A Qualitative Study on Improving Instructional Practices and Self-efficacy through Experiences in Professional Learning Communities as Perceived by Identified School Teachers in Middle and South Georgia

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dc.contributor.author McLemore, Melanie Harden
dc.coverage.spatial Georgia en_US
dc.coverage.temporal 1997-2022 en_US
dc.date.accessioned 2022-08-29T20:22:48Z
dc.date.available 2022-08-29T20:22:48Z
dc.date.issued 2022-05
dc.identifier.other CA59E682-74BF-B297-4266-96EA9B9C667B en_US
dc.identifier.uri https://hdl.handle.net/10428/5880
dc.description.abstract The purpose of the study was to examine the experiences of teachers in PLCs and their perceptions of PLCs’ effectiveness in improving instructional practices and promoting teachers’ self-efficacy. The research study employed a basic interpretive qualitative design constructing narrative profiles from interviews. The research was conducted over an 18 month period and concentrated on the perspectives of lived experiences within PLC settings of six teachers in Middle and South Georgia. The conceptual framework for the study was Bandura’s (1997) theory of self-efficacy. The impetus for this study was the researcher’s interest in intrinsic and extrinsic factors motivating teachers to embrace professional learning. As Bandura (2008) surmised, individuals gain confidence in their ability through participation in events facilitating success. A guiding desire of the researcher was to learn if a sense of accomplishment encourages teachers’ inclination to collaborate. An emphasis of the study was maturity level of PLC implementation. This was identified with the assistance of Middle Georgia RESA. Schools were in Middle and South Georgia and varied in student population and demographics. The sample population was determined in a purposeful manner. Six teachers from four school districts participated. Three were two elementary teachers, one middle school teacher, and two high school teachers. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, all were interviewed virtually. Narrative profiles were used to investigate teachers’ perceptions which were then related to the research questions. Interpretations of teachers’ perceptions yielded explanatory data describing the emerging themes: Structured Norms, Motivating Factors, School Culture, and Impact on Teaching and Learning. Keywords: Professional Learning Community, Self-efficacy, Instructional Practices, Teacher efficacy, structured norms, Lived experiences en_US
dc.format.extent 1 electronic document and derivatives, 223 pages. 2128134 bytes. en_US
dc.format.mimetype application/pdf en_US
dc.language.iso en_US en_US
dc.rights This dissertation is protected by the Copyright Laws of the United States (Public Law 94-553, revised in 1976). Consistent with fair use as defined in the Copyright Laws, brief quotations from this material are allowed with proper acknowledgement. Use of the materials for financial gain with the author's expressed written permissions is not allowed. en_US
dc.subject Dissertations, Academic--United States en_US
dc.subject Educational leadership en_US
dc.subject Professional learning communities en_US
dc.subject Self-efficacy en_US
dc.subject Teachers en_US
dc.subject Georgia en_US
dc.title A Qualitative Study on Improving Instructional Practices and Self-efficacy through Experiences in Professional Learning Communities as Perceived by Identified School Teachers in Middle and South Georgia en_US
dc.type Dissertation en_US
dc.contributor.department Department of Leadership, Technology and Workforce Development en_US
dc.description.advisor Truby, William F.
dc.description.committee Lairsey, John D.
dc.description.committee Reichert, Laine
dc.description.degree Ed.D. en_US
dc.description.major Education in Leadership en_US


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