A Face-to-Face Professional Development Model's Feasibility and Effectiveness to Enhance Teaching of Internet Research Strategies

• In Event: Emerging Teacher Professional Development Models Using Technology

Abstract

Project S-SOAR (Stepping Up to SOAR: Strategies for Online Academic Research) combats conditions of inequality in public schools, especially for Students with Learning Disabilities (SWLD), by providing Professional Development (PD) models for teaching the SOAR Strategies for conducting online research. This paper details Project S-SOAR’s design and testing of PD models with 15 middle school teachers across three case studies to support their students’ (N=448) adoption of the SOAR Strategies. Results indicate that S-SOAR’s PD models and strategies promote online research skills, especially for SWLDs, and PD models are effective for teachers’ instruction. Finally, this paper highlights the need to provide SWLDs with differentiated instruction and technology integration to promote a global movement of transforming and diversifying education.

Authors

• Fatima Elvira Terrazas-Arellanes, University of Oregon

• Lisa Strycker, University of Oregon

• Emily Walden, University of Oregon