Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Clinical Teachers'

This study examined the relationship between the perceived verbal and nonverbal messages given by dance teachers and the body image of their adolescent dancers. Variables such as level of dance (i.e., competitive or purely recreational) and amount of time spent practicing dance were also examined. Seventy-eight female adolescents, who were enrolled in dance classes in studios in Western New York, participated in this study. This is a sample that is younger than has typically been studied. Results indicated that more negative messages perceived by the dancer from their teacher related to a more negative body image in the dancer. Additionally, a significant relationship with the dancers’ body image was not demonstrated when considering competitive level and amount of time practicing dance. Thus, regardless of level of dance or amount of time spent practicing dance, a strong relationship existed between verbal and nonverbal messages perceived by the dancer from the teacher and a dancer’s body image. Given the limited amount of current research that exists for this group of adolescent recreational dancers, the significant findings of the current study may begin to shape the future interactions between dance teachers and their students. Specifically, dance teachers should be aware of the connection between the messages they give and their dancer’s body image. This awareness might prompt them to take more care with the messages they offer or even seek training in this area.

By 2018, STEM occupations are projected to grow twice as fast as all other occupations combined (Olson & Riordan, 2012; Craig Thomas, Hou, & Mathur, 2012). The need to educate and produce more STEM graduates is eminent, and research shows that the pipeline to prepare students for STEM fields begins in elementary school. Research also shows that many elementary teachers lack the pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) and confidence to teach STEM subjects (Dorph, Shields, Tiffany-Morales, Hartry, & McCaffrey, 2011). Meanwhile, opportunities for elementary teachers to develop their STEM PCK and confidence in teacher preparation programs or professional development are limited.

To address this problem, programs like Raising the Bar for STEM Education in California are emerging. A yearlong case study utilizing both qualitative and quantitative methods was employed to examine the program’s effectiveness in preparing future elementary teachers to effectively teach STEM subjects through a STEM-rich, clinical, co-teaching model of student teaching. Data collection methods included qualitative interviews, observations through videotaped lessons, documents, and quantitative pre- and post-surveys. The key findings from this study include that the STEM-rich, clinical, co-teaching model of student teaching was successful in increasing pre-service teachers’ confidence and expanding their pedagogical knowledge of teaching inquiry-based lessons. Pre-service teachers were willing and excited to teach STEM subjects in their future elementary classrooms at the conclusion of the program. However, the growth in content knowledge and confidence was uneven among the four STEM content areas and there was a lack of integration. \

Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended that future STEM professional development programs emphasize the vital importance of STEM fields as the rationale for teaching STEM subjects; build pedagogical content knowledge; integrate STEM subjects through a focus on engineering; explicitly link STEM to Common Core State Standards and Next Generation Science Standards; design the STEM professional development around the characteristics of Adult Learning Theory; and foster reflective, collaborative communities of practice. Further recommendations for policy and research are presented and discussed.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD) is the most frequently diagnosed psychiatric disorder among children (APA, 2000). This information is especially relevant to teachers in the elementary school population where this disorder is often first evidenced (Wilens, Faraone, Biederman, & Gunawardene, 2003). Individuals with AD/HD frequently experience significant difficulty meeting social/emotional, academic, and behavioral expectations.

Even with the high prevalence and significance of AD/HD, very little research has investigated teachers' knowledge of AD/HD or defined a protocol for quickly updating teachers' knowledge of this subject. In particular, there is limited literature examining primary-school teachers' overall knowledge in this area (Kos, Richdale, & Jackson, 2004).

This study developed and assessed the effectiveness of a 45 minute on-line accelerated AD/HD training developed for elementary school teachers. This on-line Accelerated Elementary School Professional Development AD/HD Training was geared towards educators who have some basic knowledge and experiences with children who have AD/HD but who have been unable to keep abreast of new findings regarding AD/HD and associated gender, culture, and environmental factors.

Training effectiveness was assessed by comparing results obtained in on-line pre and post training testing as well as by assessing responses to 11 post training "interview questions". The basic assessment instrument used was the Knowledge of Attention Deficit Disorders Survey (KADDS). Each training participant completed a Descriptive Demographics Questionnaire which was correlated with their KADDS' test results.

Analysis of participants' responses to the KADDS questions, across the three categories of knowledge reflected in the KADDS, combined with a qualitative assessment of responses to the Post Training Interview Questions, support the conclusion that the study was able to assess the effectiveness of the 45 minute Accelerated Elementary School Professional Development AD/HD Training (herein referred to as the "Accelerated AD/HD Training"). This training was developed to increase teachers' awareness of their significant role in the early identification of children at risk for AD/HD and to equip them with general knowledge of AD/HD as well as its symptoms and interventions. The training provides essential information regarding gender, cultural and environmental considerations as they impact presentations of AD/HD. As part of this study, strengths and weakness of the training were identified and recommendations were provided to address specific training weaknesses as well as KADDS shortfalls in the areas of AD/HD knowledge relating to gender, culture, and environmental factors. This study is one of the first to demonstrate that a web-based medium can quickly improve the AD/HD knowledge of elementary school teachers.

Following implementation of noted training improvements, the protocol may serve as a model for development of future AD/HD trainings and also specifically address the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria. Recommendations were also made regarding possible future studies. The studies identified are based upon observations made during this study and teachers' responses to Post Training Interview Questions.

There is a deficiency of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) qualified college graduates to meet current workforce demands. Further, there is a weak pipeline of STEM qualified educators, which are needed to help produce the skilled candidates necessitated by these demands. One program aimed at creating highly qualified STEM teachers was the Raising the Bar for STEM Education in California: Preparing Elementary Teachers in a Model, Scalable, STEM-Rich Clinical Setting (Raising the Bar Program). The Raising the Bar professional development program focused on addressing deficiencies in elementary teachers’ pedagogical content knowledge, specifically in science. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of the Raising the Bar professional development program on elementary master teachers’ sense of self-efficacy in teaching science. Research shows there is a clear link between self-efficacy and outcome expectancy to improve student outcomes in STEM fields.

This study utilized an explanatory mixed methods approach. Specifically, a quasi-experimental design was followed to collect, first, quantitative data, and then, qualitative data. The quantitative data consisted of survey data collected from each of two groups: the treatment group of master teachers participating in the Raising the Bar professional development series, and the control group of master teachers not participating in the professional development. The qualitative data was collected in the form of two focus group interviews, one from each group. Further, two university student teacher coordinators were interviewed to add depth and perspective throughout the entire professional development process.

Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed to determine the effects of the Raising the Bar professional development on teachers’ sense of self-efficacy in teaching science. The major research findings indicated that the STEM-rich professional development was successful in significantly increasing teachers’ sense of self-efficacy in teaching science. Further, the findings of the study demonstrated that there is a clear need for focus on science across the curriculum, a clear need for a science-specific professional development model, and a clear need for inclusion of specific content courses as a requirement in administrative credential programs. As a result of the research, a science-specific model of professional development was created. The proposed model suggests that the science-specific professional development must be aligned, intentional, differentiated, ongoing, and purposeful.

Recommendations based on the findings of this study include further exploration of the factors that positively affect self-efficacy in teaching science. Additionally, it is unclear if self-efficacy alone is sufficient to improve overall science teaching practice at the elementary level. Research specifically aimed at the factors affecting teachers’ sense of self-efficacy in teaching science can help determine the best course of action for teacher credentialing programs, professional development programs, and instructional leaders working in the field.

The quality of early caregiving and educational environments has a significant effect on children’s later cognitive outcomes. Early childhood teachers are an important determining factor in the quality of these environments. Due to inconsistencies in practice across the early childhood field, there is a call for better prepared teachers. Teacher preparation itself is criticized for its lack of innovative and effective practices. While research finds that more effective teacher preparation programs are those that are steeped in clinical practice, these types of experiences are inconsistent and fragmented in the early childhood field. Part of the issue is the lack of knowledge on how to integrate highquality clinical experiences carefully into early childhood teacher preparation in order to prepare all preservice teachers successfully for the classroom.

The purpose of this qualitative study was to propose a middle-range, systematic theory for the types of practices and ideologies that the most successful early childhood teacher education programs use to prepare their preservice teachers for the education profession. A more focused purpose of this grounded theory study was to describe the ways in which early childhood preservice teachers learn about children’s cognitive development as well as how they describe their application of this knowledge to developmentally appropriate pedagogical practices. A secondary purpose of this study was to examine these various clinical models as described by experts in the field. Analysis was completed on semi-structured interviews with preservice teachers and faculty members, open-ended surveys completed by preservice teachers, and university documents. As a result of rigorous data analysis, a theory emerged to explain clinical practice at three model early childhood teacher preparation programs. Findings suggest that there are seven layers of strength that contribute to the model programs’ expertise in preparing their preservice teachers. This study is significant in that it reports researchbased elements that may contribute to policy regarding models for teacher preparation and meaningful clinical experiences.