculum can influence inclusivity and representation in the historical narrative. This study was recently published in the Iowa Journal for the Social Studies. The second manuscript is a qualitative case study that explores the educational and environmental contexts created by the COVID-19 pandemic and how these contexts affected the curricular-instructional decisions and pedagogical practices of four world history teachers. Initially, I planned to study the effects of teacher knowledge, specifically content knowledge, on the teacher-curriculum relationship. However, the focus shifted to teacher-decision making during the pandemic. This research is vital and useful because it addresses how teachers tried to continue as normal during uncertain times. Data collection included classroom observations, participant interviews, and analysis of instructional materials. Findings reveal that teachers relied on the continuity of the curriculum while changing methods of instructional delivery, adapting classroom assessment practices, and modifying existing assignments. The most promising finding of the study reveals that teachers employed formative assessments to check for understanding and the presence of remote students. Teacher decisions show evidence of pedagogical content knowledge, knowledge of students, and knowledge of contexts. The research shows that teachers made curricular-instructional decisions in reaction to pandemic educational contexts, but these choices often aligned with the research on effective and wise practice in areas like classroom assessment. / Doctor of Philosophy / As a former world history teacher and current teacher educator, I am interested in making the work of classroom teachers visible. In Virginia, world history educators are expected to teach the standardized world history curriculum. I recognized that the world history curriculum was dominated by men but did little to address the issue until I had the opportunity to develop and teach a women's studies course at Christiansburg High School. My knowledge of different types of curricula and curriculum as educational policy grew during my doctoral program. The first study grew out of a class assignment for feminist research methods. I found that men vastly outnumber women, but more importantly, that the wording of the curriculum reproduces gender stereotypes by describing the achievements of women as inferior to those of men. This study shows that the Virginia world history curriculum remained relatively consistent from 2008 to 2015 and the most significant changes reduced inclusivity instead of expanding the curriculum. This study is important because it addresses how women continue to be marginalized and underrepresented in the world history curriculum. The COVID-19 pandemic introduced students and teachers to a series of new and shifting educational and environmental contexts. I originally planned to study how world history teachers navigated the teacher-curriculum relationship, designed their planned curriculum, and then analyze the enacted curriculum or what occurred in the actual classroom. However, it was impossible to escape the educational contexts resulting from the pandemic when conducting my study. Therefore, the second study evolved to focus on the effects of pandemic educational and environmental contexts on the instructional decisions and classroom practices of world history teachers. I discovered that despite their lack of experience with remote instruction, teachers made curricular-instructional decisions that were illustrative of effective and wise practice.

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Doctor of Philosophy / Curriculum and Instruction Programs / David S. Allen / Margaret G. Shroyer / Ongoing, effective professional development is viewed as an essential mechanism for eliciting change in teachers’ knowledge and practice in support of enacting the vision of NCTM’s Principles and Standards of School Mathematics. This case study of the Infinite Mathematics Project, a Title IIB MSP professional development initiative, seeks to provide a qualitative examination of the characteristics and strategies used in the project and their impact on teacher learning and practice. The project embodied many features and strategies of effective professional development such as: mathematics content focus; sustained over time; reform activities (e.g., lesson study, teacher collaboration); active learning opportunities (e.g., implementing an action plan; developing differentiated instruction activities for a mathematics classroom); coherence with NCTM and state standards; and collective participation by IHE facilitators and participant K-12 teachers from partner districts. The findings reveal teachers gained both content knowledge (knowledge about mathematics, substantive knowledge of mathematics, pedagogical content knowledge, and curricular knowledge) and pedagogical knowledge (knowledge about strategies for differentiating instruction in a mathematics classroom, for supporting students’ reading in the content area, for fostering the development of number sense, for implementing standards-based teaching, and for critically analyzing teaching). The study also provides some evidence that the project had an impact on teaching practice. In addition, an implication of the study suggests the positive impact of Title IIB MSP partnership requirements.

This study aimed to investigate what constituted the professional practical knowledge of EFL experienced teachers in the Egyptian context and what the sources of their knowledge were. It also aimed to examine the relationship between the teachers’ knowledge and the contextual factors intervening in action. By delineating its focus as such, the study responds to call for reconceptualising the core of the knowledge base of teaching to focus on teaching as a knowledge-based activity and an act of common sense and reasoning, the pedagogy by which teaching is done, and the context in which it is done. The study was carried out using multiple methods for collecting qualitative and quantitative data. This design was chosen to investigate the participants’ views of professional practical knowledge and to construct their different understandings and interpretations which they brought with them. Questionnaires completed by 236 EFL experienced teachers, semi-structured interviews conducted with 14 of them and stimulated recall classroom observation data with three of them were the data collected for the current study. Although it provided a parsimonious view, quantitative questionnaire data made an important contribution to the bricolage of information built up during the study. A more in-depth understanding was gained from qualitative data using responses to the open-ended section of the questionnaire, interviews and classroom observation. Based on quantitative and qualitative data analyses, six core areas of teacher knowledge were constructed from the participants’ responses and accounts. These were: subject matter, pedagogy, students, classroom learning environment, curriculum and self. The findings also revealed a variety of sources which shaped the teachers’ professional practical knowledge including: experience, teacher education, university study in the subject department, student and peer feedback, in-service training, expert advice, student output and postgraduate study. The findings also revealed that the relationship between teacher knowledge and practice was reflected in two ways. The first was that teacher knowledge represented an operative model which underpinned practice. The second was that it informed the classroom decisions. However, not all teacher knowledge found application in practice. A variety of intervening contextual challenges were revealed to deter the actualisation of teacher knowledge in action such as the EFL exam policy, lack of time, support and resources, mismatch between teacher purposes and students’ expectations and needs, and large class size. These findings were discussed in relation to existing research evidence and context. Implications for pre-service and in-service teacher learning were also drawn based on the findings of the study.

The purpose of this study was to examine the presence of Schön's concept of reflective conversation as a defining component in the applied studio music lesson. The research problems were (1) to determine the presence of complete and incomplete reflective conversations; (2) to determine the verbally exhibited knowledge base within complete conversations in relationship to conversation length; and (3) to establish an instructional profile of stable behaviors based on reflective conversation as a distinguishing characteristic among selected teachers. Videotapes of twenty-six applied studio music lessons of thirteen university teachers were analyzed according to problem solving, on-the-spot experimentation, and evaluation. An observation form was developed and was a reliable tool to collect information concerning number and type of reflective conversations, conversation length, and the teachers' verbally demonstrated knowledge base. Knowledge base was obtained by using the procedural model of Flanagan's critical incident technique. Reflective conversations existed and were a distinguishing characteristic of the teachers. With the exception of two teachers, a stable use of both number and length of reflective conversations, and knowledge base areas, was found. A discernible difference in the teachers' knowledge base within conversation length existed, and thus established instructional profiles for the teachers. Complete reflective conversations ranged from one-sixth to over half of total lesson time. Within instrument categories, teachers generally revealed a dissimilar knowledge usage. Some teachers exhibited fast-paced problem solving, in one minute or less, and named one or two knowledge areas. Others had longer conversations, up to five minutes, with more deliberate problem solving, and as many as twelve knowledge areas named. Results indicated that a practically significant situation can be examined by establishing teacher instructional profiles based upon reflective conversation. Methods employed in this study could be used to document teacher problem-solving and teacher knowledge in a variety of settings.

Programmering är ett relativt nytt inslag i skolan som lärare ska arbeta med, och min uppfattning har varit att det finns blandade känslor hos lärare angående programmering och dess innehåll. Därför genomfördes den här studien med syftet att skapa en förståelse om hur lärarkunskaper inom programmering i matematikundervisningen ser ut i årskurs 1-3. Frågeställningar som varit relevanta för studien är vad matematiklärare har för kunskaper och kompetenser inom programmering, vilka kunskaper lärare har om matematikämnets innehåll i läroplanen i relation till programmering, samt hur lärare arbetar med innehållet programmering i matematikundervisningen. För att få fram lärares kunskaper inom programmering har intervjuer använts. Sammanlagt intervjuades fem lärare, varav fyra arbetade i årkurs 1-3 och en i årskurs 4. Datainsamling, intervjuer och analys baserades på det teoretiska ramverket MKT. Resultatet sammanställer lärarnas kunskaper angående programmering. Det framkommer att det är en fördel om lärarna kan ord och begrepp inom programmering och om de har kunskap om hur olika programmeringsverktyg fungerar. Det lyfts även fram i resultatet hur lärarna arbetade med programmering och hur det kan användas i matematikundervisningen. / Programming is a relatively new element in the school, which teachers should work with. My perception is that teachers have mixed reactions about programming and its content. Therefore, this study was conducted with the aim of creating an understanding of teachers’ knowledge in programming in mathematics teaching in grade 1-3. Three questions were used to achieve the aim of this study, they are: what knowledge and competence do teachers in mathematics have in programming, what knowledge do teachers have of the subject matter in the curriculum in relation to programming, and how teachers work with the content programming in mathematics teaching. The study is an interview study that has been used to gather information about the teachers' knowledge in programming. In total, five teachers were interviewed, of whom 4 worked in grades 1-3 and one in grade 4. The theoretical framework MKT were used to collect the data, interview and for the analysis of the data. The result has shown that it is a benefit if the teachers know words and concepts that are used in programming and how different programming tools works. Furthermore, the results shows how the teachers' worked with programming and how it can be used in teaching mathematics.

Esta pesquisa se insere na temática de conhecimento de professores. Trata-se de um estudo de caso e a coleta e o tratamento dos dados se inserem na perspectiva da pesquisa qualitativa. Nosso intuito foi o de investigar o conhecimento pedagógico de conteúdo (CPC) de uma professora de química quando esta desenvolveu o tópico \"soluções\" nas suas turmas de Ensino Médio. Objetivou-se ainda contribuir com evidências sobre o papel do conhecimento de conteúdo no CPC. Nossos dados estão baseados em questionários, planos de aula, planejamentos, CoRes, registros audiovisuais de aulas e entrevistas. Os dados foram todos transcritos e a análise dos mesmos foi baseada na categorização das manifestações do conhecimento de professores e interpretados com relação aos correspondentes domínios dos conhecimentos de professores, conforme proposto por Rollnick et al. (2008). As interações discursivas presentes nas aulas da professora foram analisados segundo a ferramenta proposta por Mortimer e Scott (2002). A triangulação desses dados permitiu inferir sobre o conhecimento pedagógico do conteúdo dessa professora e revelaram que ela possui um CPC pouco desenvolvido com relação ao conteúdo investigado, enfatizando a memorização e cálculos em detrimento de conteúdos conceituais. Nesse estudo de caso o conhecimento do conteúdo se revelou importante e afetou outros domínios de conhecimento dessa professora, gerando reflexos no desenvolvimento do seu CPC. Concluímos pela centralidade do papel desempenhado pelo conhecimento do conteúdo no desenvolvimento do CPC e consideramos o conhecimento do conteúdo como um dos componentes essenciais do CPC. / This work has a qualitative research perspective and it is a case study related to teacher knowledge. Our focus was the pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) of a chemistry teacher during the developing of the subject matter \"solution\" at high school context. The aim of this research was also provide some evidences about the role of the subject matter knowledge (SMK) in the PCK construct. Our data are based in questionnaires, classes plans, planning, CoRes, classes video recordings and interviews. Data were all transcribed and categorized by using categories related to the manifestations of teacher knowledge and interpreted in relation to the corresponding domains of teacher knowledge, as proposed by Rollnick et al. (2008). The discursive interactions observed in classroom were analyzed by using the tool proposed by Mortimer e Scott (2002). Data triangulation allowed us conclude that the PCK of this teacher is not very well developed in relation to the subject matter investigated. The teacher emphasizes procedural approaches at the expense of conceptual understanding. During this case study the role of SMK was highlighted and it influenced others domains of this teacher knowledge, reflecting in her PCK development. We concluded by the central role performed by SMK in the PCK development and we consider SMK as one of the PCK essential components.

Este estudo se enquadra na área de formação de professores e mostra como um professor de Ensino Médio inserido em contextos escolares distintos realiza o ensino de química, tendo em vista os diferentes personagens envolvidos em um ambiente de mediação pedagógica - professor, estudantes e instituição escolar - e como isso modifica a sua forma de ensinar. Para compreender como o seu conhecimento base é utilizado ao ensinar um determinado tópico de química em instituições escolares distintas, utilizou-se como referencial teórico o conhecimento pedagógico do conteúdo (PCK), que possibilita entender como o conteúdo específico pode ser pedagogicamente modificado de modo a torná-lo um conhecimento acessível ao estudante, levando em conta os condicionantes do contexto educativo. Nossos dados compreendem registro em áudio e vídeo de aulas do professor investigado em duas escolas distintas, referentes ao mesmo conteúdo químico, entrevistas semiestruturadas, reflexões vídeo-estimuladas e observação participante. O acesso ao PCK foi realizado por meio do instrumento CoRe (Representação do Conteúdo) e da ferramenta de análise das interações discursivas. Esta última possibilitou entender os significados que surgem em um ambiente de mediação pedagógica, por meio do uso da linguagem e outras formas de comunicação, sempre levando em conta o contexto social. A análise dos dados foi baseada no modelo de Raciocínio Pedagógico e Ação, proposto por Shulman, que abarca os conhecimentos que o professor possui sobre o conteúdo e as abordagens metodológicas que desenvolve sobre um determinado assunto, permitindo entender as modificações que aconteceram em cada contexto escolar. Para o conceito PCK adotamos o modelo de Grossman que o coloca numa posição central em relação aos demais conhecimentos de professores - conteúdo específico, pedagógico geral e contexto - e que exerce influencia e é influenciado por todos eles. Dessa forma foi possível compreender, no caso das aulas analisadas - nomenclatura de compostos orgânicos e reações de polimerização - a forma como o contexto interferiu no processo de ensino do professor sujeito dessa pesquisa e, como este mobilizou o seu PCK de forma a transformar um determinado conteúdo para melhor atender seus estudantes. / This study fits in the area of teacher education and shows how a teacher High School working in different school contexts proceeds the teaching of chemistry, in view of the different characters involved in an environment of pedagogical mediation - teachers, students and the school - and how it modifies the way they teach. To understand how your knowledge base is used to teach a particular topic of chemistry in different educational institutions, we used as the theoretical background the Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK), which allows to understand how the specific content can be pedagogically modified to make it accessible to the student, taking into account the constraints of the educational context. Our data included audio and video recording of classes of the investigated teacher in two different schools, concerning the same chemical content. Also it included semi-structured interviews, video-stimulated reflections, and participant observation. Access to PCK was performed using the instrument CoRe (Content Representation) and the discoursive interactions analysis\' tool. The latter made it possible to understand the meanings that arise in an environment of pedagogical mediation, through the use of language and other forms of communication, always taking into account the social context. Data analysis was based on the Model of Pedagogical Reasoning and Action proposed by Shulman, embracing the knowledge that the teacher has on the subject matter and methodological approaches that develops on a particular subject, allowing to understand the changes that happened in each school context. We adopted the model of Pedagogical Content Knowledge from Grossman that puts PCK in a central position in relation to other teacher\' knowledge - specific content, pedagogical and context - and that has influence and is influenced by them all. In the case of the analyzed classes - nomenclature of organic compounds and polymerization reactions - it was possible to understand how the context affected the teaching process of those contents and how the investigated teacher mobilized its PCK in order to transform a given content to better fit its students.