Professional Learning for ESL Teachers: A Randomized Controlled Trial to Examine the Impact on Instruction, Collaboration, and Cultural Wealth

Using a randomized controlled trial, we examined the impact of a teacher professional learning (PL) program on English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers’ use of evidence-based instructional strategies for multilingual learners, collaboration with classroom teachers, and incorporation of Latino multilingual learners’ cultural wealth into their classrooms. The analyses included 29 ESL teachers from 29 elementary schools in three school districts. The teachers completed pre–post surveys, and trained observers rated classroom instruction and cultural wealth for two cohorts of teachers in the yearlong program. The results showed that the PL program had a significant effect on the ESL teachers’ use of evidence-based instructional strategies. We also found a significant effect on the ESL teachers’ collaboration processes, including their use of an intentional framework for collaboration and their alignment with classroom teachers’ instruction. We did not find significant differences between the PL group and the control group on the ESL teachers’ incorporation of cultural wealth in their classroom environment or on the reported frequency of their collaboration

A Nonparametric, Multiple Imputation-Based Method for the Retrospective Integration of Data Sets

<div><p>Complex research questions often cannot be addressed adequately with a single data set. One sensible alternative to the high cost and effort associated with the creation of large new data sets is to combine existing data sets containing variables related to the constructs of interest. The goal of the present research was to develop a flexible, broadly applicable approach to the integration of disparate data sets that is based on nonparametric multiple imputation and the collection of data from a convenient, de novo calibration sample. We demonstrate proof of concept for the approach by integrating three existing data sets containing items related to the extent of problematic alcohol use and associations with deviant peers. We discuss both necessary conditions for the approach to work well and potential strengths and weaknesses of the method compared to other data set integration approaches.</p></div