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Dissertation
Exploring Instructional Strategies for Teaching Middle School Civics in West Florida
University of West Florida Libraries
Doctor of Education (EDD), University of West Florida
2025
Abstract
The purpose of this exploratory qualitative case study was to explore instructional strategies that middle school civics teachers used to improve civics learning in select middle schools in West Florida. The literature revealed the problem that necessitated this study and had three themes: (a) poor student performance on civics assessment, (b) poor adult participation in civic responsibilities, and (c) a genuine lack of understanding of what civics instruction looks like. After an extensive review of the literature on civics instruction, I selected a group of nine participants representing middle school civics teachers in the school district in the study. I conducted two 45-minute observations of each participant and a follow-up interview after each observation. I compared the data from the observations and interviews covering the topics that participants taught. I framed the research questions in constructivist philosophy to discover how participants incorporated cognitive learning practices into their civics instruction to address student learning needs, student subjectivity, and student social and cultural backgrounds in their teaching. I developed the study to construct an understanding of how to teach civics more effectively. In the area of incorporating student cognitive processing and student subjectivity, the study revealed several examples to assist middle school teachers. In the area of incorporating student learning needs, only a few examples require further research. In the area of incorporating student social and cultural background into civics instruction, there was insufficient evidence; therefore, further research is necessary.
Details
- Title
- Exploring Instructional Strategies for Teaching Middle School Civics in West Florida
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Contributors
- Lydia S Kyei-Blankson (Committee Member) - University of West Florida, School of EducationMark Malisa (Committee Chair)
- Publisher
- University of West Florida Libraries; Argo Scholar Commons
- Format
- pdf
- Number of pages
- 299
- Copyright
- Unpublished work © Albert Thomas Balk
- Identifiers
- 99381363762306600
- Academic Unit
- School of Education
- Language
- English
- Awarding Institution
- University of West Florida; Doctor of Education (EDD)
- Theses and Dissertations
- Doctor of Education (EDD), University of West Florida