In the last decade, the development of new technologies has made innovation a fundamental pillar of education. Teaching innovation is characterized by digital, technological, and didactic elements and processes to improve design-thinking in the teaching field. Therefore, teaching innovation includes the evolution of both teaching and learning models to drive improvements in educational methodologies. In this context, one of the research areas that has been most relevant to date in teaching innovation is university communities and higher education centers. Teaching innovation is a pioneer in the understanding and comprehension of the different teaching methodologies and models developed in the academic area. In this way, teaching innovation is a process that seeks validation in the academic and teaching communities at universities in order to promote the improvement of teaching and its practices and uses in the future characterized by digital development and data-based methods. The development of new teaching innovation methodologies and practices at universities is the challenge of the 21st century for the development of a resilient and efficient education. Therefore, this edited book aims to compile and study the major practices and case studies of teaching innovation developed in recent years at universities. In this way, teachers and educators can use the contributions presented in this book based on teaching processes, practices, case studies, and interactive activities. In this digital era, this book can be used as a sourcebook on study cases focused on teaching innovation methodologies as well as on the identification of new technologies that will help the development of initiatives and practices focused on teaching innovation at universities.

Despite the key role played by second language acquisition (SLA) courses in linguistics, teacher education and language teaching degrees, participants often struggle to bridge the gap between SLA theories and their many applications in the classroom. In order to overcome the 'transfer' problem from theory to practice, Andrea Nava and Luciana Pedrazzini present SLA principles through the actions and words of teachers and learners. Second Language Acquisition in Action identifies eight important SLA principles and involves readers in an 'experiential' approach which enables them to explore these principles 'in action'. Each chapter is structured around three stages: experience and reflection; conceptualisation; and restructuring and planning. Discussion questions and tasks represent the core of the book. These help readers in the process of 'experiencing' SLA research and provide them with opportunities to try their hands at different areas of language teachers' professional expertise. Aimed at those on applied linguistics MA courses, TESOL/EFL trainees and in-service teachers, Second Language Acquisition in Action features: * Key Questions at the start of each chapter * Data-based tasks to foster reflection and to help bridge the gap between theory and practice * Audiovisual extracts of lessons on an accompanying website * Further Reading suggestions at the end of each chapter

Higher learning has seen an increase in web-based distance education programs, which coincides with advancements made in educational technologies. As these programs are on the rise, it becomes increasingly more important to ensure that instructional designers are prepared to accommodate the needs of these academic institutions. Developing a culture of collaboration through the optimization of instructional design methods is part of the profession's identity but has gotten overshadowed by the pressures of thinking of courses as products. Optimizing Instructional Design Methods in Higher Education is an essential reference source that discusses the importance of collaboration, training, and the use of new and existing models in supporting instructional designers to formalize and optimize curriculum development in higher education. It covers the importance of adapting, adjusting, and re-evaluating models based on learner needs in relation to both the process of learning and outcomes. Featuring research on topics such as human resource development, academic programs, and faculty development, this book is ideally designed for educators, academicians, researchers, and administrators seeking coverage to support design thinking and innovation that encourages student learning.

Creating a Culture of Accessibility in the Sciences provides insights and advice on integrating students with disabilities into the STEM fields. Each chapter features research and best practices that are interwoven with experiential narratives. The book is reflective of the diversity of STEM disciplines (life and physical sciences, engineering, and mathematics), and is also reflective of cross-disability perspectives (physical, sensory, learning, mental health, chronic medical and developmental disabilities). It is a useful resource for STEM faculty and university administrators working with students with disabilities, as well as STEM industry professionals interested in accommodating employees with disabilities.

Language teachers are concerned with the relationship between what they know or believe and what they practice. In this book, Yang Gao thus addresses this gap. Using the complex dynamic system theory, he reports the characteristics of the Chinese EFL teachers' belief system and highlights the complexity of the system, the non-linearity, and unpredictability of the subsystems. He further explores the relationships between the stated beliefs and the actual practices among the Chinese EFL teachers. One of the key contributions through the book is the conceptualized model in studying EFL teachers' beliefs and practices.

While many school districts and institutions of higher education still cling to the traditional agrarian school year with a factory model delivery of education and Carnegie units based on seat time when most people are no longer farmers, factory workers, or reliant on learning in a classroom, there are bursts of promising practices that buck the norm by questioning the educational value of these traditions. Though researchers have investigated the potential of students learning in their own homes via personalized instruction delivered by computers rather than attending traditional institutions, the status quo in education has remained stubbornly resistant to change. Mixed-reality simulations, year-round schooling, grouping students by competencies instead of age, and game-based teaching are just a few of the educational innovations that seek to maximize learning by recognizing that innovation is essential for successfully teaching students in the modern era. The Handbook of Research on Innovations in Non-Traditional Educational Practices is a comprehensive reference source that examines various educational innovations, how they have developed workarounds to navigate traditional systems, and their potential to radically transform teaching and learning. With each chapter highlighting a different educational innovation such as experiential learning, game-based learning, online learning, and inquiry-based learning and their applications in all levels of education, this book explores the issues and challenges these educational innovations face as well as their impact. It is intended for academicians, professionals, administrators, and researchers in education and specifically benefits academic deans, vice presidents of academic affairs, graduate students, faculty technology leaders, directors of teaching and learning centers, curriculum and instructional designers, policymakers, principals and superintendents, and teachers interested in educational change.

In Critical Reflection on Research in Teaching and Learning, the editors bring together a collection of works that explore a wide range of concerns related to questions of researching teaching and learning in higher education and shine a light on the diversity of qualitative methods in practice. This book uniquely focuses on reflections of practice where researchers expose aspects of their work that might otherwise fit neatly into 'traditional' methodologies chapters or essays, but are nonetheless instructive - issues, events, and thoughts that deserve to be highlighted rather than buried in a footnote. This collection serves to make accessible the importance of teaching and learning issues related to learners, teachers, and a variety of contexts in which education work happens. Contributors are: David Andrews, Candace D. Bloomquist, Agnes Bosanquet, Beverley Hamilton, Henriette Tolstrup Holmegaard, Klodiana Kolomitro, Minna Koerkkoe, Outi Kyroe-AEmmala, Suvi Lakkala, Rod Lane, Corinne Laverty, Elizabeth Lee, Narelle Patton, Jessica Raffoul, Nicola Simmons, Jee Su Suh, Kim West and Cherie Woolmer.

Digital tools and applications are an intricate part of many classroom communities. In the field of education, there is a need to continually monitor the digital landscape and keep up to date on the tools and applications that are available to classroom teachers and K-12 students. Understanding the ever-changing digital landscape and its impact on teaching and learning is critical to using digital tools and applications effectively and in ways that enhance students' opportunities to learn. Next Generation Digital Tools and Applications for Teaching and Learning Enhancement is a critical scholarly publication that explores digital tools and applications for the PreK-12 classroom and how digital technology can enhance the preparation of teachers. Featuring a wide range of topics including education equity, social media, and teacher education, this book is essential for educators, academicians, curriculum designers, educational software developers, IT specialists, library specialists, researchers, and practitioners.

Teaching Social Studies: A Methods Book for Methods Teachers, features tasks designed to take preservice teachers deep into schools in general and into social studies education in particular. Organized around Joseph Schwab's commonplaces of education and recognizing the role of inquiry as a preferred pedagogy in social studies, the book offers a series of short chapters that highlight learners and learning, subject matter, teachers and teaching, and school context. The 42 chapters describe tasks that the authors assign to their methods students as either in?class or as outside?of?class assignments. The components of each chapter are: Summary of the task Description of the exercise (i.e., what students are to do, the necessary resources, the timeframe for completion, grading criteria) Description of how students respond to the activity Description of how the task fits into the overall course List of readings and references Appendix that supplements the task description

The general academic progression, and particularly research engagement, of postgraduate students is characterized by various problems such as high dropout rates, longer completion times, low graduation rates, and high repetition or retake rates. This means that there are far fewer students pursuing postgraduate studies at tertiary institutions and universities than there are at the lower levels of education. Yet, there is growing demand for postgraduate education given its strong projected association with socioeconomic transformation at national and international levels among developed and developing countries alike. Postgraduate Research Engagement in Low Resource Settings: Emerging Research and Opportunities sets out to garner strategies for fostering efficiency of research conduct among the students and faculty so as to enhance high quality output for the envisaged personal, societal, national, and international socioeconomic transformation. Covering a range of topics such as intellectual property, mental health, and quality assurance, this book is ideal for research supervisors, higher education faculty, librarians, educators, administrators, researchers, academicians, and students.

The growing interest in the problems of integrated foreign language teaching and professional disciplines is manifested in the formulation of new concepts and approaches, which at the moment are controversial. The lack of a common conceptual framework of integrated education in the system of higher professional education in different countries manifests itself in the attempts of researchers to either completely eliminate the achievements of their colleagues in this area or, without any scientific and practical justification, mechanically transfer foreign experiences in their conditions. Examining Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) Theories and Practices is a cutting-edge research publication that investigates the different approaches and models of progressive technology within linguodidactics and the methodologies for teaching foreign languages. Highlighting a range of topics such as blended learning, cognition, and professional discourse, this book is essential for language teachers, linguists, curriculum developers, instructional designers, deans, researchers, practitioners, administrators, educators, academicians, and students.

Education in the 21st century is shifting focus from accessing and sharing information to designing active and collaborative learning environments which foster student engagement and critical thinking skills. Active learning features a hands-on, activity-based teaching approach during which students synthesize information and take joy in new discovery. The Handbook of Research on Learner-Centered Pedagogy in Teacher Education and Professional Development presents a comprehensive look into the methodologies and strategies necessary to establish classroom climates in which students feel free to question their preconceptions and express opinions. Featuring chapters from international researchers, this book is ideal for administrators, teachers, policy makers, and students of education.

The arts and humanities are considered to be a core academic subject under federal law. This designation grants these education programs the right to federal funds; however, budget propositions do not allot the arts sufficient financial resources. Funding Challenges and Successes in Arts Education is a timely research publication featuring the most recent scholarly information on fiscal changes that support the financing of the humanities in national and international education. Including extensive coverage on a number of topics and perspectives such as strategic planning, school reform, and teacher training, this book is ideally designed for academicians, researchers, teachers, and administrators seeking current research on innovative ways to fund the arts.

To provide the highest quality of education to students, school administrators must adopt new frameworks to meet learners' needs. This allows teaching practices to be optimized to create a meaningful learning environment. Examining the Potential for Response to Intervention (RTI) Delivery Models in Secondary Education: Emerging Research and Opportunities is a pivotal reference source for the latest perspectives on research-based intervention and instruction strategies to effectively meet students' learning requirements. Highlighting numerous topics such as professional development, progress monitoring, and learning assessment, this book is ideally designed for educators, professionals, academics, school administrators, and practitioners interested in enhancing contemporary teaching practices.