The Boyer Model of Scholarship provides research opportunities in the scholarship of application for the Center for the Support of Beginning Teachers (CSBT) to collaborate with Western Carolina University faculty members and students. CSBT scholarly activity is focused on using data to determine the effects of induction and alternative entry programs on new teacher retention and development.
Other topics of interest include:
- The effects of grade level on beginning teacher engagement in online learning communities
- Identifying the dispositions and skills mentors need to influence beginning teachers’ learning and teaching
- Induction components and their effect on the development of teachers’ pedagogical content knowledge
- Administrative support and its effect on teacher retention
- Effects of lesson-based observation and conversations on teacher retention
Our scholarly activity is organized by:
- CSBT Data Collection and Analysis - Annual survey data of WNC beginning teachers, mentors and administrators are the basis for CSBT research. Data collection and analysis lead to program improvement.
- Grant-Funded Research - Building on the successes of past grant-funded initiatives, currently funded research projects help Western enhance efforts to improve the retention rate of first-year teachers in Western North Carolina school systems.
- Prominent Field Research - Comprehensive, high-quality induction programs are gaining attention as one of the most effective strategies for improving new teacher retention rates. Over the past several years promising induction models have emerged nationwide.
The Center for the Support of Beginning Teachers is located in 223 Killian. Janice Holt, Director, looks forward to meeting with faculty and students who share similar interests to explore possible collaborative research projects related to beginning teacher support.
For more information, contact Janice Holt.