2025 Theses Doctoral

Exploring the Role of Cross-Cultural Professional Development on Educational Acculturation Strategies of Kazakhstani Mathematics Faculty

Li, Yiran

This study addresses the limited attention given to cultural factors when evaluating the influence of professional development (PD) programs rooted in one mathematics educational tradition on participants from another educational tradition.

The study examines the effect of a cross-cultural PD program led by a team of United States and Kazakhstani mathematics education experts on six Kazakhstani mathematics faculty perceptions and teaching practices. Data were collected through surveys, interviews, and lesson recordings.

Findings indicate that cross-cultural PD primarily influenced perceptions and teaching practices that required minimal effort, such as the integration of technology tools, while culturally rooted aspects, such as teaching approaches, were not affected. The study proposes a theoretical framework that provides guidance for future research on the effectiveness of cross-cultural PD as an acculturation process.