Understanding the Use of Learner-Centered Teaching Strategies by Secondary Educators
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Walden University ScholarWorks Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection 2020 Understanding the Use of Learner-Centered Teaching Strategies by Secondary Educators Carmen M. Cain Walden University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection at ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Walden University College of Education This is to certify that the doctoral study by Carmen M. Cain has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made. Review Committee Dr. Heather Caldwell, Committee Chairperson, Education Faculty Dr. Michelle McCraney, Committee Member, Education Faculty Dr. Barbara Schirmer, University Reviewer, Education Faculty Chief Academic Officer and Provost Sue Subocz, Ph.D. Walden University 2020 Abstract Understanding the Use of Learner-Centered Teaching Strategies by Secondary Educators by Carmen M. Cain MA, University of Mary, 2016 BS, University of Mary, 2000 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Education Walden University June 2020 Abstract Use of learner-centered teaching strategies (LCTS) in the classroom practices improves academic achievement. Secondary educators do not consistently demonstrate the use of these strategies. The purpose of this study was to investigate how secondary educators were using LCTS in their instruction and what support they perceived to need to use such strategies. The conceptual framework for this dissertation was based on the Dreyfus and Dreyfus model of skill acquisition. The research questions focused on how secondary educators use LCTS and the support they need to use these strategies in their classrooms. This study was a basic qualitative design that examined the classroom practices of secondary teachers and the support they needed to use LCTS. The data collection instrument was an individual interview protocol of 12 randomly selected secondary education teachers from a midwestern high school in the United States. In vivo and pattern coding of the transcribed interview data and thematic analysis revealed 3 overarching themes: (a) student ownership, (b) use of LCTS, and (c) content-specific professional development. The overall findings of this study indicated that secondary educators used LCTS in their classrooms by having students take ownership of their learning and using a variety of LCTS in their classes. The findings also indicated that teachers considered content-specific professional development an important means of support for using LCTS. The use of LCTS by teachers increases student engagement, which then improves academic achievement. When academic achievement increases for all students, positive social change occurs. Secondary school administrators and teacher preparation programs would benefit from the research by providing them knowledge for developing professional development that supports the use of LCTS. Understanding the Use of LCTS by Secondary Educators by Carmen M. Cain MA, University of Mary, 2016 BS, University of Mary, 2000 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Education Walden University June 2020 Dedication This degree and dissertation are dedicated to the memory of my mother, Lynette Jacobs, who passed away as I was completing my doctoral program. She would have loved to call me “Dr. Cain.” I love you and miss you, Mom. Acknowledgments I would first like to thank my husband, Paul, for his continued support as I indulge in furthering my education. I am sure he is most thankful that this is a “terminal” degree! To my sons, Justin and Nathan and my daughter-in-law, Breanna - thank you for your encouragement and support. To my granddaughters, Harper and Sawyer – always remember that an education is something for which to be grateful. Thank you, Dr. Heather Caldwell, the chair of this dissertation, for your succinct advice and quick turnaround with feedback. Thank you to my second committee chair, Dr. Michelle McCraney, for your encouragement and feedback. Finally, thank you to my colleagues, who allowed me time off to work on my dissertation and gave me encouragement and feedback to finish this labor of knowledge. Table of Contents List of Tables ..................................................................................................................... iv Chapter 1: Introduction to the Study ....................................................................................1 Background ....................................................................................................................3 Problem Statement .........................................................................................................6 Purpose of the Study ......................................................................................................8 Research Questions ......................................................................................................10 Conceptual Framework ................................................................................................10 Nature of the Study ......................................................................................................13 Definitions....................................................................................................................15 Assumptions .................................................................................................................16 Scope and Delimitations ..............................................................................................17 Limitations ...................................................................................................................19 Significance..................................................................................................................20 Summary ......................................................................................................................21 Chapter 2: Literature Review .............................................................................................23 Literature Search Strategy............................................................................................24 Conceptual Framework ................................................................................................25 Model of Skill Acquisition.....................................................................................26 Learner-Centered Teaching Approach ...................................................................31 Literature Review Related to Key Concepts and Variable ..........................................32 Learner-Centered Teaching Strategies ...................................................................36 Teacher-Centered Strategies ..................................................................................41 i Teacher Preparation ...............................................................................................48 Novice Teachers.....................................................................................................50 Professional Development .....................................................................................51 Summary and Conclusions ..........................................................................................51 Chapter 3: Research Method ..............................................................................................54 Research Design and Rationale ...................................................................................54 Role of the Researcher .................................................................................................56 Methodology ................................................................................................................58 Participant Selection ............................................................................................. 58 Instrumentation ..................................................................................................... 60 Procedures for Recruitment, Participation, and Data Collection .......................... 61 Data Analysis Plan ................................................................................................ 64 Trustworthiness ............................................................................................................66 Ethical Procedures .......................................................................................................69 Summary ......................................................................................................................70 Chapter 4: Results ..............................................................................................................72 Setting ..........................................................................................................................72 Demographics ........................................................................................................74 Recruitment Process...............................................................................................75