This paper explores how motivational theories can be utilised to direct impactful conversations for the support of teaching excellence awards (TEAs). The purpose of applying a motivational lens to TEA conversations is to foster positive motivational conditions for award applicants. Outlining this conversational method may inform future research…

This chapter describes the results of a survey-based study intended to provide insight into the existence and degree of empirical support for the elements of strong teaching cultures in colleges and universities where faculty members participate in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL). The findings contribute to the larger body of…

Intersectionality and positionality can be used to examine how various aspects of identity are analyzed in the context of learners' lived experiences. When examining how learners are recognized for their skills and competencies, there are several ways in which education and credentials can be leveraged. Autoethnographies were used to examine the…

Women, especially Black and Latina women, are marginalized in physics, including in high school classrooms. Recognition is one of the ways women and girls experience marginalization in physics. This dissertation is comprised of three distinct but related studies examining how students experience recognition in an AP Physics 1 classroom. The first…

To help address funding and teaching resource disparities across districts in the state, Texas leaders developed the Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA). The Allotment aims to make the teaching job more appealing and sustainable, particularly in rural areas and in areas with a high concentration of economically disadvantaged students. This document…

Employee recognition is important for multiple reasons. Through an informal survey, it was determined that the employees of the workforce development and community education division at Delaware Technical and Community College did not feel recognized, resulting in low morale in the division. This study provided the opportunity to develop…

The present study explored the teachers' self-efficacy patterns and perceived personal accomplishment in the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic teaching environment. The current sample included in-service teachers (n = 393) representing 36 states across the United States. We explored whether teacher efficacy variables (i.e., engagement efficacy,…

The popularity of digital badges has been accelerated in recent years. Advocates of digital badges suggest their use may improve students' motivation and achievement, but existing empirical studies have failed to show consistent results. Furthermore, to date, no meta-analysis has been conducted on the topic of digital badges. Given this gap, the…

Given the significant influence of managerial reforms in education fields, how to promote teacher professionalism appears to be a priority task for school leaders. This study examined the mediation role of teacher recognition on the association between transformative leadership and teacher professionalism. From a sample of 1196 primary and…

Students benefit from receiving and providing peer feedback, but the degree of participation limits the benefit. Further, students sometimes resist participation, providing few or only short comments. Prior researchers have examined the role of general attitudes toward peer feedback in limiting participation. However, little research has examined…

Capstone experiences (CEs) are established high impact practices (HIPs) designed so students can synthesize their knowledge and skills obtained across their academic training. Understanding how instructors' intrinsic motivation and external expectations influence the design of CEs can help institutions create resources to support instructors when…

The purpose of this qualitative narrative inquiry study (n = 9) is to understand the lived experiences of students of color at a faith-based predominately white institution (PWI). Students of color who attend PWIs graduate at a lower rate than their majority-culture peers and are less likely to report feeling a significant sense of belonging to…

Earning Open Badges instead of regular grades and credits can be a motivating factor for high-performing students in terms of attending classes and completing assignments in extracurricular courses, but to what extent? And for what student profiles? To tackle these questions, we conducted a quantitative study with high-performing students. Each…

The COVID disruption fueled the frequency of instructional decisions. The purpose of this grounded theory study was to investigate award-winning faculty's instructional decisions and corresponding factors that influenced their instructional decisions. The study was conducted at a private research university in New York State during the COVID…

Changes in hiring requirements, in particular a bachelor's degree, is rapidly changing for many learners. In order to make these changes successfully, higher education must come to an agreement on the terms used to describe and characterize these new assertions of learning, along with adopting a common mode of transport for these credentials. One…