Date Approved

6-8-2016

Embargo Period

6-14-2016

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Ed.D. Educational Leadership

Department

Educational Services and Leadership

College

College of Education

Advisor

Walpole, MaryBeth

Keywords

differentiated instruction, professional development, Catholic schools

Subject(s)

Individualized instruction; Teachers--In-service training; Teacher effectiveness

Disciplines

Teacher Education and Professional Development

Abstract

This action research study sought to investigate a sample of urban Catholic school teachers' perceptions of how an exploration of differentiated instruction through embedded professional development changed their traditional one-size-fits-all pedagogical practices to a model that addressed students diverse academic needs. Research studies provide evidence that a one-size-fits-all recipe of instruction continually fails to build students’ capacity to learn. Interviews are the primary source to elicit teachers' perceptions of changed pedagogical practices. In conjunction with classroom observations, a focus group formed to better understand the rationale for the principles of differentiated instruction, make sense of the practice, and determine if new knowledge changed participants' thinking and behavior about teaching and learning. Findings indicated that research, workshops, reflection, deeper conversations, personal mastery, and shared visions within embedded professional development transformed the culture of instruction. Further, in an attempt to explore the many dimensions of differentiated instruction guided by my actions as the school leader, participants freed themselves from habits of isolation, created the foundation for a learning community, and built professional and personal efficacy.

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