Date
11-2018
Department
School of Education
Degree
Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (EdD)
Chair
James Swezey
Keywords
Professional Development, Christian Education, Biblical Worldview Development, Spiritual Formation, K-8 Christian School, Biblical Worldview
Disciplines
Christianity | Education | Elementary Education
Recommended Citation
Mooney, Tanya R., "A Case Study of Professional Development Activities That Foster a Biblical Worldview in K-8 Christian School Teachers" (2018). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 1891.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/1891
Abstract
The purpose of this collective case study was to explore professional development (PD) activities that fostered a biblical worldview (BW) in K-8 Christian school teachers. The theory guiding this study was Fowler’s (1995) faith development theory (FDT), as this theory provided an understanding of the transformational process which Christian teachers undergo as faith develops throughout their lives. BW development compared to faith development because of the transformation that occurred in pedagogical practices. Twelve K-8 Christian school teachers in Arizona were selected for this study using criterion sampling. Each participant was a K-8 Christian school educator, was a born-again believer, and experienced PD activities that fostered BW. Data collection included on-site interviews, electronic journals, a focus group, and a document review. This collective case study discovered professional development activities that fostered a biblical worldview in K-8 Christian school teachers. Data from this study answered the central research question, “How do K-8 Christian school teachers describe PD activities that develop their BW?” Four themes developed and described BW PD and included the following: intentional design, personal responsibility, opportunities for application, and intrinsic development.
