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Place-based, social studies teaching and learning has the potential to foster engaged citizens connected and committed to improving their communities. This study explored the research question, “In what ways do classroom and field-based experiences prepare teacher candidates (TCs) to make connections between place-based education and elementary social studies education?”

This qualitative case study examined how elementary TCs learned about, researched, curated and created place-based social studies educational resources related to community sites. Data collection included TCs’ Pre- and Post-Course Reflections as well as Self-Evaluations, which were analyzed using an inductive approach and multiple rounds of concept coding. Several themes emerged through data analysis.

The authors organized their findings around three themes: connections (i.e. place becomes personal), immersion (i.e. learning about place to learning in place) and bridge building (i.e. local as classroom). The classroom and field-based experiences in the elementary social studies methods course informed the ways in which TCs learned about and connected to the concept of place, experienced place in a specific place (i.e. downtown Statesboro, Georgia), and reflected upon the myriad ways that they could utilize place in their future elementary social studies classrooms.

TCs (as well as in-service teachers and teacher educators) must become more informed, connected and committed to places within their local communities in order to consider them as resources for elementary social studies teaching and learning.

Film has long been an instructional tool in social studies education; however, most research and methods for using film to teach social studies are situated at the secondary level. As such, the purpose of this study was to extend and expand what is known about using film in elementary social studies classrooms. More specifically, this qualitative content analysis study explored how and why elementary pre-service teachers (PSTs) used film clips from Molly of Denali to design critical Indigenous studies lessons. The data offer insight into the possibilities of using film as a strategy to teach anti-oppressive elementary social studies education.

The authors used qualitative content analysis in this study. Data for this study included 17 lesson planning assignments and corresponding written rationales completed by PSTs in an elementary social studies methods course. Data collected as a result of convenience sampling, given both the authors were the instructors of the methods course. To analyze the data, the authors used a multi-step coding process and a combination of inductive and deductive coding.

Grounded in a framework of anti-oppressive and anti-colonial education, PSTs designed elementary social studies lessons that used film clips from Molly of Denali to increase representation, center a counter-narrative and serve as a motivator. PSTs also infused other sources into their lesson plans, thus extending their lessons beyond the film.

Given the lack of research on how film can be used in elementary social studies classrooms, this study fills a void in the literature. Results of this study suggest that similar to the benefits of using film in secondary classrooms, film can be an engaging and motivating source of information for elementary students. Moreover, when used within a critical pedagogical framework like Sabzalian's (2019) critical orientations of Indigenous studies, film can increase representation and teach anti-oppressive counter-narratives in the elementary classroom.

In the era of Industry 4.0, the relevance of webinar tutorials, a form of distance learning, is paramount. These tutorials can catalyze self-regulated learning, critical thinking and communication skills, especially for prospective and in-service teachers pursuing higher education. This paper aims to develop a conceptual framework and report the results of implementing a flipped classroom with whiteboard animation and modules. This innovative approach seeks to enhance students' self-regulation, critical thinking and communication abilities.

This study employs a mixed-methods approach. In the first phase, a hypothetical model and conceptual framework for the Flipped Classroom with Whiteboard Animation and Modules were developed to enhance self-regulation, critical thinking and communication skills. The resulting conceptual framework was then implemented through a quasi-experiment using a non-equivalent control group design involving 83 elementary school teachers enrolled in the Elementary School Science Education course (PDGK4202), divided into three treatment groups. Qualitative data were collected through observations of the learning process, documentation of student worksheet completion and interviews with students. Questionnaires and tests were used as instruments for quantitative data collection. Qualitative data were analyzed using descriptive methods, while quantitative data were evaluated using MANCOVA.

The findings demonstrate significant improvements in students' self-regulation, critical thinking skills and communication abilities after implementing the Flipped Classroom with Whiteboard Animation and Modules.

Some limitations in this study need to be recognized. These limitations include the specific sample type of elementary school teachers who went back to college to take science learning courses in elementary school. Teachers have various diversity that may affect the dependent variable, such as age, educational background, facilities, internet signal stability at their learning location and teaching experience. This study was conducted in a specific context (using the flipped classroom model at UT), so the results may need to be more generalizable to other educational contexts with different facilities, systems and policies. In addition, the measurement of self-regulation and communication skills, particularly with questionnaires, relies on self-report, which can be biased due to socially desirable responses or inaccurate self-assessment. Although the MANCOVA test showed significant results, it is possible that other variables not controlled for in this study (e.g. intrinsic motivation, social support from family or colleagues) also affected the independent variables.

This study emphasizes the importance of adapting webinar tutorials for Industry 4.0 and enhancing self-regulated learning, critical thinking and communication skills, particularly for working students and teachers. It offers a practical framework for educators and suggests ways to improve online learning materials. The implementation results show significant skill enhancement. These findings have practical implications for educators, institutions and instructional designers, guiding the development of effective distance learning strategies and curriculum improvements in the digital age.

The social implications of this study are noteworthy. In the context of Industry 4.0, adapting webinar tutorials to promote self-regulated learning, critical thinking and communication skills is essential not only for the educational sector but also for the broader society. It equips prospective and in-service teachers, who are pivotal in shaping future generations, with the necessary skills to navigate a rapidly changing digital landscape. Furthermore, enhancing self-regulation and critical thinking abilities among employed students contributes to a more informed and adaptable workforce, fostering societal resilience in the face of technological advancements.

The uniqueness of this study stems from the creative modification of a webinar tutorial, which specifically targets the urgent requirement for enhancing abilities among teachers and university students. The conceptual framework serves as a valuable tool for educators, and the findings of this study confirm its effectiveness in enhancing self-regulation, critical thinking abilities and communication proficiency. Furthermore, the recommendations offered also furnish practical insights to improve this model.

This paper shares findings from a multi-year literacy professional development partnership between a school district and university (2014–2019). We share this case of a Literacy Cohort initiative as an example of cross-institutional professional development situated within several of NAPDS’ nine essentials, including professional learning and leading, boundary-spanning roles and reflection and innovation (NAPDS, 2021).

We asked, “In what ways did the Cohort initiative create conditions for community and collaboration in the service of meaningful literacy reforms?” Drawing on social design methodology (Gutiérrez & Vossoughi, 2010), we sought to generate and examine the educational change associated with this multi-year initiative. Our data set included programmatic data, interviews (N = 30) and artifacts of literacy teaching, learning and leading.

Our findings reflect the emphasis areas that are important to educators in the partnership: diversity by design, building relationships through collaboration and rooting literacy reforms in teacher leadership. Our discussion explores threads of reciprocity, simultaneous renewal and boundary-spanning leadership and their role in sustaining partnerships over time.

This paper contributes to our understanding of building and sustaining a cohort model of multi-year professional development through the voices, perspectives and experiences of teachers, faculty and district administrators.

The purpose of this conceptual paper is to define and explore the roles of mentors, the responsibilities and even misconceptions of their position in partnership schools, the characteristics of effective mentors, the gaps that exist in current mentor training and the need for updated and forward-thinking flexible and accessible mentor training as it relates to improvements in University Teacher Preparation Programs and their partnership schools.

The authors detail the process of interviewing a diverse population of mentors and teacher candidates (TCs) who have participated in our professional development (partnership) schools. See Appendices A and B for parallel questions posed during each interview process. Following the interviews, data were gathered in both text and video-based formats to create mentor training video modules to improve the current state of mentor training in our program. Themes were identified following an analysis of both interview intakes, and modules were created to align with these themes.

Following the first rounds of implementation, the authors have reflected and noted that a need for an even more diverse population of both mentors and interns to be interviewed is necessary moving forward. The authors do note an appreciation by mentors and university partners in the quality, flexibility and accessibility that this new video module-based mentor training program provides.

The video-based mentor training modules that the authors detail honor the needs of both new and returning mentors. Via the interviews with teacher candidates, mentors are able to empathize and understand how to be better mentors to their future TCs. Via the scenarios and questions that follow each thematically driven module, mentors are able to independently reflect on their current practices and ways to improve their roles. At any point in the internship year, mentors can return to the video training modules to review and thus improve their practice.

Mentors, university supervisors, teacher candidates and site coordinators (those individuals who identify mentors in their buildings) note improvement in their ability to communicate effectively as a result of being presented with video modules and reflections about the role of mentors from both mentors and TCs.

The authors were called on by leadership in the College of Education at the University to create this original mentor training video module. It is unique to the College of Education at the University. Great value exists in its accessibility, adaptability (we can upload new videos at any time) and representation of both the mentor and TC perceptions, suggestions and experiences in our program.

This paper focuses on prospective teachers’ (PTs) participation in a lesson study (LS) that prompted them to research their own practice. We seek to describe the dimensions of PTs’ knowledge of student learning developed during the process and the LS features fostering it.

The participants were two PTs, a teacher educator, a cooperating teacher and a researcher. The LS was integrated into a Portuguese initial elementary teacher education program. Following a qualitative approach, we used participant observation.

The PTs developed their knowledge of students’ learning of the concept of area in four dimensions: theories; students’ interests and expectations; ways students interact with the content and students’ strengths and weaknesses in learning the concept. To support this development, the LS design considered follow-up sessions and emphasised collaborative work.

This study focuses on PTs researching their practice and disseminating the results, which has been overlooked in previous research of LS with PTs. The results highlight the potential of LS to motivate PTs to research their practice and emphasise the importance of involving them in disseminating LS results.

This instrumental case study (Stake, 1995) explores the benefits experienced by mentor teachers who mentored resident teachers in a year-long residency program.

The study was grounded by the Benefits of Being a Mentor conceptual framework, as defined by Ragins and Scandura (1999). The participating mentor teachers engaged in semi-structured interviews and a focus group. The data were analyzed through inductive and deductive data analysis techniques.

Using inductive and deductive data analysis techniques, three themes emerged on the benefits of being a mentor teacher: (1) extra support in the classroom, (2) professional learning and growth opportunities, and (3) investing in the future of education. The teachers’ perceived benefits were related to the connectedness of their personal and professional growth, the growth of the resident teachers and their students’ learning.

Mentor teachers play a vital role in teacher residency programs, as they are the primary influence on their resident teachers’ pedagogical praxis. In a residency program, mentor teachers support resident teachers’ sustained teaching experience by hosting them for one full academic year in their classrooms; therefore, exploring the benefits they receive from serving in this role is essential.