Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Curriculum and Instruction / Jacqueline D. Spears / Scientists agree that there is ample evidence of climate change and that a significant portion of the change is anthropogenically driven. Leiserowitz et al. (2011b) asked teenagers about their understanding of the climate system and the causes of climate change. Fewer than 20% of respondents classified themselves as “very well informed” and only 27% reported that they learned “a lot” about climate change in school. However, of these teenagers, 70% expressed a desire for more climate change education. Even though the idea of human impacts on the climate system and a changing climate have been known and discussed within science education for several decades, dedicating classroom time for teaching climate change is not a common practice. Focus group discussions with science and agricultural education teachers (Pytlikzillig et al., 2013) emphasized the need for the use of locally relevant data in the classroom as a means to engage students in critical thinking activities that require them to use and draw conclusions from these data. However, most teachers do not have access to such data or a working knowledge of technological platforms from which they can have the students observe, manipulate, and analyze these data. This study used a mixed methods research design to explore the use of a GIS-based framework for teaching climate change. A two-part intervention was used: 1) teacher training, and 2) classroom implementation. Student-, teacher-, and classroom-centered data were collected to address student outcomes, teacher perceptions of GIS use in teaching climate change, and both students’ and teachers’ perceptions of challenges and successes of using GIS in the classroom. Students showed an overall positive growth in knowledge. Teachers shared a positive perception regarding the use of GIS to teach climate change, going so far as to report that they will all continue to teach climate change and use GIS in their classrooms. Successes and challenges were observed in classrooms, recognizing the benefits of student engagement and learning, as well as the challenges of using technology and supporting student needs. This exploratory research supports the premise that using a GIS-based framework to teach climate change is practical, reproducible, and effective.

The purpose of this study was to explore teachers' perspectives of working with students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) with two hundred twenty-eight K-12th grade teachers in Korea and the U.S. by using a concept mapping methodology. The four research questions were: (1) How do teachers in two different cultures (Korea and the U.S.) perceive working with students with ADHD? (2) Is there any difference in the level of awareness towards ADHD between the Korean and the U.S. teacher groups? (3) What cultural aspects are different between the Korean and U.S. teacher groups? and (4) Does Confucianism and Individualism have any influence on the perception of Korean teachers and U.S. teachers towards students with ADHD and their behaviors? The results indicate that differences exist between the Korean and U.S. teachers' perspectives of working with students with ADHD. Teachers in the two cultures have differences in demographic features, recognition of ADHD in relation to policies, services, and training experiences. Also, Korean and U.S. teachers showed different positions in concept maps which could be explained by the teachers 'cultural differences (Confucianism and Individualism). The final concept map indicates that teachers who have positive attitudes towards students with ADHD also tend to have more knowledge, confidence, and training experience in dealing with students' ADHD related behaviors. Teachers' positive attitudes toward students with ADHD are associated with doing "actions" to help students with ADHD. Teachers' negative attitudes toward ADHD behaviors is associated more with personal "emotions" in response to students' ADHD-related behaviors. This study will contribute to providing insights into how culture impacts teacher behaviors, expectations, beliefs and perceptions of ADHD, and as a result, show that teacher perceptions of ADHD seems to be dependent on a combination of one's cultural orientation and other variables identified in the study. Future researchers may research across other ethnic teacher populations to continue to measure teacher perspectives of working with students with ADHD. In addition, researchers can expand the study into an exploration of teachers' perspectives on special education services and the quality of teacher training for helping students with ADHD.

We are currently witnessing an increase of international interest in mathematics education, fueled partly by the growing concerns of students’ declining results, but also by changed perceptions of what mathematics students should master. In response, many initiatives have appeared in order to move away from traditional to more inquiry based approaches to teaching. Though several small-scale studies have contributed much to our understanding on how to support teachers in this work, there is still a lack of research conducted on a larger scale. Therefore, the aim of this thesis is to add to our knowledge of how to support instructional improvement at scale. This is done by focusing on two common approaches to support mathematics teachers’ development of reform based practices: teacher professional development [PD] programs and curriculum materials. The thesis builds on four papers which are all connected to a project aiming at improving the mathematics instruction in a large Swedish municipality. The project includes a PD-program for almost 400 elementary teachers and the mathematics curriculum materials that teachers are using play a central role in the program. The first two papers focus on curriculum materials either by using surveys to compare teachers’ views of the support offered in the materials and their reported mathematics instruction, or by conducting textbook analyses to characterize how some commonly used materials communicate about, for example, goals of lessons. The results demonstrate that teachers using different materials experience different levels of support from them and also show variations in their reported instruction. These differences are further reflected in the textbook analyses which show that the materials offer teachers various support, for example regarding how they communicate about goals. The last two papers focus on teacher PD-programs either by comparing the effects of two programs on student achievement, or by using surveys to examine teachers’ views of one of the programs and its impact on their reported instruction. The results indicate that the two PD-programs have affected students’ achievement in different ways, demonstrating both decline and improvement. Even within the programs differences are revealed between students at the primary and secondary levels. These variations are further present in the teacher surveys, where the results show differences between teachers from different grade-levels. By drawing on the literature review and the results of the papers, the thesis ends with a discussion of possible elaborations of a widely used core conceptual framework for studying teacher PD.

本研究旨在瞭解高級中學教師工作價值觀與教師專業發展之指標、內涵與現況，探討其關係，進而建構預測分析的模式，再依研究結果提出建議。 首先進行文獻探討，作為架構研究的理論基礎，並建構調查問卷的內容，接著在北區八縣市(基隆市、臺北市、台北縣、桃園縣、新竹市、新竹縣、宜蘭縣及花蓮縣)發出調查問卷500份以分析現況。最後，依據研究結果進行討論與結論建議。研究主要發現如下： 一、高級中學教師工作價值觀與教師專業發展的指標、內涵與現況 (一)教師工作價值觀包括自我實現、自我肯定、自我創新及自我成長四個向度，其整體、分向度得分均為中高程度，其中以自我成長的得分最高。 (二)教師專業發展包括專業精神、專業能力和專業知識三個向度，其整體、分向度的得分，除專業精神分向度為高程度外，其餘皆為中高程度。 二、不同背景變項在教師工作價值觀與教師專業發展之差異情形 (一)不同背景變項在教師工作價值觀的得分方面：研究發現在性別、年齡、服務年資、現任職務等方面有顯著差異，但在最高學歷、學校規模、學校類型上則無顯著差異。 (二)不同背景變項在教師專業發展的得分方面：研究發現在年齡、服務年資等方面有顯著差異，但在性別、現任職務、最高學歷、學校規模、學校類型上則無顯著差異。 三、教師工作價值觀與教師專業發展的相關情形 整體教師工作價值觀與整體教師專業發展間呈現中度正相關，教師專業發展各分向度中，以專業精神與教師工作價值觀的相關程度最高。 四、教師工作價值觀各向度對教師專業發展的預測情形 教師工作價值觀之自我實現、自我創新及自我成長三向度對整體教師專業發展的聯合預測力最佳。 / The main purpose of this study was to investigate work values and professional development of high school teachers.The study included literature analysis and survey method with a questionnaire.The purpose of literature was aimed to explore teachers’ work values and teacher professional development.Questionnaire of survey based on researches about work values or teacher professional development. The subjects of the questionnaire included teachers of high school in Keelung City,Taipei City,Taipei County,Taoyuan County,Hsinchu City,Hsinchu County,Yilan County,Hualien County. Data were analyzed 363 sampling subjects by description statistics,t-test, correlation,ANOVA and multiple regression.Some results as follows: A.In the aspect of teachers’ work values: 1. Teachers’ work values included four parts (1)self-realization,(2)self-affirmation, (3)self-innovation,(4)self-growth.The perception of teachers were above average agreement of the four parts.The best dimension is self-growth. 2.Gender,age,years of service and currant position have significant influences on teachers’ work values.But the highest educational degree,school size and school type do not have any significant influences. B. In the aspect of teacher professional development: 1.The tescher professional development included three parts (1)professional spirit,(2) professional ability,(3) professional knowledge. The perception of teachers were above average agreement of the three parts.The best dimension is professional spirit. 2. Age and years of service have significant influences on tescher professional development.But gender,currant position ,the highest educational degree,school size and school type do not have any significant influences. C. In the aspect of relationship among teacher’ work values and professional development: 1.There are positive correlation and regression existed among teacher’ work values and professional development. 2. Teacher’ work values can promote teacher professional development. Finally,the researcher proposes some suggessions for the educational authorities, principal and teachers of high school and future researchers.Hope to benefit the further study in the future.

If the goal of teaching introductory physics is to help every student have successful learning experiences, then we need to answer at least two key questions to achieve this goal. First, what instructional strategies will promote equitable success for students? And second, how can we prepare instructors to use these teaching strategies effectively? Prior research demonstrates a persistent gender gap in introductory physics; however, we find that physics identity mediates the impact of gender on both conceptual understanding and retention in physics programs. Therefore, we apply Wenger's framework of identity development in communities of practice to hypothesize that collaborative, community-building instructional strategies can promote equity by enabling women's identification with physics. Through meta-analysis of results from 26 courses, we find trends in three different models of equity that support this hypothesis. To address our second question, we apply a similar community-based model to TA professional development. We find that teaching communities of practice can yield statistically significant improvements in TAs' identification as physics educators and make qualitative changes to TAs' teaching approaches. / Thesis (Master, Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy) -- Queen's University, 2013-08-23 13:18:26.328

ABSTRACT Five of the top 16 counties in the United States with the fastest growth in the Latino population from 2000 to 2007 are in Georgia (Pew Hispanic Research Center, 2015). The Georgia metropolitan area where the study occurred has more Latinos than Austin, Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, or Tucson (Pew Hispanic Research Center, 2015). Particularly following the New Latino Diaspora (Hamann, Wortham, & Murillo, 2002; Murillo, 2002; and Villenas, 2002) schools in the Southeastern United States have more and more Spanish-speaking students (Pew Hispanic Research Center, 2015). However, most classroom teachers have not received specialized training or professional development relating to these students (Ballantyne, Sanderman, & Levy, 2008; Barrera & Jiménez, 2000; Carrasquillo & Rodríguez, 2002; Dove & Honigsfeld, 2010; Echevarria, Short, & Powers, 2006; Kim, 2010; Walker, Shafer, & Iiams, 2004). My study’s purpose was to explore the interactions between an English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) teacher (myself) and classroom teachers in my school relating to newcomer emergent bilingual students. The main research question guiding this study was: What happens when an ESOL teacher and classroom teachers intentionally gather to focus on newcomer emergent bilingual students? Teachers attended 12 weekly gatherings which were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed. This study exemplifies practitioner research and thematic analysis of the data. Sociocultural theory (Vygotsky, 1978, 1986) and critical pedagogy (Freire, 1970) frame this study and were used as interpretive lenses for data analysis. Five major themes emerged: newcomers, resources, connections with classroom experiences, perceptions, and professional development. Findings related to teachers’ sense of self-efficacy relating to newcomers, their awareness of linguistic and cultural issues, and the importance of the social-emotional climate. A kit for classroom teachers of newcomers was prepared. Recommendations include support for classroom teachers who receive newcomer students—resources for the first days with a newcomer and ongoing interaction with other teachers for discussing strategies and reflecting on classroom experiences. Additional research is needed to increase awareness of the transition for classroom teachers and students when a newcomer arrives.

The master's thesis is focused on teachers' professional development. It is based on the Theoretical Knowledge Gained from literature, electronic resources and current research. It describes the historical progress of the concept of teachers' education, program and legislative documents, the significance of teachers' professional development and career system. Provides an overview of teachers' development activities in the workplace and outside the workplace. The aim of the work is to determine trends in education by monitoring opportunities of teachers' development in the workplace and outside the workplace. Questionnaire survey is focused on the preferences of directors in the field of teachers' professional development, their training needs, effectiveness and defining the advantages and disadvantages of each approach. The result of the thesis is to map areas and compare activities of teachers' development that can be used for further study or be an inspiration for the involved stakeholders. KEYWORDS: teacher, professional development, comparison, career system

This mixed methods case study investigated mathematics teachers‘ perspectives of the effects of the Lesson Study Process on their content knowledge, pedagogical knowledge, and the potential for students‘ achievement. The population was 55 teachers from elementary, middle, and secondary schools in a metropolitan area. The three research questions guiding this study were: (1) What are the perspectives of teachers on the impact of the Lesson Study Process on their mathematical content knowledge? (2) What are the perspectives of teachers on the impact of the Lesson Study Process on their pedagogical knowledge? (3) What are the perspectives of teachers on the potential impact of the Lesson Study Process on their students‘ achievement? Literature pertaining to constructivism, teacher professional development, and Lesson Study was reviewed. Data from surveys, questionnaires, and focus group sessions were examined both quantitatively and qualitatively to determine common categories, themes, and connections to each of the research questions. The teachers believed that their mathematics content knowledge was positively affected in the areas of deeper understanding which led to an increase in self-confidence. The teachers also believed that their pedagogical knowledge was enhanced in the areas of planning and attention to student thinking. Finally, the teachers mentioned five areas for potential improvement in students‘ achievement. They included: students‘ increased conceptual understanding of the topics taught during the research lessons, planning lessons more thoroughly by making them relevant to the students‘ daily lives and planning it within the context of the state‘s curriculum, shifting the focus of an in-class observation from the teacher‘s performance to student thinking, and a similar shifting of the manner in which students are assessed—from right/wrong answers to seeking thought processes whereby the student may correct misunderstanding.

This thesis introduces a topic of mentoring of novice teachers in Finland. The main goal is to analyse a novice teachers peer-group mentoring model as a case study of project Paedeia Café and evaluate its advantages and disadvantages in comparison to dyadic form of mentoring. Further, to bring ideas for implementation of Finnish experiences into Czech context. In theoretical part, we define mentoring in teaching profession, then we briefly introduce specifics of Finnish education system, peer-group mentoring and Paedeia Café. The research part analyses interview with mentors, novice teachers and manager of the project as well as participating observations. The results of the study show that Paedeia Café is a project which connects experienced teachers and students in last years of their studies. The advantages of the project are financial savings and creation of a space for discussion about professional issues. Disadvantages are more difficult structure, confusion of mentor's roles and low support in academic literature. In the Czech Republic, we can be inspired by a connection of experienced teachers and students, also by a space for sharing teaching profession experience in informal atmosphere. This thesis is a contribution to a discussion about the teacher career system in the Czech Republic...

African American, Latinx, and Native American students continue to be disciplined in U.S. schools at rates 2 to 3 times higher than White students. In response, schools are seeking out approaches to reduce racial disciplinary disparities. Yet, it is not clear what influences educators’ active commitment to address racial equity in school discipline practice. This study used the Critical Incident Technique to explore the phenomenon of commitment to racial equity. In-depth interviews were conducted with 15 educators who self-reported that they were initially non-committal or reluctant to address racial equity but became more committed over time. The interviews produced 210 critical incidents and the formation of 20 categories to describe what helped and hindered educators’ personal commitment and the observed commitment of others to racial equity in school discipline practice. Findings indicated Disaggregating School Data by Race and Ethnicity (self, other), Learning About Racial Discrimination in Society (self), and Sharing Equity-Focused Strategies (others) were categories reported to help educators’ commitment to racial equity. Avoiding Discussing Race (self) and Lowering Expectations and Stereotyping (others) were found to hinder educators’ commitment to racial equity. Participants’ responses also suggested active commitment to racial equity may require effort and exposure to multiple discriminatory or prejudicial events. Commitment formation was also found to be influenced by non-school experiences (i.e., events or incidents that occur outside of a school campus). Contributions of the study are discussed in relation to theory, school practices, and approaches to teacher professional development.