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All teachers need ongoing coaching that helps them recognize areas of strength and need for teaching students with disabilities. Unfortunately, the amount, quality, and speed with which teachers receive feedback from coaches, administrators, mentors, or other instructional leaders on their academic and behavior management practices is limited. In this article, we describe a multimedia professional development option for documenting teacher practice, generating feedback, and delivering targeted instruction.

Vocabulary is a critical building block for establishing mastery of content area knowledge. Two technology-based tools (InferCabulary and Content Acquisition Podcasts for Students [CAP-S]) have been found to have beneficial effects on students' vocabulary knowledge, but efficacy of device features across varied presentation formats is unknown. The purpose of this study was to compare InferCabulary and CAP-S on four measures of vocabulary performance. Fifth-grade students (n = 656) drawn from 30 classrooms across three states participated in one of three conditions to learn 100 new vocabulary terms. Teachers (n = 30) taught student participants new word meanings via the InferCabulary program, CAP-S instructional slides, or their business-as-usual (BAU) approach to instruction. Results indicate that when students learned vocabulary using InferCabulary or CAP-S approaches, they significantly outperformed their peers who participated in BAU vocabulary instruction. In addition, students with disabilities in the CAP-S and InferCabulary conditions scored similarly to students without disabilities in the BAU condition on most measures. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

High-leverage practices (HLPs) are instructional approaches educators in K-12 can use to teach different types of learners and content. They are deemed "high leverage" because they are foundational to effective instruction, they help with managing and intervening in students' behavior, and they support successful implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (the legislation guaranteeing that students with disabilities receive a free and appropriate education with their nondisabled peers to the extent that is possible). This article describes two HLPs that are foundational for delivering effective instruction: (1) use explicit instruction; and (2) provide high-quality feedback. Research shows that teachers can use these two practices in general and special education classrooms to improve student outcomes. In addition, they are a great starting place for implementing other HLPs. In describing these two HLPs, the authors provide examples of how teachers might use them. A a list of resources teachers can use to support their implementation is also provided.

Student achievement disparities in inclusive science classrooms are concerning, as knowledge about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) is increasingly important for upward mobility. When students identify with multiple marginalized sociocultural groups, progress becomes more troubling, as the interplay among these factors is rarely accounted for in quantitative intervention research. The purpose of the present study, therefore, was to evaluate performance on measures of science vocabulary and general science knowledge among students with intersectional identities (i.e., students with disabilities from marginalized racial/ethnic groups, n = 33; and students with disabilities from low SES households, n = 167) following teacher participation in a multimedia professional development (PD) process. Using a series of multilevel models, results suggest students who learned from teachers who participated in the multimedia professional development process experienced greater gains than peers with the same intersectional identities in comparison classrooms across all measures. Implications and future directions are discussed.

Understanding science allows students with and without developmental and behavioral-based (DB) disabilities to better appreciate the world around them as well as prepare them for the growing science-related job market. However, students in the United States consistently underperform on science achievement tests compared to students from other nations. This underperformance could be attributed, in part to science having many specialized vocabulary terms that are not often taught explicitly, leaving students with incomplete or inaccurate understandings of word meanings. Improving science vocabulary instructional practices may support students with and without DB disabilities in enhancing their science achievement. To address this need, researchers implemented multicomponent multimedia professional development (PD) to support middle-school science teachers in delivering high-quality vocabulary instruction in inclusive settings. In this paper, data collected from a study evaluating the efficacy of the PD were analyzed to determine the influence on student outcomes using ANOVA and multilevel modeling methodologies. Though initial results indicate a promising impact on teacher instructional practices, little is known whether teacher participation in the PD affected student science vocabulary and content knowledge growth. Using multilevel modeling, student science knowledge growth was evaluated following their teachers' exposure to the PD. The findings from this study indicate having indirect exposure to PD had a positive effect on science content knowledge for students with and without DB disabilities (N = 980). In addition, the authors found students with DB disabilities whose teachers had access to PD showed a larger gain in science knowledge than general education students whose teachers did not have access to the PD.

Science includes a multitude of specialized terms that are not consistently taught using effective practices. Often, students with disabilities rely on ineffective strategies in order to memorize word definitions, which inhibits their science achievement. Using a counter-balanced design, we tested whether having access to multimedia videos that incorporate evidence-based practices would influence participating students' scores on vocabulary assessments. Additionally, we investigated whether the number of video views by students predicted assessment scores. Results from this study demonstrated positive science assessment outcomes when students have access to the multimedia videos. Overall, a greater number of video views predicted better student assessment outcomes. Implications for multimedia video use and future research are discussed.

Topics presented in content area courses at the secondary level are often comprised of specialized and/or multiple-meaning vocabulary terms that can challenge students' understanding. Additionally, gaps in relevant knowledge from prior learning experiences in earlier grade levels may further impede comprehension of content area concepts. This is often the case for students with disabilities and culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) students who tend to struggle in secondary content area classes due to learning barriers related to disability, culture, language, or the intersection of these student characteristics. Content Acquisition Podcasts for Students (CAP-S) is a multimedia tool that has been effective in increasing vocabulary knowledge among students with disabilities. However, this article provides a detailed description of how CAP-S embed instructional practices that are effective for students with disabilities from CLD backgrounds, and includes a step-by-step guide to support practitioners in creating and recording their own CAP-S vocabulary lessons to increase success among CLD students with disabilities participating in secondary content area classrooms.

Improving inclusive middle school science teachers' vocabulary instruction is a critical step toward helping those professionals support the learning needs of all students. In this Institute of Education Sciences (IES)-funded project, inclusive science teachers received professional development using elements of a multimedia-based approach called the Content Acquisition Podcast Professional Development (CAP-PD) intervention process. In this article, the authors discuss the three iterative pilot studies conducted as a part of this project and how each contributed to its development. Drawing on a theoretical framework that considers the characteristics of effective professional development, CAP-PD has three elements: (a) use of instructional videos that highlight the steps of practices and embed modeling videos to demonstrate practice, (b) preproduced instructional materials that support the implementation of evidence-based practices, and (c) feedback for teachers using data outputs from a classroom observation tool developed as a part of this project. Across studies, teachers who engaged in the CAP-PD process made important gains in terms of how much time they spent delivering evidence-based vocabulary instruction and the number of different practices implemented with fidelity. Future research should address questions of the lasting impact of this process on student learning and how to adapt the CAP-PD to help teachers do more than improve their vocabulary instruction.

Improving inclusive middle school science teachers' vocabulary instruction is a critical step toward helping those professionals support the learning needs of all students. In this Institute of Education Sciences (IES)-funded project, inclusive science teachers received professional development using elements of a multimedia-based approach called the Content Acquisition Podcast Professional Development (CAP-PD) intervention process. In this article, the authors discuss the three iterative pilot studies conducted as a part of this project and how each contributed to its development. Drawing on a theoretical framework that considers the characteristics of effective professional development, CAP-PD has three elements: (a) use of instructional videos that highlight the steps of practices and embed modeling videos to demonstrate practice, (b) preproduced instructional materials that support the implementation of evidence-based practices, and (c) feedback for teachers using data outputs from a classroom observation tool developed as a part of this project. Across studies, teachers who engaged in the CAP-PD process made important gains in terms of how much time they spent delivering evidence-based vocabulary instruction and the number of different practices implemented with fidelity. Future research should address questions of the lasting impact of this process on student learning and how to adapt the CAP-PD to help teachers do more than improve their vocabulary instruction. [This article was published in "Teacher Education and Special Education" (EJ1176453).]

Vocabulary knowledge is vital for students' success in school and beyond. However, students with disabilities and others who consistently score below their peers on various measures of vocabulary knowledge have difficulties in secondary-level content area courses. Because many students with disabilities are now educated primarily in general education classrooms, their teachers report needing more professional development on instructional strategies to support this population. Using a multiple-baseline design, we tested the efficacy of a multimedia, multicomponent professional development package in which middle school science teachers in inclusive classrooms promoted science vocabulary knowledge. The professional development package improved the quality of the teachers' use of evidence-based vocabulary practices and increased the amount of time they spent explicitly teaching vocabulary in their classes.

Vocabulary knowledge is vital for students' success in school and beyond. However, students with disabilities and others who consistently score below their peers on various measures of vocabulary knowledge have difficulties in secondary-level content area courses. Because many students with disabilities are now educated primarily in general education classrooms, their teachers report needing more professional development on instructional strategies to support this population. Using a multiple-baseline design, we tested the efficacy of a multimedia, multicomponent professional development package in which middle school science teachers in inclusive classrooms promoted science vocabulary knowledge. The professional development package improved the quality of the teachers' use of evidence-based vocabulary practices and increased the amount of time they spent explicitly teaching vocabulary in their classes.

There are multiple pathways for students with and without disabilities to learn new vocabulary terms. However, the number of empirically tested and validated multimedia options is surprisingly limited. In this study, researchers tested a commercially available app (InferCabulary) to evaluate the impact on vocabulary performance of fifth-grade students with and without disabilities. A key practice that can take many forms while maintaining its core characteristics is explicit instruction. Therefore, researchers paired the functionality of the app with explicit instruction to evaluate its impact on student learning. Based on a counterbalanced design across 6 alternating weeks accessing the app or teacher-led business-as-usual instruction, students scored higher on weeks when they used the app plus explicit instruction to learn new terms. Implications for future research are included.

Becoming proficient in scientific discourse such as argumentation or developing explanations can be challenging for students, including neurodivergent students (e.g., autistic students, students with learning disabilities, students with ADHD). Students need to practice developing arguments and explanations as well as sharing their conclusions with others; however, these opportunities do not regularly occur. The use of multimedia technology shows promise in being an engaging and effective way to support student learning and discussion of science topics and phenomena. This study investigated the use of a multimedia presentation called Dialogic Instruction for Argumentative Learning in Science (DIALS) in supporting upper-elementary neurodivergent students to provide complete responses to science questions. DIALS provides a structured inquiry investigation to the student in which they learn about a phenomenon through completing scaffolded animated experiments, explicitly learning how to develop an argument and respond to others conclusions, and learning relevant content information to support their argument and explanation development. An adapted alternating treatments design approach was used in this study. The phenomena explored were counterbalanced between three options: DIALS, PowerPoint comparison lessons, or control probe slides. Results from this study show promise in the use of DIALS in enhancing student complete responding to questions and providing quality claims for why they think phenomena occur. Implications for the findings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are numerous reasons why students with disabilities struggle in school. A key reason is professionals in the field may not pay enough attention to students' overwhelmed cognitive capacity. Cognitive load theory explains that all humans have limited capacity at any given time to use their auditory, visual, and tactile inputs (independently or collectively) to acquire new information and store it in long-term memory. When available cognition is overwhelmed – which can be caused by any number of reasons – learning cannot occur. In this article, we introduce the key aspects of cognitive load theory and give specific examples of how special educators can use this information to shape their instruction to support students' unique needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strong classroom management may be the key to finding success as a new teacher. Yet many teachers seek additional professional development in managing classrooms that include students with disabilities. The purpose of this article is to provide new teachers and teacher educators with a prescriptive yet self-led approach to systematically improving classroom management practices using a sequential video analysis process. This article outlines an easy-to-follow four-step process that teachers can use to record, review, reflect on, and revise their instruction. A checklist of evidence-based classroom management strategies with video exemplar links, a free online observation tool called the Classroom Teaching Scan, and a guide for self-reflection called the Reflection Matrix are all explained. Through this highly structured yet self-led approach, teachers can independently engage in noticing elements of teaching, identify their own areas of strength and weakness, reflect in a meaningful way, and implement evidence-based classroom management practices.

Effective professional development (PD) for teachers should be directly and intricately linked to their teaching practice. One way to link PD to practice is for administrators or coaches to provide performance feedback based on classroom observations, accompanied by reflection and coaching. This type of PD can be time-consuming and difficult to manage in practice, but technology offers ways to facilitate performance feedback. This article highlights a multimedia observation tool capable of documenting teachers' instructional moves in real time with the intent of providing a teacher with unbiased, descriptive data used to fuel coaching conversations. Additional multimedia options are provided for observing instruction and providing critical performance feedback with the intent of improving student learning outcomes.

"Reading comprehension" is difficult for many students with disabilities, including those with specific learning disabilities. However these students can be explicitly taught strategies to improve their comprehension abilities. One such strategy is teaching students story grammar in order to provide them with a framework for understanding narrative text. In this article, we present the results of a multiple-baseline across groups study conducted with third and fifth grade students. All students improved from baseline to posttest and maintenance scores remained above baseline. Nonoverlap of All Points (NAP) data demonstrates very low overlap between baseline points and intervention points for all students. Results indicated that story grammar interventions might improve reading outcomes for students with disabilities in grades 3-5.

Employing universal classroom management practices (e.g., opportunities to respond, praise, precorrect) can reduce disruptive behavior and improve academic engagement for students with and without disabilities; however, novice educators often possess minimal knowledge of universal classroom management practices. This study examined the effect of a strategically designed professional development workshop on universal classroom management practices with 6 elementary teachers during their first 3 years of teaching. Using a multiple-baseline design across groups of teachers, results indicated that a program of professional development increased teachers' practice and decreased reprimands. Descriptive data revealed changes in teacher knowledge and student engagement. Implications for future research as well as novice teacher professional development are discussed.

High-quality, effective vocabulary instruction is essential for supporting all students' academic success, and it is particularly important for students with disabilities. Teacher preparation programs are faced with the challenge of not only training preservice teachers to provide effective vocabulary instruction across grades and content areas, but also to prepare them to teach students with disabilities. This randomized control trial included 200 preservice teachers. We tested the effects that a combination of multimedia instruction and performance feedback on evidence-based practices for effective vocabulary instruction had on participants' knowledge and application of those practices. Compared with participants who received traditional lecture and text-based instruction and subjective feedback, we found that the group that received multimedia instruction and performance feedback implemented more of the practices, more frequently and for a longer duration. Implications for research and teacher preparation are discussed.

This article provides an overview of the literature on special education law and policy and teacher preparation for special education technology use and identifies current issues, focusing on four key obstacles regarding the status of special education technology access and implementation: (a) the mismatch between legal requirements, policy recommendations, and the supports students with disabilities actually receive in schools; (b) the limited professional knowledge about special education technology and few meaningful options for making improvements to this professional body of knowledge; (c) the rapid pace of innovation in terms of availability of new apps, products, and hardware; and (d) the inherent conflicts between the commercial nature of special education technology and best special education technology practice. Recommendations, resources, and actionable ideas toward transformative change are shared with hopes for equitable and meaningful special education technology access and implementation for students with disabilities.

Researchers conducted an observation study to explore the instructional practices of special education teachers (N = 20) responsible for teaching reading to students with learning disabilities in Grades 4 and 5. With this study, researchers addressed gaps in previous related literature and improved understanding of how teachers spend their time teaching reading. Researchers observed 80 lessons and found that special educators addressed a wide range of instructional skills. The majority of teachers provided targeted phonics instruction, and overall, minimal instructional time was lost due to off-task behavior. Consistent with previous studies, teachers predominantly monitored reading comprehension by asking questions after reading, while reading comprehension strategy instruction accounted for a smaller proportion of instructional time. Researchers conducted focus groups to explore teachers' perceptions of professional development and determine needs for future teacher training and research.

General and special education teachers need to have an understanding of effective practices for providing vocabulary instruction to students with and without disabilities across grade levels and content areas. Preservice teachers in this study (N = 121) received training in evidence-based practices for vocabulary instruction via a series of three training modules. They then completed one of two practice conditions--creating a multimedia product to teach a vocabulary word or completing a non-multimedia learning task during class. The two practice conditions resulted in similar gains on the knowledge measure, but the group that created the multimedia product significantly outperformed the group that completed the non-multimedia task in a demonstration of instruction. Implications for teacher education are discussed.

The National Commission on Writing called for a reform in writing instruction over a decade ago. However, teacher preparation programs still rarely provide sufficient training in writing instruction for teacher candidates. The purpose of this study was to improve the writing instruction of preservice teachers. Participating preservice teachers (N = 166) from three universities were randomly assigned to learn essential components of the self-regulated strategy development (SRSD) and the "model it" stage via content acquisition podcast (CAP)-TVs, lecture, or a practitioner-oriented article. This randomized control trial found that students in the CAP-TV condition outperformed peers in the article condition on a researcher-created measure of SRSD knowledge. Additionally, participants in the CAP-TV condition outperformed peers in both comparison groups article on a measure of modeling instruction. Results from a perceived cognitive load survey indicated that perceived cognitive load was significantly correlated with outcomes on the knowledge and performance measure for all participants. These results suggested that multimedia tools designed using Mayer's (2009) cognitive theory of multimedia learning can reduce cognitive load and increase learning outcomes. Teacher educators should consider incorporating CAP-TVs into their coursework when teaching complex instructional strategies.

Teaching expectations is an essential component of schoolwide positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS). Creating PBIS videos is a tool for teaching expectations and other targeted skills within a schoolwide PBIS framework. In this article, we offer the why, how, when, where, and what of producing/screening PBIS videos to effectively support schoolwide prevention efforts. Because effective videos (a) demonstrate the core PBIS principles and (b) meet technical video production standards, we offer a rubric for self-evaluating your own videos considering these two key elements. To support the use of PBIS videos, we also present a sample screening schedule and a tip sheet with questions to ask before, during, and after PBIS video production.

As K-12 classrooms in the U.S. grow in linguistic diversity, there is a need to develop and evaluate the effects of instructional approaches that build knowledge of academic vocabulary for multilingual learners. While multimedia vocabulary instruction may represent a promising avenue for improving word learning for linguistically diverse classrooms of upper-elementary students, there is a dearth of empirical evidence on this topic, with no research on multimedia vocabulary instruction having been conducted with linguistically diverse populations in rural contexts. This randomized control trial evaluated the effects of a multimedia vocabulary instructional approach (CAP-S), relative to business-as-usual (BAU) vocabulary instruction on researcher-developed and standardized measures of word knowledge for a linguistically diverse sample of Grade 5 students learning in rural schools (n = 418). The intervention took place over 8 weeks; CAP-S and BAU teachers addressed the same target set of academic words. Hierarchical linear modeling indicated statistically significant and meaningful effects on a custom measure of word learning, as well as small but statistically significant effects on a standardized assessment of word knowledge. On the custom vocabulary measure, ELs benefited more than non-ELs from CAP-S instruction, relative to their counterparts in the BAU condition. Findings suggest the potential advantages of employing efficient, feasible multimedia vocabulary approaches to serve diverse, multilingual student groups in rural, upper-elementary classrooms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mastering content vocabulary is critical to the success of students with high-incidence disabilities in the general education curriculum. General education classrooms often do not offer the opportunities necessary for these students to master important vocabulary. Teachers often look to technology to help. Several studies have indicated that content acquisition podcasts (CAPs) may have an impact on the vocabulary learning of secondary students with high-incidence disabilities. In this study, 37 in-service teachers enrolled in a master's program in special education were taught to create CAPs for vocabulary terms in a course focused on methods for secondary-level instruction. Teacher-created podcasts were assessed on the presence of Mayer's instructional design principles as well as evidence-based practices for vocabulary instruction. Although teachers were able to include many instructional design principles related to technology in their CAPs, their use of instructional principles and evidence-based practices was inconsistent. Implications are discussed.

Content Acquisition Podcasts for Teachers (CAP-T) are a form of multimedia-based instruction that are supported by an empirical record of effectiveness and are grounded in Mayer's cognitive theory of multimedia learning and accompanying instructional design principles. In this study, 162 students enrolled in an introductory course in special education were assigned to watch CAP-Ts for a variety of topics throughout the semester. Students tracked their viewings per CAP-T and self-reported the number of views during the midterm and final examinations. Researchers included clusters of questions coded to each CAP-T on the exams. Linear regression was used to predict student performance on each cluster of questions based on the number of CAP-T viewings. Results show a positive, predictive relationship between CAP-T views and performance on midterm and final exam questions overall, but some unexpected findings emerged when looking at individual subcomponents of the assessments.

The use of multimedia-driven instruction in college courses is an emerging practice designed to increase students' knowledge. However, limited research has validated the effectiveness of using multimedia to teach students about functional behavioral assessments (FBAs). To test the effectiveness of a multimedia tool called Content Acquisition Podcasts (CAPs), this study utilized a pretest--posttest design across two groups of students. One group received instruction on FBAs in the form of a CAP, whereas the other group received a typical lecture (control comparison). Results revealed that members of the CAP group performed better on the posttest compared to the students who received the lecture when the pretest scores were controlled for previous knowledge. In addition, students in the CAP group had lower self-reported levels of cognitive load. Implications for the use of CAPs and future research are discussed.

Given the significant literature supporting the use of curriculum-based measurement (CBM) for data-based decision making, it is critical that teacher candidates learn about it prior to student teaching and entry into the field as full-time teachers. The authors of this study used a content acquisition podcast (CAP), a multimedia-based instructional tool, to deliver information regarding CBM to teacher candidates. A second set of students received a practitioner-friendly text containing the same content as the CAP. Participants from three universities (N = 270) were randomly assigned to condition and completed pretest, posttest, and maintenance probes of CBM knowledge and ability to apply skill. In addition, participants completed a measure of motivation during their instruction. Results showed that participants who learned using the CAP scored significantly higher on the knowledge and application measures and reported being more motivated during instruction than peers in the text-only condition. The authors discuss implications for teacher education instruction and future research.

Teacher educators are expected to provide preservice special education teachers with extensive knowledge about a variety of topics as well as allowing candidates a chance to engage in higher-level thinking about content. Today, some teacher educators are thinking "outside the box" when it comes to instructional delivery by moving beyond the traditional lecture format for instruction. This article discusses three alternatives to lecture-style instruction: (a) interteaching, (b) video-based reflection, and (c) content acquisition podcasts. Each of these strategies is a way to improve candidates' engagement with the material while improving learning. The features and benefits of each approach are provided in addition to steps for using these strategies within teacher preparation.

Functional behavioral assessment (FBA) is an empirically supported intervention associated with decreasing problem behavior and increasing appropriate behavior. To date, few studies have examined multimedia approaches to FBA training. This paper provides the outcomes of a randomized controlled trial across three university sites and evaluates whether preservice teachers can learn the core features of the FBA process through short multimedia vignettes compared to a traditional method (i.e., in-person lecture with PowerPoint). Based on our previous research, we hypothesized that the multimedia group (n = 97) would outperform the traditional method group (n = 102). Results indicated statistically significant differences in FBA knowledge favoring the students who participated in the multimedia condition, F(1, 198) 5 9.61, p = 0.002, d = 0.45. Findings are discussed along with implications for practice and subsequent research.

Researchers have found that teacher preparation programs are not universally preparing teacher candidates in concepts associated with the alphabetic principle. Yet, the majority of students with reading disabilities or who struggle with beginning reading have difficulty with phonology and concepts associated with the alphabetic principle. The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of a series of multimedia modules on participants' (N = 76) knowledge and skills related to early reading instruction. The multimedia modules covered basic literacy concepts primarily related to phonology and phonics. Results from the experimental, control-group design indicated that the modules were successful in teaching foundational literacy constructs to participants. Thus, multimedia modules may be a promising avenue for providing instruction for teacher candidates. Additional research, however, is needed to ensure mastery of knowledge and to evaluate how principles of effective instruction can guide multimedia module use by teacher educators.

The purpose of this experimental study is to investigate the effects of using content acquisition podcasts (CAPs), an example of instructional technology, to provide vocabulary instruction to adolescents with and without learning disabilities (LD). A total of 279 urban high school students, including 30 with LD in an area related to reading, were randomly assigned to one of four experimental conditions with instruction occurring at individual computer terminals over a 3-week period. Each of the four conditions contained different configurations of multimedia-based instruction and evidence-based vocabulary instruction. Dependent measures of vocabulary knowledge indicated that students with LD who received vocabulary instruction using CAPs through an explicit instructional methodology and the keyword mnemonic strategy significantly outperformed other students with LD who were taught using the same content, but with multimedia instruction that did not adhere to a specific theoretical design framework. Results for general education students mirrored those for students with LD. Students also completed a satisfaction measure following instruction with multimedia and expressed overall agreement that CAPs are useful for learning vocabulary terms.

Teacher educators are always looking for instructional strategies that are easy to create and use but are powerful for promoting learning among preservice teacher candidates. Content acquisition podcasts (CAPs) is an example of an instructional strategy that embeds evidence-based instructional design principles to package and deliver critical content in courses such as introductory and foundational special education classes. In this column, a brief overview of current problems of practice that create a need for CAPs, a review research on the use of CAPs for preservice teacher education, and an overview of the processes used to create CAPs are provided.

Teacher understanding of phonological awareness (PA) and how to teach PA is related to student outcomes; however, many teachers have an inadequate understanding of PA. The purpose of this study is to describe an intervention intended to improve preservice teachers' understanding of PA, using an example of instructional technology called Content Acquisition Podcasts (CAPs). In this study, teacher candidates randomly assigned to watch a CAP on PA significantly outperformed matched peers who read a practitioner-friendly article on the same topic. Findings hold important implications for the field of teacher education, support, and development in reading pedagogy.

Vocabulary knowledge is vital for students' success in school and beyond. However, students with disabilities and others who consistently score below their peers on various measures of vocabulary knowledge have difficulties in secondary-level content area courses. Because many students with disabilities are now educated primarily in general education classrooms, their teachers report needing more professional development on instructional strategies to support this population. Using a multiple-baseline design, we tested the efficacy of a multimedia, multicomponent professional development package in which middle school science teachers in inclusive classrooms promoted science vocabulary knowledge. The professional development package improved the quality of the teachers' use of evidence-based vocabulary practices and increased the amount of time they spent explicitly teaching vocabulary in their classes. Keywords professional development, inservice training, students with disabilities, inclusion, teacher observation, multimedia, technology, explicit instruction, evidence-based practices, Vocabulary knowledge is critical to students' academic success. It is strongly correlated with overall academic achievement and reading comprehension (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, 2000; Reed, Petscher, [...]

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a framework that is commonly used for guiding the construction and delivery of instruction intended to support all students. In this study, we used a related model to guide creation of a multimedia-based instructional tool called content acquisition podcasts (CAPs). CAPs delivered vocabulary instruction during two concurrent social studies units to 32 SWD and 109 students without disabilities. We created CAPs using a combination of evidence-based practices for vocabulary instruction, UDL, and Mayer's instructional design principles. High school students with and without learning disabilities completed weekly curriculum-based measurement (CBM) probes (vocabulary matching) over an 8-week period along with two corresponding posttests. Students were nested within sections of world history and randomly assigned to alternating treatments (CAPs and business as usual) that were administered sequentially to each group. Results revealed that students with and without disabilities made significant growth on CBMs and scored significantly higher on the posttests when taught using CAPs.